Cognitive Science Program
Cognitive Science Program

Deferring the COGS Major

Deferring the Cognitive Science

The College of Arts and Sciences requires that all students have declared a major by the end of add/drop in their fifth full-time semester. If you are not on-track to complete your Cognitive Science prerequisites and declare by that point you can defer Cognitive Science, which will allow you to wait until the end of your fifth semester to declare. You are only eligible to defer if your remaining prerequisites will be in-progress during your fifth semester. Transfer students who enter UVA as third years will also need to defer.

Deferrals should be submitted no later than the end of add/drop so you will not have problems enrolling in Spring classes. If you do not have a major declared by the end of add/drop in your fifth semester you will not be allowed to enroll as a full-time student for the following semester until you defer or declare. If you have defer or declare after the deadline you will be given the latest enrollment time during enrollment for the next semester. 

”Deferring
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Sign up for notifications regarding the major

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Complete the Cognitive Science Major Planning Form 

Download and complete the Cognitive Science Course Planning form. Note the following:

  • On the form, include your prerequisite classes in the lower sections of the course form as well as the initial prerequisite section.
  • If you have test or transfer credit for the math requirement (MATH 1220, MATH 1310, APMA 1090 or higher) this will fulfill the calculus requirement but should be listed as 0 hours. You will need to add an additional elective from any area of approved COGS classes if using test or transfer credit for this requirement. If you have or plan to fulfill the math requirement at UVA, the hours taken at UVA can be counted toward the 30.
  • Choose one of the five areas as your COGS concentration and select two upper level classes to fulfill the requirement. 
    • If you are  pursuing the Computer Science Concentration, you must fill out the CS concentration form and have it approved by CS area specialist Dr John Hott before submitting your declaration.
  • After completing the above, project your remaining courses till they total 10 taken at UVA from the approved or frequently approved course lists.
  • Your course plan is not binding, and indicating that you intend to take a given course in a given semester does not guarantee enrollment.
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Officially Defer

Students must submit a Defer Declaring a Major DocuSign form from the College of Arts and Sciences to officially defer.

  1. Enter your information under the heading Student
  2. Under the heading Declaration of Major/Minor Contact (DMC) enter name: Eric Dynarski email: ejd3jf@virginia.edu
  3. You will need to know who your Association Dean is to complete the deferral form.
    1. If you are unsure who this is, visit the UVA advising portal and click the Advising tab (to the left). Your Association Dean should be listed at the top of the page.
  4. Complete the required fields in the DocuSign form. You do not need to enter your prospective coursework on the DocuSign form.
  5. Attach the following:
    1. completed Cognitive Science course planning form
    2. an unofficial transcript
  6. Sign and submit the form
  7. The form and attachments will be routed to the Cognitive Science Undergraduate Coordinator for review. You will be contacted by email if there are any issues.
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Declare When Eligible

Once you have deferred, you will be eligible to declare upon receiving viable grades in your prerequisite courses. Once grades are posted, follow the instructions for declaring on the Admission & Requirements page.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at www.virginia.edu/registrar/catalog/ugrad.html.