Double Majoring In Cognitive Science in the College of Arts and Sciences

Each major within the College of Arts and Sciences determines if you can do a double major and if you can--how many courses programs are willing to let you "double count.If you are already declared in another major that is not listed below--you may want to to reach out to the major contact listed on the College website to see how many courses--if any--they will let you share with the COGS major.

Since the cognitive science major is an interdisciplinary major that relies upon the psychology, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and biology departments for the courses that comprise our major--we and our double majors must be mindful of each majors' course sharing rules and the general College rules for sharing courses for all double majors.

In practice and in most cases, students discover that long term success is likely much more improved by getting hands-on research experience than focusing on a second major.

Majors within the College of Arts and Sciences must adhere to the following double-count course guidelines:

1) You can share no more than three classes between majors in the College of Arts and Sciences

2) All majors must have at least 18 hours of coursework that are only for that major

3) After declaring both majors--if your 1-3 shared classes do not automatically populate both majors and you have completed or are enrolled in those courses--you most likely will need to submit a double counting form. You should reach out to the COGS program coordinator for more information about the form at cogsci@virginia.edu.

In practice and in most cases, students discover that long term success is more improved by getting hands-on research experience than focusing on a second major.

Guidelines for Double Majoring in the BA in Cognitive Science and Psychology

If you plan to double major in Cognitive Science and Psychology, you must pursue one of the other four COGS concentrations--computer science, linguistics, philosophy, or neuroscience--so you are able to expand your knowledge base and gain the most benefit from doing both majors.

Students double majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology, may share up to three courses between the two majors. Once you have declared both majors--you need to check your SIS Academic Requirements Report and see if the three courses you want to share are showing in SIS automatically. If they are not--you should email the program coordinator of the major listed first in SIS and outline in your email which three courses you want to double count. If you planned to use PSYC 2005 for both majors--you will need to fill out and submit a double-count request form that must be approved by both major directors.

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science and the BS in Behavioral Neuroscience (BSBN) in the Psychology Department

Though not encouraged--students can double major in the BS in Behavioral Neuroscience and Cognitive Science if they can complete both major requirements and still graduate on time.  For your Cognitive Science major--you must concentrate in an area other than neuroscience or psychology since the BSBN curriculum encompasses both.  Any student double majoring with the BSBN must concentrate in computer science, linguistics, or philosophy. The BSBN major allows you to "double count" two classes. These two courses must be approved by both program directors and will likely require additional paperwork.

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science with Computer Science (BACS):

There are course-sharing rules for these two programs, and when declaring COGS as a 2nd major, students must complete the forms for this found on the Cognitive Science web-page.  The course sharing rules according to the College of Arts and Sciences are:

1. Cognitive Science and the BACS program are allowed by the College to share up to a combination of 3 CS XXXX courses and/or Integration Electives with the Cognitive Science major.  This can be any combination, but at a minimum, you must have one CS course to meet your CogSci core CS requirement.
2. In addition to these 3, CS courses that are pre-reqs for the BACS can be used strictly for COGS

• If you declared BACS before Fall 2019 and took CS111X at UVA--this course can be used exclusively for the COGS major since it is a BACS pre-requisite and will not count as BACS degree hours
• If you declared in Fall 2019 or later and took both CS111X and CS 2100 at UVA--both can be used exclusively  for the COGS major since they are CS pre-requisites and do not count as BACS degree hours
• Please realize that if either CS111X or 2100 came in as test or transfer credit, they will not count toward the Cognitive Science 30 major credit hours or fulfill the CS core requirement.
• Double Majors must concentrate in one of the other four areas outside of Computer Science--Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Linguistics, or Philosophy-- to fully reap the benefits of completing the COGS major.

Once you have declared both majors--you need to check your SIS Academic Requirements Report and see if the three courses you want to share are showing in SIS automatically. If they are not--you should email the program coordinator of the major listed first in SIS and outline in your email which three courses you want to double count. If three are not automatically counting in SIS--you will need to fill out and submit a double-count request form that must be approved by both major directors.

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science and Linguistics:

If you plan to double major in Cognitive Science and Linguistics, for COGS you must pursue one of the other four concentrations in computer science, psychology, philosophy, or neuroscience. Students doubling in COGS and LINGS may share up to two courses between the two majors. 

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science and Philosophy:

If you plan to double major in Cognitive Science and Philosophy, for COGS you must pursue one of the other four concentrations in computer science, linguistics, psychology, or neuroscience. Students doubling in COGS and PHIL may share up to two courses between the two majors. 

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience:

If you plan to double major in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, for COGS you must pursue one of the other four concentrations in computer science, linguistics, psychology, or philosophy. Students doubling in COGS and NESC may share up to three courses between the two majors. 

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science and other Majors in the College:

The College will not allow sharing of more than three courses between majors and each major determines the number of courses they allow to be shared.

Double Majoring In Cognitive Science if you are in the Engineering School

Double Majoring in Cognitive Science with Computer Science (BSCS):

If you are a SEAS student and are majoring in computer science--you must seek a different concentration when declaring and pursuing the Cognitive Science major. You must concentrate in either psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, or linguistics--so you can fully reap the benefits of completing the COGS major.

In the BSCS major, you are completing different general education course requirements (HSS) from those in the College of Arts and Sciences, so there are differences in course sharing rules. With the COGS major, you can share up to three BSCS required courses. HSS courses are not counted as any of the three since they are the SEAS equivalents of general education requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Before declaring the COGS major, you must have declared your major in SEAS and it must be showing in SIS. To be eligible to declare the COGS major--you must have completed and received a grade for a second approved course in an area other than computer science as your second prerequisite.