How many classes do I need to take in order to declare my major?

A total of two classes is necessary to declare, and these classes must be in different areas of Cognitive Science (for example, Psychology 2150: Introduction to Cognition in the Cognitive Psychology area and Computer Science 1110: Introduction to Programming in the Computer Science area). Students must have a C+ or higher in both courses to declare a CogSci major. While a calculus course is required for the major, Math does not qualify as one of the areas of Cognitive Science.

The credits for Cognitive Science classes taken as prerequisites will apply to the total of 30 credits required for the Cognitive Science major.

I cannot find a detailed plan of courses I must take in order to complete the COGS major like I can for Psychology, Biology, or Chemistry. Why is that?

Because Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary major, students are able to construct a their own plan using the approved course lists on the website rather than having to follow a prescribed set of courses in traditional majors like psychology, biology, and chemistry. A good planning tool for prospective majors is the COGS course of study form found here. Majors generally take at least one course in the four areas outside of their concentration, two upper levels in their concentration, meet the math requirement, and complete enough elective credits to reach 30 hours. The major consists of 10 classes taken at UVA. 

Do I need to have completed MATH 1310 (or an equivalent) before I can declare my major?

While students must take an approved math class to complete the CogSci major, it is not a prerequisite for declaring. The math class will count towards the 30 credit hours you need to complete the major, if it is not transfer or AP credit.

Although MATH 1310 is the preferred math course for Cognitive Science, there are other courses that may be subsituted. (Please consult the Program Coordinator if you have an alternate math course which you believe qualifies.)

Does research credit count for the major?

While research experience is very important to your education, it does not count towards your 30 credit hours. The course work required for the major provides you with exposure to all of the areas of Cognitive Science, and research should enhance that experience rather than replace it.

Will my transfer or advanced placement credit apply towards the major?

Transfer or advanced placement credit may be used to satisfy only the Math requirement. However, this will not count towards the 30 credit hours required for completion of the major.

May I declare Cognitive Science as a minor?

No. Since Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary program, a minor concentration would be academically unfocused and superficial.

May I double major or minor in a related discipline and double count classes?

Yes, you may double major or minor in a related discipline. With the permission of both majors, you may be able to double count some of your classes between majors. Here's how it works: You must have at least 30 total credits for each of your majors. Of these, credits from a maximum of three approved courses may be shared between the majors. Minors do not allow sharing of credits.

I've changed my mind about what area I want to concentrate in. What do I need to do?

Contact the department to request a change of your concentration in SIS by the College of Arts and Sciences. Take at least two upper level courses in the new area of concentration. When making changes to your planned coursework, always double check that you are still meeting the minimum requirements of the major.

I've heard that concentrating in Computer Science can be difficult. Why?

Upper-level Computer Science courses (3000-or-above level) tend to have many more prerequisites than courses in other areas of Cognitive Science. For this reason, students wishing to concentrate in Computer Science must complete an extra step in the major declaration process. Meet with a faculty member in the CS department, who will review your planned coursework on the declaration worksheet and determine whether you will be able to complete all of the required prerequisites and the two 3000-or-above level courses in the time remaining before graduation. You may then schedule a meeting with the Cognitive Science Program Coordinator to complete the declaration process.

Will I recieve a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Cognitive Science?

Students graduating with a major in Cognitive Science receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Only majors in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics receive Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees.

Will my major, minor, and concentraton all be specified on my diploma?

No. Only students who complete the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) have their majors listed on the diploma. Your official transcript will document which courses you have taken. It is up to you to explain your major, minor, and concentration during interviews or on applications, if you feel that it is important.

If a course is cross listed under two different areas, may I use it to satisfy both area requirements or one area requirement and one concentration requirement in different areas?

No. One class can be applied to only one area. Thus, a course that satisfies both Linguistics and Cognitive Psychology may be applied to only one of those areas. You will still need another course to satisfy the other area or concentration requirement.

What is the Distinguished Majors Program? Is it available to Cognitive Science majors?

The Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) in Cognitive Science is designed for Cognitive Science majors who show exceptional promise. The DMP is a two-semester program completed during a student's fourth year. Upon successful completion of this program, most students receive a departmental recommendation for a baccalaureate award of Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction.

Please visit the Distinguished Majors Program section of the Academic Program Page on this website to learn more about the Distinguished Majors Program.

Will my Distinguished Majors Program credits count toward the 30 credit hours required for the CogSci major?

No

Does UVA offer a graduate program in Cognitive Science?

UVA does not offer graduate studies in Cognitive Science, specifically. However, the University does offer several graduate programs in areas of Cognitive Science. These areas include Psychology, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Linguistics. Please review the complete graduate programs listing for more information.

What do graduates do with a degree in Cognitive Science?

Please refer to the facts and figures on our alumni page for examples of graduate programs, employment, and comments from our graduates. To ask a UVa graduate, go to:

University Career Services (UCS)

University Career Assistance Network (UCAN)

What transfer credits can I use for the COGS major at UVA?

We only accept transfer or test credit for the COGS math requirement. UVA course equivalents or AP credit for MATH 1310 (or above), MATH 1220, or APMA 1090 (or higher) fulfill the COGS math requirement. These credits fulfill the requirement but will not count toward the 30 degree hours and will appear on your UVA transcript.

How can I check to see if the courses I took (or am planning to take) at my current institution are equivalent to UVA courses?

The Transfer Credit Analyzer located on the College of Arts and Sciences is a good starting point to see how courses may transfer into UVA. The link to that can be found at: http://ascs8.eservices.virginia.edu/AsEquivs 

Can I declare the COGS major after being accepted to UVA?

Transfer students are accepted into a school at UVA and for you that would be the College of Arts and Sciences.  All majors at UVA have pre-requisite courses students must complete before declaring. For the Cognitive Science major, all students must take two approved COGS courses in two different areas at UVA and receive a grade of C+ or higher before they can declare.  For third year transfer students, this means if they start in the fall they can declare in January. You can declare in August if you successfully complete the two pre-requisites during summer session prior to enrolling in the fall. The majority of third year transfer students will need to defer until they complete the pre-requisites.

As a third-year transfer student do I have enough time to complete the major and graduate on time?

YES! The COGS major basically consists of ten courses (30 credit hours). You must take and successfully complete ten courses at UVA to meet major requirements. Generally this means taking two your first term, three for two terms, and two for your final term. For more in-depth information on requirements go to “About the Major.”