Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science

Cognitive science is the study of complex information processing in humans and machines and includes the multidisciplinary study of biological and artificial systems. Such systems can range from people and animals to web search engines, computers, and robots. The field requires diverse multidisciplinary approaches to understanding these systems, which incorporates research from experimental psychology, neuroscience, machine learning, linguistics, computer science, mathematics, and bioengineering.

UT Dallas’ multidisciplinary cognitive science program offers a variety of courses intended to provide a strong foundation in multiple areas of knowledge. Cognitive science students may choose to specialize in two of the following three areas: neuroscience, psychology/human computer interactions, and computational modeling/artificial intelligence.

Careers in Cognitive Science

The cognitive science degree plan provides excellent preparation for a number of areas of graduate study including cognitive science, experimental psychology, neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computer science, medical school, and law school. Career opportunities in the areas of machine learning, usability engineering and user experience are also available to cognitive science majors.

The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing their careers. Professional career counselors are available to help clarify career goals, provide strategies for mastering job interviews and writing professional cover letters and resumes, and help students connect with campus recruiters.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Cognitive Science at UT Dallas

The BS in cognitive science requires 120 credit hours to graduate: 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum, 12 hours of core cognitive science courses, and 24 hours of major related cognitive science courses. Major related cognitive science courses are chosen from two of three specialization areas:

  • Neuroscience.
  • Psychology/human computer interactions.
  • Computational modeling/artificial intelligence.

The cognitive science minor requires 18 credit hours.

Internships

Cognitive science juniors and seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.

Fast Track

The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, or human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have at least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.

Additional Facts about BBS

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, human development and early childhood disorders, psychology, speech-language pathology

Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Doctor of Audiology: Audiology

Research Centers

In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students also can gain valuable experience through the school’s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.

  • Callier Center for Communication Disorders — The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the center’s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
  • The Center for BrainHealth — This center has a unique mission: to understand the brain’s ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
  • The Center for Vital Longevity — This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
  • The Center for Children and Families — The center’s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.

To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the school’s research labs, visit bbs.utdallas.edu/research.

Additional Facts about BBS

  • Our audiology and speech-language pathology programs are ranked No. 4 and No. 12 in the nation respectively, according to U.S. News and World Report.
  • The school is home to leading experts in developmental psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science, and communication disorders.
  • In fiscal year 2016, BBS faculty members were responsible for nearly $44 million in research funding.
  • BBS has more than 2,000 undergraduate students and nearly 600 graduate students.
Catalog Page

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Contact Information

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road GR 41
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Fax: 972-883-2491
Email: bbs.undergraduate@utdallas.edu
Website: bbs.utdallas.edu

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