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.

About the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences brings together innovative research, student training and community outreach in a climate that fosters collaboration and learning.

The school’s mission is to study the biology and psychology of thought and language, development and aging, pain, social interaction and perception in both healthy adults and children and in those with illness or atypical development. Through this work, we aim to enhance the health, education and quality of life of adults and children, their families and their communities. This is accomplished with fundamental investigation of brain and behavior, and applied research in remediation and compensation, including the use of advanced technology.

Additional Facts about BBS

• Our Audiology program ranks No. 3 and Speech-Language Pathology program No. 21 in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.
• The school is home to leading experts in psychology, neuroscience, and speech, language, and hearing.
• In fiscal year 2024, BBS faculty members were responsible for more than $30 million in research awards.
• BBS has more than 2,300 undergraduate students, over 600 graduate students, and 17,000 alumni.

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 six affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.

• Callier Center for Communication Disorders — BBS’ Callier Center focuses on the causes, prevention, assessment and treatment of communication disorders. Callier’s two locations, in downtown Dallas and on the UT Dallas Richardson campus, house sophisticated clinical and neuroscience facilities for research. The center provides excellent opportunities to study a broad range of communication disorders, including outpatient clinics for people with speech, language and hearing disorders, as well as infant and preschool programs serving hearing, hearing-impaired and language-impaired children.
• Center for Advanced Pain Studies — The Center for Advanced Pain Studies researches the fundamental mechanisms underlying chronic pain and migraine, seeking novel therapeutics via cross-disciplinary investigations. Their areas of expertise include neuroscience, pharmacology, molecular biology, bioengineering and chemistry. The center will advance discoveries, translate findings, and foster the next generation of multidisciplinary scientists through research leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation with the goal of creating new, non-opioid pain therapies.
• Center for BrainHealth — Located in downtown Dallas, the Center for BrainHealth is focused on understanding, protecting and healing the human brain. The center works through research programs to understand the brain’s ability to restore or protect healthy brain function, protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline, and heal the brain through treatments that regenerate brain function. A key part of the center is the Brain Performance Institute, which provides scientifically validated programs and assessments that enhance individual brain performance and health.
• Center for Children and Families — Housed in BBS’ facilities on the Richardson campus, the Center for Children and Families is focused on all aspects of child development from birth through adolescence. The center promotes optimal child development by enhancing research, practice and outreach. CCF offers an array of clinical and community outreach activities organized around three initiatives: parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing learning and thinking.
• Center for Vital Longevity — Located in downtown Dallas, the Center for Vital Longevity 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.
• Texas Biomedical Device Center — The Texas Biomedical Device Center consists of scientists, engineers, medical doctors, regulatory specialists and clinicians committed to the development of affordable and innovative therapies to improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from neurological disorders. Center researchers are developing new medical devices to detect and treat these disorders by harnessing the brain’s natural ability to adapt and reorganize.

View a complete list of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences research labs.