Cognitive Science Program
at the University of Virginia

Academic Program

Cognitive Science Major Requirements

Prerequisites:

Before declaring, prospective majors must have completed and obtained a grade of C+ or better in two Cognitive Science approved courses. These two courses must be from two different core areas: Cognitive Psychology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Neuroscience, or Philosophy. See list of "Cognitive Science Approved Courses."

Prospective majors must have a grade point average of 2.0 or better for all courses at the University.

30 credit hours of approved courses are required for completion of the major.

Requirements:

Math 131 Calculus I
OR Math 122 Applied Calculus ll

One Cognitive Science course in each of the following five core areas:

Cognitive Psychology
Computer Science
Linguistics
Neuroscience
Philosophy*

Two courses at the 400 level or above (with the exception of Philosophy, *300 level Philosophy courses are equivalent to the 400 level in the other 4 core areas) in one of the five core areas, excluding directed readings, research, or internship courses. Please note: Both 400 level or above courses must be taken from the same core area.

CR/NC (Pass/Fail) Courses will not be counted towards the 30 major credit hours.

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Declaring A Major In Cognitive Science

Students who are interested in majoring in Cognitive Science should perform the following procedures before meeting with Professor Proffitt (or Professor Willingham while Professor Proffitt is on leave, Spring '07).

Pick up a "Declaration of Major " form in the lobby of Garrett Hall.
Please do NOT fill out the form.
On the Major Declaration Worksheet (Major Declaration Worksheets and Forms) or a blank sheet of paper, list the courses you have taken and intend to take within the program.
Print a copy of your VISTAA Report.
See the Cognitive Science Program Coordinator.
Bring all of the above materials with you!

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Approved Courses

The following are some of the courses that have been approved for cognitive science majors. This should not be thought of as an exhaustive list. These courses may or may not be offered each semester. Please check the Current Approved Courses page to see which courses are approved for the current or upcoming semester. These approved courses change each semester and are posted as soon as we are notified by each area department.

Cognitive Psychology

PSYC 210 Introduction to Learning
PSYC 215 Introduction to Cognition
PSYC 230 Introduction to Perception
PSYC 305 Research Methods
PSYC 306 Research Methods
PSYC 312 Pleasures of the Mind
PSYC 402 Memory
PSYC 411 Psycholinguistics
PSYC 416 Thinking AboutThinking
PSYC 418 Invention & Design*
PSYC 430 Theories of Perception
PSYC 468 Psychology & Law
PSYC 515 Advanced Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 555 Developmental Psycholinguistics
PSYC 581 Emotion & Cognition
PSYC 583 Cognitive Science
PSYC 584 Cognitive Aging
NESC 533 Neural Network Models
TCC 315 Invention & Design*

* PSYC 418 and TCC 315 are the same course

Computer Science

All CS courses EXCEPT 110, 120, or 182
EE200 counts for credit, but does not fill area requirement.

Courses typically taken include:

CS 101: Introduction to Computer Science
CS150: From Ada and Euclid to Quantum Computing and the World Wide Web
(Previously CS 200: Foundations of Computer Science, http://www.cs.virginia.edu/cs150/ )
CS 202: Discrete Mathematics

In addition to CS course listings, there are some courses in Systems Engineering (SYS) that will satisfy this portion of the major. For example:

SYS 482: Human Computer Interaction

Linguistics

AMEL 365 Intro to Linguistic Topology
AMEL 765 Intro to Linguistic Topology
ANTH 243 Languages of the World
ANTH 340 Structure of English
ANTH 348 Language and Prehistory
ANTH 349 Language & Thought
ANTH 504 Linguistic Field Methods
ANTH 540 Linguistic Anthropology
ANTH 541 Phonology
ANTH 544 Phonology & Morphology
ANTH 549 Discourse Analysis
LNGS 325 Intro to Linguistics Theory
PHIL 350 Philosophy of Language
PHIL 550 Philosophy of Language
PSYC 555 Developmental Psycholinguistics

Neuroscience

PSYC 220 Psychobiology*
PSYC 321 Psychobiology Lab
PSYC 420 Neural Mechanisms of Behavior**
PSYC 526 Psychobiology & Memory
PSYC 529 Advanced Psychobiology Lab
PSYC 580 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 581 Mind-Body Interactions
PSYC 582 Neuropsychopharmacology
PSYC 721 Neural Mechanisms of Behavior
BIOL 317 Intro to Neurobiology*
BIOL 408 Neuronal Organization of Behavior**
BIOL 417 Cellular Neurobiology***
NESC 533 Neural Network Models

* Students may count PSYC 220 OR BIOL 317 towards the major, but NOT both.
** Students may count PSYC 420 OR BIOL 408 towards the major, but NOT both.

Philosophy

PHIL 233 Computers, Minds & Brains
PHIL 242 Intro to Symbolic Logic
PHIL 332 Epistemology
PHIL 334 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 350 Philosophy of Language
PHIL 403 Philosophy of Logic
PHIL 441 Philosophical Logic
PHIL 542 Advanced Logic
PHIL 547 Philosophy of Mathematics
PHIL 550 Philosophy of Language

| Major Requirements | Declaring the Major |
| Approved Courses | Distinguished Majors Program |
| Top of Page |

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The Distinguished Majors Program
in Cognitive Science

| Requirements | When to Apply | How to Apply |
| Thesis Deadlines | Evaluation |

| Distinguished Majors Program Application Form |

Cognitive science majors who have completed 18 credit hours towards their major and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better may apply to the Distinguished Majors Program. Students who are accepted will complete a thesis based on two semesters of empirical or theoretical research. Upon successful completion of the program, students will normally be recommended for a baccalaureate award of Distinction, High Distinction or Highest Distinction.

DMP Requirements

Students applying to the DMP must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 and have completed 18 credit hours towards their Cognitive Science major by the end of the semester in which they apply. In addition to the normal requirements for the cognitive science major, they must register for two semesters of supervised research (COGS 497). Based on their independent research, students must complete a thesis or review at least one month prior to graduation. Please note: The DMP credits do not apply towards the 30 credit hours required for the major.

When to Apply

Students must apply by the third semester prior to graduation. Spring graduates, must have their applications in March 31st of the year before graduation. Winter graduates, must have their applications in by October 31st of the year prior to graduation. Distinguished Majors Program Application Form

How to Apply

1) Decide on a project.
Before applying to the DMP, students should decide what project they would like to complete in the program. They should compose a general description of the project, including what type of research they will complete (empirical or literature review) and what the final product will be (thesis, review paper, etc.). The project proposal need not be very detailed as long as the essential elements are in place.

2) Enlist a faculty advisor and second reader.
Next, students must secure a faculty advisor and reader for the DMP project. These should be selected from the cognitive science faculty (those faculty members from the five areas of cognitive science who teach courses for the cognitive science program) or some other faculty members who are specifically suited for advising the project. The selected faculty should sign the application form after approving the project proposal.

The reader should be in a different area of cognitive science than the advisor. For example if your advisor is in the neuroscience area your reader can be in cognitive psychology, computer science, linguistics or philosophy. A third reader can be brought in from the same field as the advisor if it would be beneficial to do so (for example, for a highly specific thesis topic that would be most thoroughly understood by someone in that field).

3) Submit
Submit paperwork and project proposal to the Cognitive Science Program Director. Materials may be left with the Cognitive Science Program Coordinator in Gilmer 140F. After reviewing the proposals, notification will be sent out regarding acceptances.

DMP Thesis Deadlines

The thesis must be completed and submitted to the thesis advisor and reader at least 30 days prior to graduation. Reviews will be completed and a departmental recommendation will be sent to the Chair of the University Committee on Special Programs two weeks before graduation.

The diploma orders will have been placed, by the time DMP evaluations are completed, so DMP students will receive a blank diploma at the Cognitive Science diploma ceremony. Actual diplomas will be received in the mail shortly after graduation.

Evaluation

Students will usually receive a recommendation for a baccalaureate award of Distinction, High Distinction or Highest Distinction upon successful completion of the DMP. The thesis advisor and second reader will each give an independent rating to the thesis based on the following: 3 = exceptional thesis, in the top 10% of all DMP theses; 2 = very good thesis; 1 = good/acceptable thesis; and 0 = marginal thesis. The student's GPA will be assigned a value that will be averaged in with the two scores to arrive at the final rating.

GPA scores are determined as follows: 3 = 3.8 and above; 2 = 3.6-3.79; and
1 = 3.4-3.59. Students who fall below a 3.4 GPA are no longer eligible to be distinguished majors.

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Cognitive Science Program at the University of Virginia