Major
A major in Cognitive Science consists of seven required courses, four electives, and a year-long senior project (one course each semester) with an attached majors’ seminar (COGS UN3901 in the fall and COGS UN3902 in the spring, 1 point each). The minimum number of courses is 15 and the minimum number of points is 41.
Required courses:
- COGS UN1001 Introduction to Cognitive Science.
- One course in each of four areas: psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics.
- Two courses in a fifth area: mathematical and computational methods. These two courses must be selected in consultation with the program director to make sure they aren’t redundant.
On a case-by-case basis, the program director can give students permission to use other courses to satisfy a requirement. All required courses can also be used as an elective. It is possible to satisfy all of the requirements by taking courses without prerequisites.
Please see below for the lists of approved courses in each area.
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
NSBV BC3380 |
Cognitive Neuroscience |
|
PSYC BC2110 |
Perception |
|
PSYC BC2115 |
Cognitive Psychology |
|
PSYC UN2220 |
Cognition: Memory and Stress |
|
PSYC UN2430 |
Cognitive Neuroscience |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
NSBV BC1001 |
Introduction to Neuroscience |
|
PSYC UN2450 |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
PHIL UN2655 |
Cognitive Science and Philosophy |
|
PHIL UN3252 |
Philosophy of Language and Mind |
|
PHIL UN3655 |
Topics in Cognitive Science and Philosophy |
|
PHIL UN3912 |
Seminar: Perception |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
LING UN3101 |
Introduction to Linguistics |
Logic and Decision Theory
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
ECON GU4850 |
Cognitive Mechanisms and Economic Behavior |
|
PHIL UN1401 |
Introduction to Logic |
|
PHIL UN3411 |
Symbolic Logic |
|
PHIL GU4561 |
Probability and Decision Theory |
|
PSYC UN2235 |
Thinking and Decision Making |
Statistics
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
ECON BC2411 |
Statistics for Economics |
|
PSYC BC1101 |
Statistics |
|
PSYC UN1610 |
Statistics for Behavioral Scientists |
|
STAT UN1101 |
Introduction to Statistics |
|
STAT UN1201 |
Calculus-Based Introduction to Statistics |
Computer Science:
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
COMS BC1016 |
Introduction to Computational Thinking |
|
COMS W1001 |
Introduction to Information Science |
|
COMS W1002 |
Computing in Context |
|
COMS W1004 |
Introduction to Computer Science (JAVA) |
|
COMPS W1007 |
Honors Introduction to Computer Science |
|
COMS W3134 |
Data Structures in JAVA |
|
COMS W3136 |
Data Structures in C/C++ |
|
COMS W3137 |
Data Structures and Algorithms |
|
STEM BC2223 |
Computer Programming for Behavioral Sciences |
Electives:
Four courses, building towards a specialization, and approved by the program director, perhaps in consultation with the expected advisor of the senior project.
Please see below for the list of courses approved to count as electives. Please note that other courses may be approved on a case-by-case basis (students should talk with the program director). Please also note that all the required courses listed above may also be used as electives.
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
|
ANTH UN1009 |
Introduction to Language and Culture |
|
COGS GU4050 |
Natural and Artificial Neural Networks |
|
COGS GU4051 |
Natural and Artificial Neural Networks Lab |
|
COMS W4170 |
User Interface Design |
|
COMS W4701 |
Artificial Intelligence |
|
COMS W4705 |
Natural Language Processing |
|
COMS W4731 |
Computer Vision |
|
COMS W4771 |
Machine Learning |
|
COMS W4772 |
Advanced Machine Learning |
|
ECON GU4020 |
Economics of Uncertainty and Information |
|
ECON GU4840 |
Behavioral Economics |
|
ECON GU4860 |
Behavioral Finance |
|
LING GU4202 |
Cognitive Linguistics |
|
LING GU4206 |
Advanced Grammar and Grammars |
|
LING GU4376 |
Phonetics and Phonology |
|
LING GU4903 |
Syntax |
|
MUSI GU4325 |
Introduction to Cognitive Musicology |
|
NSBV BC3381 |
Visual Neuroscience |
|
PHIL UN1001 |
Introduction to Philosophy |
|
PHIL UN2685 |
Philosophy of Language |
|
PHIL UN3685 |
Philosophy of Language |
|
PHIL UN3840 |
The Nature and Significance of Animal Minds |
|
PHIL GU4495 |
Perception |
|
PHIL GU4660 |
Philosophy of Mind |
|
PSYC BC1001 |
Introduction to Psychology |
|
PSYC BC2107 |
Psychology of Learning |
|
PSYC BC2129 |
Introduction to Developmental Psychology |
|
PSYC BC2163 |
Human Learning and Memory |
|
PSYC BC3164 |
Perception and Language |
|
PSYC BC3369 |
Language Development |
|
PSYC BC3372 |
Comparative Cognition |
|
PSYC BC3381 |
Theory of Mind and Intentionality |
|
PSYC BC3384 |
Social Cognition |
|
PSYC BC3390 |
Canine Cognition |
|
PSYC BC3394 |
Metacognition |
|
PSYC BC3399 |
Humans and Machines |
|
PSYC UN1001 |
The Science of Psychology |
|
PSYC UN2250 |
Evolution and Cognition |
|
PSYC UN2280 |
Developmental Psychology |
|
PSYC UN3270 |
Computational Approaches to Human Vision |
|
PSYC UN3290 |
The Self: A Cognitive Exploration |
|
PSYC UN3445 |
The Brain and Memory |
|
PSYC UN3450 |
Evolution of Intelligence and Consciousness |
|
PSYC GU4202 |
Theories of Change in Human Development |
|
PSYC GU4222 |
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging |
|
PSYC GU4223 |
Memory & Executive Function through the Lifespan |
|
PSYC GU4225 |
Consciousness and Attention |
|
PSYC GU4229 |
Attention & Perception |
|
PSYC GU4239 |
Cognitive Neuroscience of Narrative & Film |
|
PSYC GU4242 |
Evolution of Language |
|
PSYC GU4244 |
Language & Mind |
|
PSYC GU4270 |
Cognitive Processes |
|
PSYC GU4280 |
Core Knowledge |
|
PSYC GU4281 |
The Psychology of Curiosity |
|
PSYC GU4287 |
Decision Architecture |
|
PSYC GU4289 |
Games People Play: Psychology of Strategic Decisions |
|
PSYC GU4430 |
Learning and the Brain |
|
PSYC GU4435 |
Non-Mnemonic Functions of Memory Systems |
If you would like to count a course not listed above towards your Cognitive Science major, including transfer and study abroad courses, please follow the instructions below.
If you would like to count a Barnard or Columbia course which is not on the approved course list towards your Cognitive Science major, please fill out this form for each course which you would like to count. Your response will be emailed to you; please forward that email with subject “Cognitive Science Course Approval” to Maia Bernstein at mbernste@barnard.edu; please attach the course syllabus.
If you would like study abroad credit to count towards your major, please fill out this form for each course which you would like to count. Your response will be emailed to you; please forward that email with subject “Cognitive Science Study Abroad Credit Approval” to Maia Bernstein at mbernste@barnard.edu; please attach the course syllabus. Please note that the course must already be approved by your school (BC, CC, or GS) to count towards your degree requirements before it can be considered for Cognitive Science major requirements.
If you would like transfer credit to count towards your Cognitive Science major, please fill out this form for each course which you would like to count. Your response will be emailed to you; please forward that email with subject “Cognitive Science Transfer Credit Approval” to Maia Bernstein at mbernste@barnard.edu; please attach the course syllabus. Please note that the course must already be approved by your school (BC, CC, or GS) to count towards your degree requirements before it can be considered for Cognitive Science major requirements.