What is Cognitive Science?ÌýÌý
Cognitive science is the study of intelligent behaviour in humans, animals and machines.Ìý To help us understand how intelligent behaviour occurs, cognitive science combines knowledge from the traditional disciplines of psychology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, and philosophy.ÌýÌý
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýThese are some of the questions cognitive science tries to answer:
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý- How does human cognition work - how do we think, act, and learn?
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý- How does the brain process information?Ìý
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý- What is the relationship between language and thought?
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý-ÌýHow human-like could an artificially intelligent agent become?
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý-ÌýWhat is consciousness?Ìý
By answering these questions, cognitive science aims to better our understanding of intelligence, the human mind and brain, and help us to design and develop intelligent systems that people can work with.Ìý
Why study Cognitive Science at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ?ÌýÌý
Interdisciplinary programÌý
The undergraduateÌýCognitive Science program at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ will provide you with a truly interdisciplinary program experience.Ìý The coursework spans five principal areas of study:
-ÌýComputer Science
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As part of the core curriculum, you will complete courses spanning these five disciplines. You will also choose one of these areas as your primary area of focus, or stream.Ìý This allows you to tailor your program to suit your individual interests and goals and allows you to dive deeper into one of the five areas of study.ÌýÌý
Research ExperienceÌý
One of the highlights of the program is developing your research skills and interests. You will have the opportunity to participate in cognitive science-related research under the supervision of ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ faculty members. This is done by enrolling in a COGS research course and the credits earned contribute to your program requirements.
About 70% of students complete at least one research project as part of their program. Our students conduct research in laboratories across a wide range of departments. In a typical year COGS students will be working in 15-20 different departments across the university.
As a cognitive science undergrad, you will find many different ways to explore your research interests. The opportunities to get involved with research are not limited to the COGS research courses, students also find jobs working in labs, either in paid or volunteer positions. Students have even presented their research at international conferences and have had their research published in scientific journals.
Ìý"Working in Dr. Debruille's Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Lab based at the Douglas mental hospital for my Cognitive Science honours research project was incredibly rewarding, especially given my interest in neuropsychiatric disorders. My research on event-related potentials and their correlations with schizotypal traits and autism spectrum quotient deepened my understanding of these conditions.
I also gained valuable skills in Matlab and Python and had the opportunity to present my research at various events. This interdisciplinary experience in a psychiatry and neuroscience lab, combined with data manipulation with my computer science knowledge, highlights the diverse opportunities available through the Cognitive Science program."ÌýÌý
Misha Vernet
Honours Cognitive Science 2026
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Bachelor of Arts and Science DegreeÌý
Cognitive Science is an interfaculty program offered by the Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.A. & Sc.) degree program. The B.A. & Sc. is intended for students who want to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study that combines the methods and modes of thought of both the Arts and Sciences.Ìý In order to declare Cognitive Science as your major, you need to first apply and be admitted to the B.A. & Sc. degree, once you are enrolled in the B.A. & Sc., then you can choose the "Interfaculty Program Cognitive Science" as your major.
How to Apply to the B.A. & ScÌý
After one year in the Interfaculty Cognitive Science program, you have the option of changing to the Honours Cognitive ScienceÌýprogram.  Both programs must be completed with a minor program, chosen from the list of minors for B.A. & Sc. students.
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What grad school and career opportunities will this program lead to?
The interdisciplinary nature of this program means that our students tend to have a wide range of interests and long-term goals. After completing this program you will gain a deeper understanding of how the mind works, this will benefit you in any profession you pursue.
At least half of the graduates from the Cognitive Science program go on to graduate or professional school programs, others will go directly into jobs in a variety of fields. Here are a few examples of the common pathways cognitive science graduates may pursue:
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýCareer and Industry:
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Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
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Data Science and Analytics
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User Experience (UX)/Human-computer interaction
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Marketing and Consumer Behavior Analysis
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Educational Technology and Learning Sciences
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Mental health organizations
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Software Development
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Research Analysis
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Human Resources
Ìý Ìý Ìý Graduate and Professional Schools:
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Medical school
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Law school
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Neuroscience
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Clinical/Counseling Psychology
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Cognitive Psychology
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Industrial and Organizational Psychology
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Computer Science
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Linguistics
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Speech Language Pathology
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Occupational Therapy
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Public Health
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