Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science
California State University, Fresno
Key Information
Campus location
Fresno, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 16,089 / per year *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* with additional fees and living expenses, the overall annual cost is around $28,584
Scholarships
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Introduction
Cognitive Science is an emerging field that brings together various approaches to the study of human cognition, drawing from psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and computer science. Historically, a study in Cognitive Science has been conducted within these traditional disciplines and such study still represents important areas of research, such as in cognitive psychology within psychology or artificial intelligence within computer science. However, increasingly many researchers and practitioners are feeling a need for a background that integrates basic knowledge in the foundational disciplines and prepares them to work across academic fields.
The broad-based multidisciplinary degree program in Cognitive Science develops and provides a thorough foundation in the study of cognitive science, drawing in perspectives from computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology; and to provide a foundation in cognitive science
Program Outcome
What You Can Learn
- Problem-solving strategies, algorithm design, and data abstraction
- Principles of operation of the human memory system
- Sensory and perceptual processes in vision, touch, and hearing
- Integration of quantitative and expert knowledge with the computer for improving the decision-making process
The general objectives for the B.S. in Cognitive Science are to develop and provide a thorough foundation in the study of cognitive science, drawing in perspectives from computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology; to provide a foundation in cognitive science with which students will be able to pursue graduate education in cognitive science, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, or related fields; and to provide a foundation for the pursuit of jobs in business and industry where a multidisciplinary background is highly desirable.
The primary instructional objectives of the B.S. in Cognitive Science are to give an education in recent approaches to cognition and cognitive science and to give an overview of current methodologies used within cognitive science, including those methodologies used in the core disciplines of computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology.
Curriculum
1. Major requirements (43-47 units)
The core consists of the two cognitive science foundational courses, plus a set of courses from each of the primary cognitive science disciplines represented at Fresno State: computer science, communicative disorders, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology.
Core requirements (34-35 units)
CGSCI 100, CSCI 40, CSCI 41, LING 100, PHIL 45, PSYCH 42, PSYCH 128, PSYCH 144, CSCI 60 or MATH 114
Electives (9-12 units)
Select three courses from the following list: PSYCH 121, PSYCH 124, PHIL 145, PHIL 146, LING 139, LING 142, LING 143, LING 151, LING 165, CSCI 119, CSCI 164, CSCI 166, CGSCI 101*
Additional requirements
(Double counted in G.E.) PHIL 151, PSYCH 10, PSYCH 126
2. General Education requirements (48 units)
3. Other requirements (9 units)
American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2), Multicultural and International (MI), and Upper-division writing
4. Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies)
5. Total units (120)**
* Course may be taken twice.
** G.E. and MI courses can be double-counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.
Career Opportunities
What You Can Do
Pursue jobs in business and industry where a multidisciplinary background is highly desirable, such as the technology industry, publishing, or law enforcement.
Pursue graduate education in:
- Cognitive Science
- Computer Science
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Psychology