UMass Boston

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Cognitive Science Minor

Explore the Complexities of the Human Mind.

UMass Boston’s Cognitive Science Minor program aims to help you gain both content knowledge and analytical science skills. In this program, you’ll explore the science of brain development and underlying processes. You'll learn about the implementation of language, perception, memory, problem-solving, learning, and other intelligent capacities.

As a student in this program, you’ll be encouraged to get involved in research through Research Assistantships, Directed Studies, and the Honors program. After completing the program, you can apply what you've learned to several different careers, including psychology, neuroscience, research, artificial intelligence, and more.

Expand Your Studies

How to Apply/Declare

Current Undergraduate Students: Declare or change your minor by completing an Undergraduate Program Add/Change form.

Prospective Undergraduate Students: Apply for admission to UMass Boston by completing an application. Start by reviewing the first-year and transfer application pages for important information about requirements, deadlines, and application status checks. Use the links below to apply: 

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Curriculum

Required Courses (6 Credits)

PSYCH 271 must be taken for a grade, minimum grade of C-.

  • PSYCH 271L - Introduction to Cognitive Science 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 370 - Statistics 3 Credit(s)

Elective Courses (12 to 16 Credits)

Take four courses from the list below. No more than one course can be at the 100-level and at least two courses must be at the 300-level or higher. With approval from the department, one semester of directed/independent study OR one semester of research apprenticeship OR both semesters of honors research/thesis may be applied toward this requirement.

  • ANTH 105 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 Credit(s)
  • ANTH 211 - Human Origins 3 Credit(s)
  • ANTH 385 - Language and Culture 3 Credit(s)
  • ANTH 478 - Directed Study I 1-3 Credit(s) OR
  • ANTH 479 - Directed Study II 1-3 Credit(s)
  • ANTH 490 - Independent Rsrch I 3 Credit(s) OR
  • ANTH 491 - Independent Research II 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 102 - Evolutionary Biology 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 252 - Genetics 4 Credit(s) OR
  • BIOL 254 - Genetics (Lecture) 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 316 - Neurobiology 4 Credit(s) OR
  • BIOL 318 - Neurobiology (Lecture) 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 348 - Animal Behavior 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 352 - Evolution 3 Credit(s)
  • BIOL 478 - Independent Study 1-3 Credit(s) OR
  • BIOL 479 - Independent Study II 1-3 Credit(s)
  • CS 110 - Introduction to Computing 4 Credit(s)
  • CS 420 - An Introduction to the Theory of Computation 3 Credit(s)
  • CS 438 - Applied Machine Learning 3 Credit(s)
  • CS 470 - An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 3 Credit(s)
  • CS 478 - Independent Study 1-3 Credit(s)
  • CS 498 - Honors Thesis 3 Credit(s)
  • LING 479 - Independent Study 1-3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 250 - Formal Logic 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 255 - The Mystery of Consciousness 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 340 - Speech Acts 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 344 - The Philosophy of Mind 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 345 - Theory of Knowledge 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 440 - Philosophy of Language 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 478 - Independent Study I 1-3 Credit(s) OR
  • PHIL 479 - Independent Study II 1-3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 201 - Introduction to Behavioral Research 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 230 - Social Psychology 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 241 - Infancy and Childhood Development 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 250 - Learning and Memory 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 255 - Perception 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 346 - Language Development 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 360 - Behavioral Neuroscience 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 447 - Cognitive Development 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 460 - The Neuropsychology of Higher Cognitive Processes 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 462 - Psychopharmacology 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 466 - Hormones and Behavior 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 475 - Experimental Methods: Learning and Perception 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 476 - Experimental Methods: Physiological 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 477 - Experimental Methods: Social 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 486 - Research Apprenticeship in Psychology 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 488 - Directed Study in Psychology 1-4 Credit(s) OR
  • PSYCH 489 - Directed Study in Psychology 1-4 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 496 - Honors Research 3 Credit(s) OR
  • PSYCH 497 - Honors Research 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 281 - Society and the Individual 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 350 - Social Statistics 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 479 - Directed Study in Sociology 1-4 Credit(s)

Completion Requirements

Complete between 18 and 22 credits from six courses, including two required courses and four electives.

Pass/Fail: Only one course taken pass/fail.

Course level: No more than two 100-level courses may be applied toward the minor. At least two courses for the minor must be at the 300-level or higher.

 

Contact

Michelle Browning, Department Manager & Advising Coordinator
McCormack Hall, Floor: 04, Room: 00206
617.287.6350
michelle.browning [@] umb.edu

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Psychology

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Next Steps

Declare or Change Your Minor Request Info About UMass Boston Undergraduate Admissions