Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: Cognitive Science

Program Overview

Cognitive science is the scientific study of the mind from multiple disciplinary points of view. By incorporating insights from fields such as cognitive neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science, it develops theories of cognition that go beyond the borders of any one discipline. At Case Western Reserve University, the program focuses on cognitive capacities that mark human beings as distinctive. The major is highly flexible and will provide students with the opportunity to integrate a wide variety of approaches and apply them to the study of the human mind. 

Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to recognize and describe concepts, theories and research methods in cognitive science.
• Students will be able to summarize and interpret findings from different areas of cognitive science, critique methodological and theoretical approaches, and identify new areas for future research.
• Students will be able to identify differences in cognition that result from differences in experience and reflect on how cognition is shaped by diversity and commonality in experience.
• Students will be able to extend existing empirical work to new research questions by proposing a solution to a problem / designing a way of testing a theory or claim / predicting how a phenomenon would pattern in a new context.

Undergraduate Policies

For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Accelerated Master's Programs

Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.

In addition to meeting general education requirements, cognitive science majors must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in cognitive science and approved related course work: 15 credit hours in the foundation component and 15 credit hours of elective course work. The foundation courses provide all students with a common basis for further study. 

Students must also fulfill a “significant work” graduation requirement. Any student majoring in cognitive science must submit 1) the piece of work that best demonstrates their mastery of the program learning outcomes, and 2) the assignment the piece of work was created for.

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At least three of the five electives are required to be at the 200- or 300-level.