Cognitive Science, B.S.

The Department of Linguistics

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

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.

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 - Foundations of Cognitive Science Units: 4
CSCI 40 - Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving Units: 4
CSCI 41 - Introduction to Data Structures Units: 4
LING 100 - General Linguistics Units: 3
PHIL 45 - Introduction to Logic Units: 3
PSYCH 42 - Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis Units: 4
PSYCH 128 - Cognitive Psychology Units: 4
PSYCH 144 - Research Designs and Experimental Methods Units: 5
CSCI 60 - Foundations of Computer Science Units: 3
OR
MATH 114 - Discrete Structures Units: 3

Electives (9-12 units)

Select three courses from the following list:

PSYCH 121 - Learning and Memory Units: 4
PSYCH 124 - Sensation and Perception Units: 4
PHIL 145 - Symbolic Logic Units: 3
PHIL 146 - Philosophy of Language Units: 3
LING 139 - General Phonetics Units: 3
LING 142 - Phonology Units: 3
LING 143 - Syntax Units: 3
LING 151 - Languages of the World Units: 3
LING 165 - Language Acquisition Units: 3
CSCI 119 - Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata Units: 3
CSCI 164 - Artificial Intelligence Programming Units: 3
CSCI 166 - Principles of Artificial Intelligence Units: 3
CGSCI 101 - Cognitive Science Seminar Units: 3 (course may be taken twice)

Additional Requirements

PHIL 151 - Cognitive Science: Mind Units: 3
PSYCH 10 - Introduction to Psychology Units: 3
PSYCH 126 - Cognitive Neuroscience Units: 4

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the major program requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate degree requirements such as:

American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2 )
General Education Requirements (48 units)
Multicultural and International (MI)
Upper-division Writing
Sufficient Elective Units to Meet Required Total Units (varies); it is recommended that units in this area be utilized to complete a second major or minor.

A full description of the University’s graduation requirements can be found in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

Total Units: 120*

*General Education, MI, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. The courses are PHIL 151 (Area IC) PSYCH 10 (Area D2). See advisor for details.