The Cognitive Psychology concentration within the Psychology Major includes courses that focus on the human acquisition, development, and uses of knowledge. Cognitive Psychology investigates our mental faculties including, perception, learning, memory, language, thought, and reasoning. A range of research techniques are employed including behavioral research, functional brain imaging, and computational modeling. Students concentrating in Cognitive Psychology are strongly encouraged to obtain research experience – through PSYC 3590 – working as research assistants in Cognitive faculty members’ labs. Students interested in understanding how people obtain, process, and store knowledge and how these processes are represented in the brain are encouraged to follow the Cognitive Psychology track within their Psychology major.
Potential career paths of Psychology Majors who pursue the Cognitive Track include the following occupations requiring advanced degrees: Academic or industry research positions requiring a Ph.D. in Psychology or Cognitive Science. Health careers in medicine including becoming an M.D. physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse. Masters programs in human factors and organizational psychologists are open to Psychology majors with a Cognitive background. Cognitive Psychology provides a good foundation for applying to Law School. Most of our majors obtain jobs with their B.A. in a variety of business fields.
The list of courses, and the 4-year sequence of enrollment below are provided as guidance. While some courses are taught almost every year (in bold), others may be offered less frequently, and new courses (numbered XX59) are continuously added.
Cognitive Psychology Track (PDF)
(PDF of information below)
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REQUIREMENTS for PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
To earn a BA in Psychology students must complete 34 credits in PSYC courses, including at least one course from Introductory courses in Pillars I, II, III and IV. Research Methods (PSYC 2005 and PSYC3006), 4 courses at the 3000-level or higher (including 1 at the 4000- or 5000-level). The remainder of credits can be completed by enrolling to any other PSYC courses.
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INTRODUCTORY / PREREQUISITE COURSES
(These may also satisfy the Introductory Course requirements for the Major.):
- PSYC 2100 Introduction to Learning and Behavior (Group I) (Williams)
- PSYC 2120 Introduction to Human Memory (Group I) (Sederberg)
- PSYC 2150 Introduction to Cognition (Group I) (Jaswal)
- PSYC 2300 Introduction to Perception (Group I) (Proffitt)
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LAB COURSES:
- PSYC 2301 Introduction to Perception Laboratory
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SEMINAR COURSES:
- PSYC 3110 - Psychology of Language
- PSYC 3435 - Educational Psychology
- PSYC 4105 - Cognitive Psychology and American Education
- PSYC 4155 - Autism: From Neurons to Neighborhoods (Jaswal)
- PSYC 4110 - Psycholinguistics
- PSYC 4120 - Psychology of Reading
- PSYC 4125 - Psychology of Language
- PSYC 4150 - Cognitive Processes
- PSYC 4155 - Autism: From Neurons to Neighborhoods (Jaswal)
- PSYC 4180 - Invention and Design
- PSYC 4290 - Memory Distortions
- PSYC 4300 - Theories of Perception
- PSYC 4499 - Psychology and Law: Cognitive and Social Issues
- PSYC 4580 - Directed Readings in Psychology
- PSYC 4755 - Social Neuroscience
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UPPER LEVEL SEMINARS / GRADUATE COURSES
- PSYC 5160 - Emotion and Cognition
- PSYC 5310 - Developmental Psycholinguistics
- PSYC 5320 - Theories of Cognitive Development
- PSYC 5325 - Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSYC 5328 - Cognitive Aging
- PSYC 5559 - Machine Learning in Neuroscience Research (Sederberg)
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RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCE FOR BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE TRACK
YEAR 1
- PSYC 2100, PSYC 2120, PSYC 2150, or PSYC 2300 (Group I)
- Pillar II and III Psychology courses
- Other College Requirements
YEAR 2
- PSYC 2005 and PSYC 3006
- PSYC 3110, PSYC 3435 or electives in other Groups
- PSYC 3590 Cognitive Psychology Research
YEAR 3
- --
YEAR 4
- PSYC 4105, PSYC 4110, PSYC 4120, PSYC 4155, etc.
- Distinguished Majors