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What is Cognitive Science Studies?

Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field of study focused on the study of the human mind and its processes.  Cognition science explores the functions, nature, and tasks involved with cognition.  Cognitive science degree holders study human behavior and intelligence using the nervous system as a lens to process, transform, and represent the world.

The mental facilities used in cognitive science include memory, perception, language, emotion, attention, and reasoning.  In an effort to make sense of these mental facilities, cognitive science leverages intelligence from adjacent fields such as psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, anthropology, and artificial intelligence.

The field cognitive science spans from learning and decision making to organization and planning to emotion and reasoning.  In addition to the core curricula of a Cognitive Science program, a student may be required by the college or university to perform specific types of research to help advance the field of study.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$75,320

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

50.73%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

173,900

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Cognitive Science Degree

The top ranked cognitive science major this year has is bestowed upon Yale University. They initiated this major because their existing majors in the contributing disciplines do not have full interdisciplinary investigation of the mind. Students will be able to develop a program of study that is focused on the underlying problems and not just on the methods used to address the problems. Some of the courses that are based on the cognitive science major which Yale offers are, Introduction to Cognitive Science, Brain & Thought, the Senior Colloquium and various one-time occasional seminars. 

Acceptance Rate

6.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT is rooted in a tradition of intensive academic and research. This Department have rigorous coursework with hands-on collaborative research. They claim that the lectures are delivered by world-class faculty. Their students are also welcome to access the top rated science lab in the nation for projects and ad hoc study sessions with students and faculty.

Acceptance Rate

6.7

Student to Faculty Ratio

3:1

Students that are taking the Cognitive Science Concentration at Brown University will gain fluency in statistical analysis and computation. Professors will put an effort to help their students understand a broad range of mental abilities and the underlying bases in the brain. Students will be skillful in applying empirical methods relevant to the field. They will also have an opportunity to complete a capstone project in collaboration with a faculty member.

Acceptance Rate

7.07

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Department of Psychology at Stanford University offers Cognitive Science Specialization Track. This specialization track is designed for students that is interested in the artificial intelligence, environments, human-computer interaction and eyewitness testimony. Their students will learn about the workings of the mind and brain, the design of objects, interfaces and information. Some of the courses that is included in this track are cognition, language, perception and neuroscience in the Psychology department.

Acceptance Rate

4.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Pennsylvania University has a long and prominent tradition when it comes to cognitive science. Their program is known to bring a certain level of concreteness, precision and rigor. They have a program for research and education that placed a special focus on formal and computational methods. As the field of Cognitive Science matures, their training became even more interdisciplinary.

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Qualified students can take major in Cognitive Science at Dartmouth College.  In this School, their cognitive science program performs research in a problem-oriented way. Their students, with guidance of their adviser, will be asked to design a course of study that concentrates on a particular problem which can be tackled by a variety of methods. They will learn the basic approaches of psychology, philosophy and linguistics.

Acceptance Rate

7.93

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Major in Cognitive Science at Pomona College is designed to familiarize students with methodologies for studying the mind drawn from the cognitive science disciplines. It will teach the students how these knowledges are applied to central issues in cognitive science. Students will then gain deeper understanding on how human’s memory are organized in the brain and mind. They’ll discern how our brain remember and how it can forget. 

Acceptance Rate

7.4

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Swarthmore’s Cognitive Science degree program offers flexible schedule to allow their students have time for their personal interests. They also give their highly engaged students who wants to pursue independent research an option to complete a senior thesis. Their program assures that their students will have experiential learnings. It’s been their custom to host an annual colloquia series where they invite top researchers in the field to their campus. 

Acceptance Rate

8.93

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Northwestern University offers an undergraduate major and minor in Cognitive Science. This program provides advanced fellowship support for graduate students that are engaged in interdisciplinary research in cognitive science. They also conduct speaker series. They invite leading cognitive scientists to discuss their research for a wide audience.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Students at Rice University who have taken the BA Degree with a major in Cognitive Sciences are able to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge of the key issues and perspectives at stake in the multiple disciplines that is related to the study of cognitive science. They acquired the advanced critical thinking skills that is essential in evaluating multiple methods from a variety of related disciplines. They know which theories to apply to a particular problem in cognitive sciences. They can skillfully evaluate the validity of research results to address same questions yet with different results. 

Acceptance Rate

8.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Psychological and brain sciences major in Cognitive Neuroscience is offered at Washington University in St Louis. In this track, students will study the linkage between mental functions and how the brain and nervous system operates. The goal of this program is to help students gain deeper and accurate understanding of psychological processes. Graduates of this program studied the brain to understand the mind and studied the mind to understand the brain.

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

The cognitive science research at Vanderbilt University, endeavors to involve an extensive collaboration among faculty and students. This program has a fundamental belief that multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts are essential in facing the difficult problems in the field. That is one reason why their students are really benefitting in their researches. They enjoy the close interactions with a number of faculty members in different departments. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Tufts provides an interdisciplinary study of the mind through their Cognitive Science PhD Program. Tufts managed to built up a world-renowned faculty in Cognitive Science. With the help of the pioneers in the field who have been prominent since the birth of the field, Tufts promises to offer an exceptional interdisciplinary breadth of topics from all the defining fields of Cognitive Science. Their joint PhD program is offering a joint degree in Cognitive Science in one of its four host disciplines, Computer Science, Education, Psychology or Education.

Acceptance Rate

14.95

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Johns Hopkins University makes sure that their students under the Department of Cognitive Science are receiving theoretically oriented research. They give them training opportunities while they approach the study of mind and brain from multiple perspectives. They offer PhD Program. Master’s program and Undergraduate Program. Though their University remains open, E-mail would be the best way to reach their department members at this time.

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

PhD Program in Brain and Cognitive Science is offering a comprehensive training with a keen interest in understanding cognition, emotion motivation and perception in terms of both the manifested behaviors and underlying brain processes. Faculty in the University of Southern California have world renowned expertise in a wide range of areas. They are proud to have state-of-the-art research facilities. They are able and willing to prepare their graduates to be at the forefront of knowledge creation in the confluence of biology, neuroscience and psychology. 

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The major in Neuroscience at Claremont McKenna College is an interdisciplinary program with a maximum of 16 courses. Each course offered are designed to provide appreciation of diverse approaches to understanding the function of nervous systems. Some are structured to hone the students’ ability to conduct investigations within a particular subfield of interest. Neuroscience majors should complete a common core program, sequence of four electives, and one- or two-semester thesis based on a topic related to the four-course sequence.

Acceptance Rate

10.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

The Cognitive psychologist Graduate Major’s goal is to produce cognitive psychologists who combine general scholarship with theory formulation and scientific communication. They offer a cognitive program that is designed to ensure exposure to the methods that are essential for all cognitive psychologists. They also strive to provide exposure to research tools and additional knowledge required for specialized professional positions. They assure their students that the scope of study of cognition in UCLA is not just broad, it also encompasses perception and has motor responses. 

Acceptance Rate

12.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

The foundational idea of Cognitive Science major at University of Michigan is that mental processes are computational. Their computational of the field remains central but not the exclusive domain. Students will be required to take coursework in psychology and computer programming. Subsequent depth courses emphasize computational and formal methods but not just exclusive to that. Students will have machine learning, rational choice theory and computational linguistics. 

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

The fundamental purpose of University of California-Berkeley as a social institution is the generation, preservation and transmission of knowledge. That is why it is said that Cognitive Science is speaking to the heart of the University’s mission. Different faculty members of their School engaged for Cognitive Science, so they call Cognitive Science Department as the microcosm of the university as a whole. With the help of the earnest efforts of its faculty, UC Berkeley became one of the relatively few institutions to offer an undergraduate major in this field. 

Acceptance Rate

16.25

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

The major and minor in Cognitive Science at Carleton College represents a formal means of bringing together students and faculty who share common interest in different disciplines. They endeavor to enrich the view by one discipline through an exploration or methodologies of others. They guide their students while exploring how humans learn, understand and use language. They will also have a full understanding in how human brain process learning and how intelligence develop.

Acceptance Rate

19.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Students who are pursuing a major in Cognitive Science at Carnegie Mellon University gains an interdisciplinary skillset drawing from computer science, linguistics and psychology. They also learned how to use computational tools in developing and testing claims about recognition. Faculty helps them acquire foundational knowledge about areas of cognitive science. They were successful in developing skills to transform intuitions about cognition into psychological methods. 

Acceptance Rate

15.44

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Vassar College granted an undergraduate degree in cognitive science in the year 1982, making it the first institution in the world to offer this degree. They conduct cognitive science laboratory coursework, independent thesis, senior thesis and faculty research. They use a number of important college facilities for such activities. Students that are interested in Cognitive science must check the academic requirements and courses that are available on the Vassar College Catalog.

Acceptance Rate

23.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

United States Military Academy offers a multi-interdisciplinary program in Cognitive Science. They teach their students about artificial intelligence, data analysis, user interface and game design. Their students also gain knowledge about software, development, education, medicine and medical research. They also help their students to understand the historical foundations of cognitive science. 

Acceptance Rate

12.03

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Haverford College offers a minor in Neuroscience in partnership with Bryn Mawr. They structured a curriculum that aims to ground students in the field of neuroscience but at the same time allows them to explore the range of interconnected disciplines. This minor program is for undergraduate students who wants to explore the workings of the nervous system and how it affects the behavior. Students in any major are welcome.

Acceptance Rate

16.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Scripps College’ major in cognitive science and neuroscience gives students quality preparation for graduate work in neuroscience and in a variety of other programs. Completion of this major also prepares you for other graduate health professions programs. The interdisciplinary program that they provide is tailored to help the students gain fuller understanding of the functions of the nervous system. They will also develop the needed skills in conducting investigations in a specific subfield of interest.

Acceptance Rate

32

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

What Do Cognitive Scientists Do?

A cognitive scientist will study a program cognitive science to determine how individuals obtain, process, retrieve, and store information. The primary brain functions studied by a cognitive scientist include:

  • Problem-Solving
  • Language Development
  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Decision-Making
  • Information Retrieval
  • Human Perception

Scientists will help solve real-world problems in small groups or as part of a large team. They will also have the opportunity to work in a variety of institutions from large, multi-national corporations to non-profit organizations.

Top Cognitive Science Degrees

The area of cognitive science is a fascinating, expansive field of study. Colleges and universities around the country continue to learn more about the human mind and the variables that affect cognition. Schools offer a number of alternatives for students to consider ranging from undergraduate programs to graduate degrees in the field.

In addition, many accredited colleges and universities offer online learning options. Distance learning, commonly known as online learning, is a learning modality with distinct benefits when compared to a classroom-based degree program.

To learn more about online learning programs, simply visit our resource page today. A summary of cognitive science degrees in cognitive science can be found below to learn more about each.

Bachelor Degrees in Cognitive Science

An online bachelors degree in cognitive science will most frequently be found in a college course catalogue as a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Degree options can vary from a general cognitive science degree program or a specialized degree. Depending on the college, you may find cognitive science specializations that include:

  • Clinical Aspects of Cognition
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Computation
  • Design & Interaction
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Language & Culture
  • Human Cognition
  • Machine Learning
  • Neural Computation

Bachelor degree programs will typically take students 4-years of full-time matriculation to complete. Part-time students, on the other hand, will take longer than four-years as a function of course load. BS, Bachelor of Science, degrees in cognitive science will blend liberal arts education with core classes to provided students with a well-rounded education. General education courses will often include: communications, history, statistics, philosophy, English, and art.

An example of classes that may be found in a general cognitive science degree track include: introduction to computing, design of everyday things, fundamentals of data science, research methods, minds and brains, neurobiology of cognition, the future of cognition, perception, sensation, data modeling, data analysis, design in commerce, machine learning, the developing mind, gesture, animal cognition, analysis of cognition and drugs, alternate states of consciousness, deep learning, and neural networks.

Cognitive Science Master's Degree

A masters degree in cognitive science is a 2-3 year program. Masters degrees are conferred as a Master of Science (MS) given the emphasis on the sciences. Students interested in pursuing a masters degree in cognitive science will have an array of tracks to consider.

Programs will vary from university to university but may include research in cognition, theories and methods, behavioral science, neural oscillations, and design. Classes at the graduate level can often be tailored to each student given the schools resources and area(s) of expertise.

Doctorate Degree in Cognitive Sciences

Doctorate degrees in cognitive science are specialty degree programs known as a terminal degree as there are no additional degrees beyond the doctorate. Doctoral degrees in the field are conferred as a PhD. Graduate students will have a broad training in methods and theories of sociology, psychology, language, and culture.

Additionally, a PhD student will also have proficiency in neurological phenomena, neuropsychology, and computational methods. PhD programs typically take 3-5 to complete. The first half of the program will generally include students taking core classes, lab rotations, methods classes, issues courses, teacher assistantships, and applicable computer programming courses.

The final half of the doctoral program will be spent drafting a dissertation proposal, collecting data, writing, finalizing, and defending a dissertation project. PhD students will also be asked to submit articles or white papers for journal submission and present research methods. At the completion of the program, students will apply for industry jobs or teaching positions.

Employment in Cognitive Sciences

Cognitive science majors will have earned a specialized degree.  As such, employment will often be in a specialized field of science.  However, students may elect to follow a career path in a similar vocation instead of a narrowly focused area.  Options in related fields can include teaching in college, research specialist, genomics, psychology, immunologist, counseling, biochemist, anthropologist, forensic science, political scientist, survey research, and social work.

Where Do Cognitive Scientists Work?

A cognitive science major can work for a number of organizations across various industries.  Options may include self-employment working on a contract basis or an international pharmaceutical company.  With an ever-expanding need for growth, a cognitive science student may find themselves working for any number of the following type of company:

  • Private Practice
  • Colleges and Universities
  • State Government Agencies
  • Consulting
  • Federal Government Agencies
  • Pharmaceutical Firms
  • Research and Development Organizations
  • Software Design Companies
  • Public Corporation

Cognitive Science Majors Career Outlook

Cognitive science jobs are expected to increase by 14% or more than twice the national average. The net result will be an additional 23,000 cognitive scientists injected into our nation's economy. Driving the bulk of these jobs are industries such as schools, medical centers, hospitals, social welfare centers, and mental health organizations.

The national average salary cognitive scientists and psychologists is pegged at $93,440 a year. States paying the most include Maryland, California, Kansas, and Washington. All of which average over $100,000 a year based on the latest data from the BLS. The largest employers of scientists are the federal government, research firms, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and colleges.

Cognitive Science Research

Additional information about studying cognitive science can be found with trade-specific associations such as the Cognitive Science Society (CSS) or research organizations like Science Direct. In-depth studies and networking opportunities may benefit students and working professionals looking to advance cognition and our understanding of the brain.

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