Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science
Cognitive science focuses on the understanding of intelligent systems, both biological and artificial. These can range from people and animals to Web search engines, computers and robots. This field requires diverse approaches to understanding these systems, including research from experimental psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, mathematics and engineering.
The UT Dallas cognitive science program offers a variety of interdisciplinary courses to provide a strong foundation. Students may tailor the program to meet their career goals and interests by selecting one of four areas of specialization.
Careers in Cognitive Science
Cognitive science is excellent preparation for a number of areas of graduate study including cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, engineering, medical school and law school. Career opportunities in the areas of artificial intelligence and human-computer interactions (HCI) are also available to cognitive science majors.
The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing their careers. Professional career counselors are available to help clarify career goals, provide strategies for mastering job interviews and writing professional cover letters and resumes and help students connect with campus recruiters.
Cognitive Science at UT Dallas
The BS in cognitive science requires 120 credit hours. Within the cognitive science major, students may choose to specialize in:
- Human-computer interaction.
- Intelligent systems.
- Cognitive neuroscience.
- Language and speech.
The cognitive science minor requires 18 credit hours. Students who minor in cognitive science may specialize in one of two areas:
- Intelligent systems specialization area in mathematical modeling
- Human-computer interactions specialization area in user-interface development
Internships
Junior and senior cognitive science majors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.
Fast-Track
The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, and human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have at least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.
Areas of study include:
- Child learning and development
- Cognition and neuroscience
- Psychology
- Speech-language pathology and communication disorders
- Audiology
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts: Psychology*
Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development*, cognitive science, neuroscience, speech-language pathology and audiology*
Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, human development and early childhood disorders, psychological sciences
Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, communication sciences and disorders, psychological sciences
Doctor of Audiology: Audiology
*May be combined with a teacher certification degree plan
Research Centers
In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students can also gain valuable experience through the school’s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.
- Callier Center for Communication Disorders — The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the center’s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
- The Center for BrainHealth — This center has a unique mission: to understand the brain's ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
- The Center for Vital Longevity — This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
- The Center for Children and Families — The center’s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.
To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the school's research labs, visit
Additional Facts about BBS
- BBS enrollment has increased by almost 50 percent during the last seven years.
- The graduate programs in audiology and speech language pathology are both nationally-ranked in the top five percent, according to U.S. News & World Report.
- The school is home to one of the state’s largest concentrations of child development experts.
- Since September 2008, BBS faculty members have received close to $35 million in research funding.
- BBS has more than 1,200 undergraduate students and more than 460 graduate students.
Contact Information
Melanie Spence, PhD
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road GR41
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Fax: (972)-883-2491
E-mail: bbs.undergraduate@utdallas.edu
Website: bbs.utdallas.edu
Office of Admission and Enrollment Services
800 West Campbell Road ROC 11
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone: 972-883-2270 or 1-800-889-2443
E-mail: interest@utdallas.edu
Website: utdallas.edu/enroll
