Cognitive Science

Cognitive Science explores how the brain enables thought, perception, emotion, and behavior. You will study topics like neurobiology, sensory processing, memory, language, and decision-making, using tools from neuroscience, psychology, and data analysis. Courses combine theoretical insight with hands-on research skills, including experimental design, statistical modeling, and evidence synthesis. This interdisciplinary field gives you a scientific framework to understand how minds work, adapt, and interact with the world.

Opening up Cognitive Science courses

Anyone can start discovering Cognitive Science by taking a 100-level course. For 200 and 300-level courses you will need to complete the Brain and Behavior gateway course.

Courses in Cognitive Science

Gateway

Introduction to Brain & Behavior

Explores why people behave as they do and how brain injuries affect mental processes. Discusses nature and nurture, introduces brain anatomy and psychological theories, and provides a gateway to cognitive science and clinical psychology.

100-level

Neurobiology

How did different types of brains evolve, and how does the complexity of brains shape behavior in humans and (other) animals? You will first explore animal cognition, welfare, and the ethics around the use of animals in scientific research. You will then learn how key brain regions and biological rhythms regulate and shape behavior. This course includes interactive assignments and applied elements.

200-level

Perception & Action

This introductory course explores the neural mechanisms behind perception and action. You’ll learn how the brain processes sensory information and guides goal-directed behavior. Drawing on methods from cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, the course provides foundational insight into brain-behavior relationships through current research and basic experimental design.

300-level

Advanced Cognitive Science: Higher Order Functions

This course deepens your understanding of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and methods from cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. You’ll explore higher-level cognitive functions—memory, emotion, social cognition, executive functioning, and language—while engaging with current research and learning to design basic experiments.

Also consider these options:

Health, Cognition & Behavior

The other fields within the Health, Cognition & Behavior cluster.

Health, Cognition & Behavior

Explore AI!

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AI

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To apply insights into human behavior and decision-making for smarter strategies.

Business

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The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

Try the Program Builder

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Cognitive Science

Cognitive Science

Opening up Cognitive Science courses

Courses in Cognitive Science

Courses in Cognitive Science

Introduction to Brain & Behavior

Introduction to Brain & Behavior

Neurobiology

Neurobiology

Perception & Action

Perception & Action

Advanced Cognitive Science: Higher Order Functions

Advanced Cognitive Science: Higher Order Functions

Also consider these options:

Also consider these options:

Health, Cognition & Behavior

Health, Cognition & Behavior

Explore AI!

Explore AI!

Explore Business!

Explore Business!