What Does the Cognitive Science Major at UC Berkeley Cover?

UC Berkeley's Cognitive Science program is an interdisciplinary framework that brings together multiple fields to study how the human mind works and why it works the way it does. According to the program's website, students draw on psychology, linguistics, computer science, philosophy, neuroscience, and anthropology, among other fields. The program involves over forty affiliated faculty from a variety of departments and offers an undergraduate major, a graduate designated emphasis, and a summer minor.

What Disciplines Are Involved?

The program explicitly lists these contributing fields:

• Psychology
• Linguistics
• Computer Science
• Philosophy
• Neuroscience
• Anthropology

The stated objective is to provide "a framework for bringing all the many disciplines that study the mind together into a cohesive whole." This means you won't be confined to a single department's approach — you'll be expected to integrate perspectives from across these fields.

Program Options

The website describes three distinct offerings:

Undergraduate Major

The major includes a structured set of requirements and support resources. From the site's navigation, the major covers:

• Degree Requirements — the specific courses and units needed
• How to Declare — the process for officially joining the major
• Honors Program — for students seeking additional distinction
• Glushko Winners — likely a prize or recognition associated with the program
• Major Map and Sample Program Plans — suggested paths through the degree
• Study Abroad — options for overseas study
• Receiving Credit for Research and Receiving Credit for Internships — ways to earn academic credit outside the classroom
• Elective Petition Form — for requesting approval of courses not automatically counted

Graduate Designated Emphasis

For graduate students already enrolled in a PhD or master's program at Berkeley, the Cognitive Science Designated Emphasis adds an interdisciplinary credential. The site lists:

• How to Apply to the DE
• Curriculum
• Graduate Group (Faculty)
• Program Policies
• Graduate DE Advising

This is not a standalone graduate degree — it's a supplement to a primary graduate program.

Summer Minor

The Summer Minor in "Cognitive Science and the Future of Tech" is a focused option for undergraduates who want to add a cognitive science credential without completing the full major.

Who Might This Program Suit?

Based on the program's own description, the major is designed for students who:

• Want to study the mind from multiple angles rather than through a single lens
• Are comfortable moving between departments like psychology, computer science, and philosophy
• Are interested in questions about how and why the human mind works

The program's advising structure — including CogSci Affiliated Faculty, a Faculty Director, and the CogSci Student Association — suggests that students are expected to actively navigate across departments with guidance.

Practical Resources for Current and Prospective Students

The site lists several categories of support:

• Academic Resources — campus offices, student clubs, holistic wellness, international student resources, transfer student resources
• Career, Research, & Graduate Study — career exploration, a summer internship grant, research resources, research centers and labs, preparing for graduate school
• Advising — dedicated advising services for both undergraduate and graduate students
• Courses — Cog Sci courses by term, a comprehensive course list, enrollment policies, and an elective petition form

Key Takeaways

• Cognitive Science at UC Berkeley is explicitly interdisciplinary, drawing on six named fields and over forty affiliated faculty.
• The program offers three paths: an undergraduate major, a graduate designated emphasis, and a summer minor.
• The undergraduate major has a defined declaration process, honors track, and structured support for research, internships, and study abroad.
• The graduate designated emphasis is for students already in a graduate program, not a separate degree.

For specific requirements, declaration steps, or course lists, the program's website (cogsci.berkeley.edu) provides the authoritative and current information.