Cognitive Science Major

Our cognitive science undergraduate program reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the field, allowing students to approach the study of the mind and brain from multiple perspectives. Students gain broad knowledge of the field as a whole, plus a greater depth of the understanding in two of the sub-disciplines within the field. Training emphasizes not only learning about the principal theories and evidence, but also development of the conceptual and practical skills needed for understanding and conducting theoretical and empirical work in the field.

Requirements

Detailed major requirements are available in the Academic Catalog. First-year and new transfer students should use the current Academic Catalog. All other students should use the archived catalog published the year they entered Johns Hopkins. 

Cognitive science majors distribute their coursework across five areas, with special emphasis on two areas chosen as focal areas, providing both breadth and depth of knowledge. Majors thus acquire a broad perspective which will enable them to situate particular research disciplines within the overall study of the mind/brain. The three areas not chosen for depth are loosely referred to as ‘non- focal’ areas for advising purposes.

Focal AreasPOS-Tags*
Cognitive Psychology/NeuropsychologyCOGS-COGPSY
Linguistics (also see Linguistics Minor)COGS-LING
Computational Approaches to CognitionCOGS-COMPCG
NeuroscienceCOGS-NEURO
Philosophy of MindCOGS-PHLMND
*Program of study (POS) tags are used in SIS and the Degree Audit system to identify courses that fulfill our focal areas.

Majors must also complete two math courses.

Focal Area Course List

These are courses that qualify for each of the five areas. To inquire whether a course can be added to this list, contact our Director of Undergraduate Studies and provide a course description and syllabus. Courses change over time and some are not offered every year, just as courses offered in a given term are subject to change, withdrawal, etc.

Course No.Course TitleFocal Area POS TagsSemester
AS.050.102Language and MindCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING
AS.050.105Introduction to Cognitive NeuropsychologyCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.107
AS.001.189
AS.365.106.03**		Language and AdvertisingCOGS-LING
AS.050.112
AS.001.146
AS.365.106.02**		Nature, Nurture, CognitionCOGS-COGPSY
AS.050.116Visual CognitionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.050.121Theory of Mind and the Science of “Mindreading”COGS-COGPSY; COGS-PHLMND
AS.050.135Speech & VoiceCOGS-LING
AS.050.202Introduction to Computational Cognitive ScienceCOGS-COMPCG
AS.050.203Cognitive NeuroscienceCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.050.206BilingualismCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LINGSpring 2023
AS.050.233Lost in SpaceCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
AS.050.236NeurolinguisticsCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.240The World of LanguageCOGS-LING
AS.050.244Cognitive Neuroscience LabCOGS-NEURO
AS.050.311Written Language: Normal Processing and DisordersCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.312Cognitive Neuroimaging Methods in High-Level VisionCOGS-NEURO; COGS-COGPSY
AS.050.315Cognitive Neuropsychology of Visual PerceptionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.317 Semantics ICOGS-LING
AS.050.320Syntax ICOGS-LINGSpring 2023
AS.050.325Phonology ICOGS-LINGSpring 2023
AS.050.326Foundations of Cognitive ScienceCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-PHLMNDSpring 2023
AS.050.332Developmental Cognitive NeuroscienceCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.333PsycholinguisticsCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING
AS.050.337Reading the Mind: Computational Cognitive Neuroscience of VisionCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.050.339Cognitive DevelopmentCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.050.342Windows to the MindCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.344Written Language and the BrainCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.346Decoding the BrainCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.348First Language AcquisitionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING
AS.050.349Second Language AcquisitionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LINGSpring 2023
AS.050.352Appling Cognitive Neuro Science to Artificial Intelligence Part ICOGS-COGPSY; COGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.353Applying Cognitive Neuroscience to Artificial Intelligence Part IICOGS-COGPSY; COGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.050.358Language and ThoughtCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING
AS.050.360Computational PsycholinguisticsCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
AS.050.365Cracking the code: Theory and modeling of information coding in neural activityCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.370 Mathematical Models of LanguageCOGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
AS.050.371Bayesian InferenceCOGS-COMPCG
AS.050.372Foundations of Neural Network TheoryCOGS-COMPCG
AS.050.375
EN.601.485		Probabilistic Models of the Visual CortexCOGS-COMPCG
AS.050.383Computational Social CognitionCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.050.822Research Seminar in Syntax (requires instructor approval for UG enrollment)COGS-LING
AS.080.105Introduction to NeuroscienceCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.203Cognitive NeuroscienceCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.080.301Behavioral Assessment of Animal Models of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric DisordersCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.250Neuroscience LabCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.304Neuroscience Learning and MemoryCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.305Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems ICOGS-NEURO
AS.080.306Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems IICOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.308NeuroeconomicsCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.312The Making of a Cognitive MapCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.080.320The Auditory SystemCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.321Computational NeuroscienceCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.328Behavioral Neuroscience LabCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.339Cognitive Neuroscience of AgingCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.345Great Discoveries in NeuroscienceCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.080.348Science of LearningCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.355Computational Principles of Biological VisionCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.080.357Developmental NeuroscienceCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.360Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous SystemCOGS-NEURO
AS.080.370The CerebellumCOGS-NEURO
AS.130.218 Language and SocietyCOGS-LING
AS.145.105Minds and Machines (FA19, SP20 only)COGS-PHLMND
AS.150.118Introduction to Formal LogicCOGS-PHLMNDSpring 2023
AS.150.129The Theory of KnowledgeCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.136Philosophy of ScienceCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.140Minds, Bodies, and PersonsCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.193Philosophy of Language Seminar: Proper Names and Definite DescriptionsCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.210Minds, Consciousness, and ComputersCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.215Problems with Knowledge, Evidence, and ActionCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.216Minds & MachinesCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.223Formal Methods of Philosophy COGS-PHLMND
AS.150.245Philosophy of MindCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.254Philosophy of MemoryCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.330Decisions, Games & Social ChoiceCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.340Philosophy of PsychologyCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.375 Majors Seminar: Philosophy of Language (Proper Names and DescriptionsCOGS-LINGSpring 2023
AS.150.411Modal PsychologyCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.415Typefaces and MeaningCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.427Aristotelian Philosophical PsychologyCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.429Topics in Logic: Ontology and Knowledge RepresentationCOGS-COMPCG
AS.150.432Philosophy of MemoryCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.436Philosophy of Psychology (SP09, SP11 only)COGS-PHLMND
AS.150.451Animal Points of ViewCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.457Color and Color PerceptionCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.467Philosophic LogicCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.476Philosophy & Cognitive ScienceCOGS-PHLMND
AS.150.688 Philosophy of Psychology (instructor permission required)COGS-PHLMND
AS.200.101Introduction to PsychologyCOGS-COGPSY
AS.200.110Introduction to Cognitive PsychologyCOGS-COGPSYSpring 2023
AS.200.130Good VibrationsCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.200.132Introduction to Developmental PsychologyCOGS-COGPSY
AS.200.141Foundations of Brain, Behavior, & CognitionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.200.163Gamechangers: Conceptual Breakthroughs in NeuroscienceCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.211Sensation and PerceptionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.200.304Neuroscience of Decision MakingCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.200.311Sensory Representations in the Brain: Maps, Modules & Distributed CodingCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
AS.200.313Models of Mind and BrainCOGS-COMPCG
AS.200.316Thought and PerceptionCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-PHLMND
AS.200.318Quantitative Methods for Brian SciencesCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.322Clinical NeuropsychologyCOGS-COGPSY
AS.200.324Choosing the 'champion' animal in neuroscience resaerchCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.329Real World Human Data: Analysis & VisualizationCOGS-COMPCG; COGS-NEURO
AS.200.330Human and Machine IntelligenceCOGS-COMCGSpring 2023
AS.200.334Human Memory PsychologyCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.200.335How Does the Brain Predict the Future?COGS-COGPSY
AS.200.336Foundations of MindCOGS-COGPSY; COGS-PHLMND
AS.200.361Tests and MeasurementsCOGS-COGPSY
AS.200.368Altered States of ConsciousnessCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.369Neuroscience of Motivation and RewardCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.370Functional Human NeuroanatomyCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.376PsychopharmocologyCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.380Neurobiology of Human CognitionCOGS-NEURO
AS.200.385Mind, Brain, & Experience (prev. AS.050.363)COGS-COGPSY; COGS-NEURO
AS.200.386Animal CognitionCOGS-COGPSY
AS.211.311Introduction to Romance LinguisticsCOGS-LING
AS.250.205Introduction to ComputingCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
AS.376.371
PY.610.637**		Topics in Music Cognition ICOGS-COGPSY
AS.376.372
PY.610.638**		Topics in Music Cognition IICOGS-COGPSY
EN.500.112Gateway Computing: JAVACOGS-COMPCG*Spring 2023
EN.500.113Gateway Computing: PythonCOGS-COMPCG*Spring 2023
EN.500.114Gateway Computing: MatLabCOGS-COMPCG*Spring 2023
EN.500.200Computing for Engineers and ScientistsCOGS-COMPCG*
EN.520.315Introduction to Information Processing of Sensory SignalsCOGS-COMPCG
EN.520.412Machine Learning for Signal ProcessingCOGS-COMPCG
EN.520.414Image Processing and Analysis ICOGS-COMPCG
EN.520.415Image Processing and Analysis IICOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.520.433Medical Image AnalysisCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.520.438Deep LearningCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.553.426Introduction to Stochastic ProcessesCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.553.436Introduction to Data ScienceCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.553.493Mathematical Image AnalysisCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.580.200Introduction to Scientific ComputingCOGS-COMPCG*
EN.580.439Models of Physiological Processes in NeuronCOGS-NEUROSpring 2023
EN.601.107Introductory Programming in JavaCOGS-COMPCG*
EN.601.220Intermediate ProgrammingCOGS-COMPCG*Spring 2023
EN.601.226Data StructuresCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.229Computer System FundamentalsCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.231Automata and Computation TheoryCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.320
EN.601.420		Parallel ProgrammingCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.365Knowledge Discovery from TextCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.404Brain & ComputationCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.426Principles of ProgrammingCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.433Introduction to AlgorithmsCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.461Computer VisionCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.463Algorithms for Sensor-Based RoboticsCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.464Artificial IntelligenceCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.465Natural Language ProcessingCOGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
EN.601.467Introduction to Human Language TechnologyCOGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
EN.601.468Machine TranslationCOGS-LING; COGS-COMPCG
EN.601.471Natural Language Processing: Self-Supervised ModelsCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.475Machine LearningCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.476Machine Learning: Data to ModelsCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.482Machine Learning: Deep LearningCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.490Introduction to Human-Computer InteractionCOGS-COMPCG
EN.601.491Human-Robot InteractionCOGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
EN.601.783Vision as Bayesian Inference (instructor permission only)COGS-COMPCGSpring 2023
* At most, students may apply one of these computational courses toward their requirements.
** These course numbers do not automatically populate the major's Degree Audit. Contact the DUS or program coordinator to apply them.