Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science

Overview

Undergraduate students can extend the breadth of their studies to include the cognitive sciences, and earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science.

Training in cognitive science prepares students admirably well for many of the fields that are targeted as the major growth fields of the 21st century: telecommunications, information processing, medical analysis, data retrieval, education, and multimedia. As the world is enveloped by the information age, cognitive scientists will be uniquely positioned to deal with this information.

Students majoring in degree programs at ATLAS Institute, Architecture and Planning, Computer Science, Information Science, Integrative Physiology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology and Neuroscience, School of Education, Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences have specified course requirements to earn the Certificate.

Applying for Admission

  • This program is available to students currently enrolled at CU Boulder in a degree program.
  • Undergraduate students should apply for admission to the program planning enough time to complete the program required courses.
  • Applications are accepted year round.
  • Earning the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science involves meeting the Course Requirements, earning at least a grade of B.
Four Steps to Apply
1Download and complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science Program APPLICATION FORM. Submit the completed form electronically to ICSPrograms@colorado.edu or in person to the ICS office in Muenzinger D414. Alternately, paper blank Application forms are available at the office.
2Submit an Unofficial Transcript with the application forms. 
3Download and complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science PLAN OF STUDY/PROGRESS REPORT. Submit the completed form electronically to ICSPrograms@colorado.edu or in person to the ICS office in Muenzinger D414. Alternately, paper blank Plan of Study/Progress Report forms are available at the office.
4The ICS Academic Program Director will approve the enrollment on the basis of the unofficial transcript, the Application Form, and Plan of Study. Upon acceptance, you will receive a confirmation letter.

Students desiring to complete and Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science are required to major in one of the cognitive science core disciplines: ATLAS Institute, Architecture and Planning, Computer Science, Information Science, Integrative Physiology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology and Neuroscience, School of Education, and Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences.

To earn the Certificate, students must take at least six courses for a minimum of 18 credit hours. 

  • The program requirements include two core courses, each in a different core discipline of cognitive science.
    • These core courses provide the necessary interdisciplinary background.
  • In addition, there are two advanced skills sequences, each of which involves a different core discipline of cognitive science.
    • This advanced skills sequence addresses interdisciplinary depth of knowledge. One of these course sequences can be in the student’s major.
  • Additional credit hours may be required as prerequisites to classes chosen to fulfill the Certificate Plan of Study, but these courses usually also fulfill degree requirements. 

Details on the program requirements are found on the Course Requirements page.

Three Steps to Complete the Program
1Submit an Unofficial Transcript to the Academic Program Director at ICSPrograms@colorado.edu.
2Complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science PLAN OF STUDY/PROGRESS REPORT that you filled out during the application process. Submit the completed form electronically to ICSPrograms@colorado.edu or in person to the ICS office in Muenzinger D414.
3The Academic Program Director will review the transcript to confirm that requirements were met. Once approved, ICS will contact the Registrar's Office to include the Certificate on the student's official transcript. Certificates are awarded at the end of academic year ICS celebration.

We look forward to receiving your application materials for the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Science.

For more information contact:   

Institute of Cognitive Science Programs
ICSPrograms@colorado.edu