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Cognitive Science Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Cognitive Science Major

Bachelor of Arts

Cognitive science is the study of the mind and its processes, including consciousness, language, learning, information processing, and decision making. At SFU this study is explored at the intersection of Linguistics, Psychology, Computing Science, and Philosophy. Through a variety of scientific and philosophical approaches, this interdisciplinary approach seeks a broader and deeper understanding of cognition.

Students in our program customize their individual programs within a set of required and recommended courses according to their developing interests. Faculty associated with our program and the Cognitive Science community at SFU contribute individually and collaboratively to a wide range of research areas.

Declaration Requirements

To be declared into the program, students must complete:

COGS 100 - Exploring the Mind (3)

Program Requirements

Within the minimum 120 units needed for the BA, students complete the required courses in the sections below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

CMPT 120 - Introduction to Computing Science and Programming I (3)
COGS 100 - Exploring the Mind (3)
COGS 200 - Foundations in Cognitive Science (3)
LING 220 - Introduction to Linguistics (3)
PHIL 100W - Knowledge and Reality (3)
PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology I (3)

and one of

MACM 101 - Discrete Mathematics I (3)
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Logic and Reasoning (3)

Students must additionally complete the courses listed in three of the four disciplines below (three to six units each depending on the discipline).

Linguistics

LING 282W - Writing for Linguistics (3)

Philosophy

One of

PHIL 201 - Epistemology (3)
PHIL 203 - Metaphysics (3)

Computing Science

Both of

CMPT 125 - Introduction to Computing Science and Programming II (3)
CMPT 225 - Data Structures and Programming (3)

Psychology

PSYC 201W - Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology (4)

and one of

PSYC 221 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 280 - Introduction to Biological Psychology (3)

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete at least 33 upper division units, including:

COGS 300 - Selected Topics in Cognitive Science (3)
COGS 310 - Consciousness (3) or COGS 315 - Formal Methods (3)

and at least 27 upper division units from the disciplines below, including at least one course from three of the four disciplines. (Note: COGS 310 or COGS 315 may be counted toward upper division units if the student takes both.)

Computing Science

CMPT 310 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
CMPT 363 - User Interface Design (3)
CMPT 365 - Multimedia Systems (3)
CMPT 383 - Comparative Programming Languages (3)
CMPT 384 - Symbolic Computing (3)
CMPT 411 - Knowledge Representation (3)
CMPT 412 - Computer Vision (3)
CMPT 413 - Computational Linguistics (3)
CMPT 417 - Intelligent Systems (3)
CMPT 419 - Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3) *

Linguistics

LING 315 - Psychology of Language (3)
LING 321 - Phonology (3)
LING 322 - Syntax (3)
LING 323 - Morphology (3)
LING 324 - Semantics (3)
LING 330 - Phonetics (3)
LING 350 - First Language Acquisition (3)
LING 400 - Formal Linguistics (3)
LING 415 - Neurolinguistics (3)
LING 480 - Topics in Linguistics I (3) *
LING 481 - Topics in Linguistics II (3) *

Philosophy

PHIL 302 - Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (3) *
PHIL 310 - Logic, Proofs and Set Theory (3)
PHIL 314 - Topics in Logic (3) *
PHIL 341 - Philosophy of Science (3)
PHIL 343 - Topics in the Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHIL 344 - Topics in the Philosophy of Language (3)
PHIL 455W - Advanced Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (4) *
PHIL 467W - Advanced Seminar (4) *

Psychology

PSYC 303 - Perception (3)
PSYC 325 - Learning and Memory (3)
PSYC 330 - Attention (3)
PSYC 381 - Behavioural Endocrinology (3)
PSYC 382 - Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
PSYC 383 - Psychopharmacology (3)
PSYC 385 - Evolution and Psychology (3)
PSYC 388 - Biological Rhythms and Sleep (3)

* Students seeking to have these courses satisfy program requirements must seek approval from the Undergraduate Advisor based on the particular topic of the course.

Directed Studies Courses

Additional upper division electives to complete the minimum 45 upper division units requirement for the BA degree can include:

COGS 350 - Directed Readings (3)
COGS 380 - Directed Research (3)

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Grade Requirements

In addition to the BA requirement that a student's cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division grade point average (UD GPA) be 2.0 or highter for graduation, cognitive science grade point averages (cognitive science GPA and cognitive science upper division GPA) are calculated based on all the courses selected to satisfy the graduation requirements for a major, minor or honours. Cognitive science program GPAs (COGS CGPA and COGS UD GPA) of 2.0 or higher are required for program continuation.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Languages Other Than English

Those contemplating graduate work are advised to acquire a reading knowledge of at least one language other than English.