B.Sc. Cognition and Brain (Science PSYC stream)

Last updated: March 2, 2026

The most up to date information on degree requirements can be found in the UBC Academic Calendar: https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/faculties-colleges-and-schools/faculty-science/bachelor-science/neuroscience#28873

Please note that the COGS requirements listed here will come into effect for students admitted into the program for September 2026 and onward.

If you are a student who began the COGS program prior to September 2026, please visit the UBC Calendar Degree Archive to view degree requirements from past years. Your requirements are also visible in your Academic Progress Report in Workday.

First Year
SCIE 113 3 credits This requirement can be waived for students who have completed SCIE_V 001
Additional Communication Requirement 3 credits For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirements.
CPSC 110 (or both 103 and 107) 4 (or 6) credits CPSC 110 may be taken for 4 credits, or CPSC 103 and 107 may be taken in its place by using 2 credits of electives.
 CPSC 121 4 credits
One of MATH 100, 110, 120, or 180 3 credits These requirements can be waived for students who have completed SCIE_V 001.
MATH 101 or 121 3 credits
Electives 10 credits
  • Students attempting the Cognitive Systems specialization should choose electives to obtain prerequisites to appropriate third and fourth-year courses. Note that the B.Sc. requires at least 72 credits of science courses.
  • Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
    a)Foundational Requirement;
    b)Laboratory Science Requirement;
    c)Science Breadth Requirement;
    d)Science and Arts Requirements;
    e)Upper-level Requirement;
    f)General Degree Requirements
  • At least one elective from BIOL (or ASTR or EOSC or GEOS or GEOB) is recommended for the Cognitive Systems specialization.
  • Prerequisites for Cognitive Systems module courses are recommended as electives for each year of study. For the list of module courses, see Cognitive Systems. Credits earned for any one iteration of a course cannot count towards both module requirements and other Cognitive Systems degree requirements. If COGS_V 300 is taken twice, credits from the second iteration may be counted towards module requirements.
Total credits 30 credits
Second Year
COGS 200 3 credits
One of LING 100, 142, 209, 222, 308, 345 or 433 3 credits
PHIL 220 or PHIL 222 3 credits
PSYC 100 (or both PSYC 101 and 102) 6 credits
STAT 200 or 201 3 credits STAT 200 is recommended for students with an interest in further STAT courses. STAT 201 is recommended for students with an interest in the Minor in Data Science.
Electives 12 credits
  • Students attempting the Cognitive Systems specialization should choose electives to obtain prerequisites to appropriate third and fourth-year courses. Note that the B.Sc. requires at least 72 credits of science courses.
  • Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
    a)Foundational Requirement;
    b)Laboratory Science Requirement;
    c)Science Breadth Requirement;
    d)Science and Arts Requirements;
    e)Upper-level Requirement;
    f)General Degree Requirements
  • At least one elective from BIOL (or ASTR or EOSC or GEOS or GEOB) is recommended for the Cognitive Systems specialization.
  • Prerequisites for Cognitive Systems module courses are recommended as electives for each year of study. For the list of module courses, see Cognitive Systems. Credits earned for any one iteration of a course cannot count towards both module requirements and other Cognitive Systems degree requirements. If COGS_V 300 is taken twice, credits from the second iteration may be counted towards module requirements.
Total credits 30 credits
Third and Fourth Years
COGS 300 4 credits
COGS 303, 401, and 402 9 credits COGS 402 is a research project for which students must independently find a project supervisor. Learn more about the COGS 402 project here.
Two of PHIL 321, 326, 351, 441, 451, 455 6 credits
PSYC 365 3 credits
Module courses numbered 300 or above 18 credits
  • Prerequisites for Cognitive Systems module courses are recommended as electives for each year of study. For the list of module courses, see Cognitive Systems. Credits earned for any one iteration of a course cannot count towards both module requirements and other Cognitive Systems degree requirements. If COGS_V 300 is taken twice, credits from the second iteration may be counted towards module requirements.
  • At least 6 credits must be PSYC_V or NSCI_V module courses, and at least 6 credits must be non-PSYC_V module courses.
Electives 20 credits
Total credits 60 credits
Total credits for Degree 120 credits