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

Last updated: May 7, 2025

Please see the UBC Academic Calendar for the most up to date information on degree requirements: https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/faculties-colleges-and-schools/faculty-science/bachelor-science/neuroscience#28873

First Year
SCIE 113 3 credits
Additional Communication Requirement 3 credits A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement. ENGL 112 and SCIE 113 are recommended. Three credits of the Communication Requirement may be deferred until second year.
CHEM 111 (or 121) 4 credits
  • Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100.
  • 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. Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH can reduce the number of elective credits required in second or third year accordingly. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Students who take courses in MATH, PHYS, or CHEM with more credits than those recommended can count the extra credit as electives.
CPSC 110 (or both of 103 AND 107), CPSC 121 8 credits While CPSC 110 is recommended, both of CPSC 103 and 107 may be taken in its place by using 2 credits of electives.
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 184) 3 credits Students attempting the COGS major 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. Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH can reduce the number of elective credits required in second or third year accordingly. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Students who take courses in MATH, PHYS, or CHEM with more credits than those recommended can count the extra credit as electives.
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 121) 3 credits
PHYS 106 or 117 or 131 3 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. Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH can reduce the number of elective credits required in second or third year accordingly. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Students who take courses in MATH, PHYS, or CHEM with more credits than those recommended can count the extra credit as electives.
  • Students without credit for Physics 12 must complete PHYS 100 in addition.
Electives 3 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. Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH can reduce the number of elective credits required in second or third year accordingly. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Students who take courses in MATH, PHYS, or CHEM with more credits than those recommended can count the extra credit as electives.
  • 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.
Total credits 30 credits
Second Year
COGS 200 3 credits
LING 100 3 credits Students attempting the Cognitive Systems specialization should complete LING 100 and PSYC 101 and 102 as early in their program as possible. Alternatively, PSYC 101 can be taken in first year, and PSYC 102 in second year.
PHIL 220 or PHIL 222 or PHIL 320 3 credits The prerequisite PHIL 220 may be waived for PHIL 320 with the consent of the instructor.
PSYC 101 and 102 6 credits Students attempting the Cognitive Systems specialization should complete LING 100 and PSYC 101 and 102 as early in their program as possible. Alternatively, PSYC 101 can be taken in first year, and PSYC 102 in second year.
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 COGS major 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. Students taking more than 6 credits of first-year MATH can reduce the number of elective credits required in first, second or third year accordingly. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. Students are permitted to move elective credits between years.
  • 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.
  • Prerequisites for Cognitive Systems module courses are recommended as electives for each year of study. Modules are sets of recommended courses that are directly relevant to Cognitive Systems. For the list of module courses, look here. Courses explicitly listed as required cannot also be credited as module courses.
Total credits 30 credits
Third and Fourth Years
COGS 300, 303, 401, 402 13 credits COGS 402 is a research project which students need to independently find a project supervisor for. Learn more about the COGS 402 project here.
Two of PHIL 326, 351, 441, 451, 455 6 credits
PSYC 365 3 credits
Module courses numbered 300 or above 18 credits
  • Cognitive Systems module courses are recommended as electives for each year of study. Modules are sets of recommended courses that are directly relevant to Cognitive Systems. For the list of module courses, see here. Courses explicitly listed as required cannot also be counted as module courses.
  • At least 6 credits must be PSYC module courses, and at least 6 credits must be non-PSYC module courses.
  • BIOL 455 and 458 can also be counted towards this requirement so long as PSYC 304, 360, 370, or 371 have not been taken.
Electives 20 credits
Total credits 60 credits
Total credits for Degree 120 credits