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

Last updated: June 17, 2022

Please see the UBC Academic Calendar for the most updated information on degree requirements: https://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,1701

First Year
Communication requirement 6 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.
BIOL (or ASTR or EOSC or GEOB) 3 credits Students without credit in Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111. Students with credit for Biology 11 or 12 must take one of ASTR 101/102, BIOL112/121, EOSC 110/112/114, GEOB 102/103 within their first 60 credits as a lower-level science requirement.
CHEM 111 or 121 or {110 or 120}* 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 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.
  • *Students who take CHEM 110 or 120 must also take CHEM 115 if the laboratory science requirement will not be satisfied by any of the following courses: ASTR 101, ASTR 102, BIOL 140, CHEM 111, CHEM 115, CHEM 121, CHEM 123, CHEM 135, EOSC 111, PHYS 101, PHYS 107, PHYS 109, PHYS 119, PHYS 159, SCIE 001
CPSC 110 (or both of 103 AND 107) 4 credits While CPSC 110 is the recommended route, CPSC 103, 107 may be taken in its place using 2 credits of electives.
CPSC 121 4 credits Students pursuing a Co-op option are advised to also take CPSC 210 in their first year or in the summer following their first year. Co-op students will then be in a position to take CPSC 221 in Term 1 of second year before going out on a Co-op work term.
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 101 or 107 or 117 or {131 or 106}* 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.
  • Students without credit for Physics 12 must complete PHYS 100 in addition.
  • *Students who take PHYS 131 or PHYS 106 must also take PHYS 119 if the laboratory science requirement will not be satisfied by any of the following courses: ASTR 101, ASTR 102, BIOL 140, CHEM 111, CHEM 115, CHEM 121, CHEM 123, CHEM 135, EOSC 111, PHYS 101, PHYS 107, PHYS 109, PHYS 119, PHYS 159, SCIE 001
Total credits 30 credits
Second Year
COGS 200 3 credits
LING 100 3 credits Students attempting the COGS major should complete LING 100 and PSYC 101 and 102 (or PSYC 100) 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 320) 3 credits The prerequisite PHIL 220 may be waived for PHIL 320 with the consent of the instructor.
PSYC 101 and 102 (or 100) 6 credits Students attempting the COGS major should complete LING 100 and PSYC 101 and 102 (or PSYC 100) as early in their program as possible. Alternatively, PSYC 101 can be taken in first year, and PSYC 102 in second year.
STAT 200 3 credits
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.
PHIL 326 or 351 or 441 or 451 or 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. 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.
  • At least 6 credits must be PSYC module courses, and at least 6 credits must be non-PSYC module courses (the remaining 6 credits can be either PSYC or non-PSYC). PSYC courses cannot be counted for non-PSYC module credit.
  • 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