Bachelors In

Cognitive Science Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.

Why We Love It

  • $93,730
    Potential Avg. Salary*
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191042.htm for 19-1042 Medical scientists, except epidemiologists 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Many fields of study seek to understand intelligence. Neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and technology majors all take courses to further their understanding of human—and artificial—intelligence.

However, only a bachelor of science in cognitive science takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of intelligence, allowing students to expand their knowledge through coursework in all of these areas.

What is a Degree in Cognitive Science?

What factors lead to intelligence? Does intelligence come from the structure and usage of the brain, is it a byproduct of one’s upbringing, is it improved or hampered by language, and can it be replicated?

These are the questions that cognitive science majors seek to answer through their studies and into their careers as intelligence researchers. Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary program that approaches the study of language through coursework in each subject that’s interested in researching the topic.

In a cognitive science program, students engage in courses across multiple disciplines, studying intelligence from scientific, psychological, technical, linguistic, and cultural angles. Working with a faculty advisor, students select courses in each of these areas in order to pursue their own investigations in intelligence research.

Graduates can move on to work in a very diverse set of careers, working in psychologist, neuroscientist, speech-language pathologist, anthropologist, and educator roles—typically after earning one or more graduate degrees.

Recommended Schools

What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Cognitive Science?

  • Discourse Analysis
  • Language and Thought
  • Machine Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • Cognitive Brain Imaging
  • Brain Dysfunction and Repair
  • Principles of Learning Theory

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Cognitive Science?

Artificial intelligence is no longer something out of a science fiction movie. The technology we use every day—such as Google’s search algorithm—uses machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to serve and rank search results.

Artificial intelligence is a big business and the wave of the future of entertainment, computing, and convenience, and cognitive science professionals will be in high demand to help advance this technology. For this reason, the future looks bright for cognitive science graduates.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Cognitive Science will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

Recommended Schools


Best Jobs for Cognitive Science Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in cognitive science can lead to a number of careers, though many students pursue graduate degrees in a specialty field to broaden their career options.

Graduates go on to work as neuroscientists, psychologists, special education teachers and professors, artificial intelligence programmers, intelligence researchers, behavioral analysts, linguists, and lawyers, among others.


How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Cognitive Science degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Cognitive Science are also interested in the following degrees.

Start Towards Your Cognitive Science Degree, Free.

Generate your free SmartPlan™ to identify schools you like, and potential ways to save on your degree or certification program with courses, offers, and much more!

Get Started