What is Cognitive Science?
Cognitive science is the study of intelligent behaviour in humans, animals and machines. To help us understand how intelligent behaviour occurs, cognitive science combines knowledge from the traditional disciplines of psychology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, and philosophy.
These are some of the questions cognitive science tries to answer:
- How does human cognition work - how do we think, act, and learn?
- How does the brain process information?
- What is the relationship between language and thought?
- How human-like could an artificially intelligent agent become?
- What is consciousness?
By answering these questions, cognitive science aims to better our understanding of intelligence, the human mind and brain, and help us to design and develop intelligent systems that people can work with.
Why study Cognitive Science at McGill?
Interdisciplinary program
The undergraduate Cognitive Science program at McGill will provide you with a truly interdisciplinary program experience. The coursework spans five principal areas of study:
- Computer Science
- Linguistics
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Psychology
As part of the core curriculum, you will complete courses spanning these five disciplines. You will also choose one of these areas as your primary area of focus, or stream. This allows you to tailor your program to suit your individual interests and goals and allows you to dive deeper into one of the five areas of study.
Research Experience
One of the highlights of the program is developing your research skills and interests. You will have the opportunity to participate in cognitive science-related research under the supervision of McGill faculty members. This is done by enrolling in a COGS research course and the credits earned contribute to your program requirements.
Approximately 75% of students complete at least one research project as part of their program. Our students conduct research in laboratories across a wide range of departments. In a typical year COGS students will be working in 15-20 different departments across the university.
As a cognitive science undergrad, you will find many different ways to explore your research interests. The opportunities to get involved with research are not limited to the COGS research courses, students also find jobs working in labs, either in paid or volunteer positions. Students have even presented their research at international conferences and have had their research published in scientific journals.
"Working in Dr. Debruille's Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Lab based at the Douglas mental hospital for my Cognitive Science honours research project was incredibly rewarding, especially given my interest in neuropsychiatric disorders. My research on event-related potentials and their correlations with schizotypal traits and autism spectrum quotient deepened my understanding of these conditions.
I also gained valuable skills in Matlab and Python and had the opportunity to present my research at various events. This interdisciplinary experience in a psychiatry and neuroscience lab, combined with data manipulation with my computer science knowledge, highlights the diverse opportunities available through the Cognitive Science program."
Misha Vernet
Honours Cognitive Science 2026
Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree
Cognitive Science is an interfaculty program offered by the Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.A. & Sc.) degree program. The B.A. & Sc. is intended for students who want to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study that combines the methods and modes of thought of both the Arts and Sciences. In order to declare Cognitive Science as your major, you need to first apply and be admitted to the B.A. & Sc. degree, once you are enrolled in the B.A. & Sc., then you can choose the "Interfaculty Program Cognitive Science" as your major.
After one year in the Interfaculty Cognitive Science program, you have the option of changing to the Honours Cognitive Science program. Both programs must be completed with a minor program, chosen from the list of minors for B.A. & Sc. students.