<p>hello,
i'm currently a freshman at ucla, still desperately looking for a major. i found some info about the cognitive science major, and i'm finding it very interesting. however, i'm unsure about what my future would look like with the major.</p>
<p>anyone know job opportunities for cogsci majors? would the major be applicable for a graduate degree in computer engineering?</p>
<p>thanks, any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>cog sci really just the psychology. Its a bit more scientific than the social science version (at least it bills itself that way…)- so it uses things like the scientific method, etc etc.
keep this in mind: <a href=“http://xkcd.com/435/[/url]”>http://xkcd.com/435/</a></p>
<p>if you wanted to get a graduate degree in comp eng (phd), the short answer is no. long answer is still no, but MAYBE. there will probably be some (introductory) programming for a cog sci major. you will probably need two years of computer programming experience and all the math classes (mutli-var calc and linear algebra in particular, plus comp sci related math classes like Boolean algebra. they might want you to take numeral analysis too). if you take a more technical route, then yes, a graduate degree in cog sci is very possible.</p>
<p>keep in mind that you will likely be competing for spots with the thousands of other people who likely majored in computer engr or similar fields (math, physics, etc).
and yes, there are people in cog sci who basically do computer programming and what not. I’m willing to bet most of them have strong formal background in math/computer science. Please don’t think you can do the bare minimum in terms of technical classes in the cog sci major and be a functional computer programmer/engineer. (the chair of the cog psych department at ucla seems to have an undergrad degree in math)</p>
<p>if you elaborate on why you found cog sci interesting, perhaps someone can help inform you of other fields you might like.</p>
<p>thanks for your answer, flemmyd.
yeah i realize that undergrads majoring in computer engineering have a better shot, but i’m interested in cogsci because it encompasses a lot of what i’m interested in, including artificial intelligence and computer science. while the computer engineering major seems pretty appealing at this point, i’m not sure yet and i feel it’s a bit too specific of a major for someone undecided like me.
there is a computer specialization option for the cogsci major…would that help at all?
i know taking high level math classes is part of every engineering major, and it isn’t for cogsci…does this mean i have to take all these engineering math classes should i want to apply for computer science/engineering for grad school?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>first, elaborate on graduate school a little bit:
<p>if you are in section 2, realize that trying to get into technical fields (engr/hard science [physics, chem]) is already fairly difficult. even more so if you dont have the proper background.
I dont know exactly what you need to be “competitive” for admission to a phd in comp sci/engr. I imagine it would be a lot. check with someone else though.</p>
<p>i dont know what the computer specialization option at ucla entails, so i cant say. however, what you should realize is that these kinds of titles/labels dont mean much to graduate schools/you. what is important i the kind of skills you learn. if the specialization doesnt teach you the requisite skills, ignore it. if it does teach you what you need, it may serve as a good standard to work towards. talk to some of the psych professors who specialize in comp sci/artificial intel to get their input as to what skills are important.</p>
<p>and the math classes, I’m fairly certain you need them for the traditional comp-sci grad programs. im not sure about the cog sci/comp sci programs. either way, those math classes are fun, so why wouldn’t you?</p>
<p>flemmyd - you’re very helpful and thorough, and i really appreciate your time on your feedback.
well right now, i’m only thinking about a master’s degree as i can’t think that far off into the future. however, i feel more driven towards computer engineering than computer science. do you think cogsci is as applicable to computer engineering?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>id go the other way; computer science is applicable to cog sci. (you’re saying physics is applicable to math…). at the level you’re interested in, i dont know if the details between comp sci and comp engr are enough to fret over
(my understanding is that comp sci is the software, ee is the hardware, and comp engr is the middle)
if thats true, i cant imagine why a strong background in hardware is important as you are cog sci (not neuro bio) and focus more on the psychological/cogniscent (sp) rather than the technical aspects of whats going on in the brain.</p>
<p>and again, when you say a master’s degree, can you elaborate:
masters in psych/comp sci (blending the field) because it doesnt blend well enough as in your undergraduate course offerings?
masters because you want to do research (in comp science or psychology again? probably much better off doing a phd)
masters in comp sci because you dont want to major in comp sci as an undergrad but want to work on comp sci…</p>
<p>there’s no point in getting an advance degree in a field you already work in if you don’t do research (ie ability to think independently and propose new ideas)
otherwise a non-thesis masters (another topic for debate) is just a couple of harder classes which doesn’t amount to anything (its like staying a 5th year to take a bunch of really hard technical electives… it doesnt mean much in the bigger picture). the general rule is, you get a pay raise equal to about 1-2 years of work… but not the pay during that 1-2 years you were in school.
now if you go to a different field (cog sci -> comp sci), thats different. again, try and take some serious amount of technical classes so you dont have to play catch up your entire first term in graduate school. but this is very do able.</p>