<p>Hello guys. I'm about to start college and I've got my mind set on these two majors. The only problem is that I still can't difference between them, since both of them focus on the human mind and stuff. I'd like to study the human mind and its different processes, how it works, why we do what we do (for example, what happens inside the brain of a serial killer that makes them kill) and how we learn. Am I talking about Cognitive Science or Neuroscience? And what school in California is a good option to transfer? I'd like to hear what people who are majoring in these two areas have to say. Thank you.</p>
<p>You’re talking about cognitive science, for the most part CogSci = thought processes, “mind” debate. When you say, “inside the brain” you’re talking about neuroscience - if you mean the physiological processes behind a serial killers decision making process. It seems like you’re more partial to cognitive science.
Don’t really know which schools have good programs, though. Probably the usual suspects, i.e. Stanford, Caltech, some UCs.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field that draws on cognitive psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy.
Neuroscience focuses on the nervous system and brain from the cellular to the systems level. It involves both the biological and psychological aspects; depending on the program, you will emphasize both of these aspects or focus more on one or the other.
Some of your interests seem like they would fall under other subfields of psychology as well, e.g., clinical/abnormal psychology. You might consider just a major in general psychology, which would take in the cognitive, neurological, and clinical subfields, among others.</p>