What Can I Do With a Major In Cognitive Science?
UGA Specific Information for Cognitive Science
Cognitive science is an emerging new science of mind and intelligent processes involving humans, animals, computers, and the abstract. The field spans a wide variety of standard disciplines including psychology, computer science, anthropology, linguistics, biology, and education. Cognitive science is expected to play a large role in the development of the technologies, training, and intervention programs of the twenty-first century. The curriculum of this interdisciplinary major includes courses in artificial intelligence, psychological foundations, language and cultural foundations, and philosophical foundations.
For the AB degree, students take lower-level classes in computer science, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and statistics. At the upper-division level, all majors take Introduction to Cognitive Science (ARTI/PHIL/PSYC 3550), Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 4100), and choose between either Artificial Intelligence (CSCI/PHIL 4550) or Generative Syntax (ENGL/LING 3150).
Students then focus on two (or more) of four areas of concentration:
- Artificial Intelligence Foundations
- Philosophical Foundations
- Psychological Foundations
- Language and Culture (Linguistics and Anthropology)
A cognitive science major is preferable preparation for students who plan to go on to graduate programs in cognitive science, educational technology, artificial intelligence, instructional psychology, cognitive psychology, cognitive philosophy, or cognitive neuroscience. Cognitive science A.B. holders typically find themselves employed in technology-related positions demanding excellent technical, writing, and speaking skills.
Class of 2023 Career Outcomes for Cognitive Science*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
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Drop-In Hours are great if you have a question or if you aren’t sure where to start. Drop-in hours are available Monday - Friday from 11 AM - 2 PM. Further information can be found at career.uga.edu/appointments.
- The Career Center offers in-person, phone, and virtual career coaching appointments. To schedule an appointment, please do so through your Handshake account or call (706) 542-3375.
Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities
- ACM at UGA
- ACM-W girls.code()
- Computer Science Graduate Student Association
- Girls Who Code
- Minorities in Technology
- Linguistics Club
- Linguistics Society at UGA
- Philosophy Graduate Student Association
- Pre-Counseling Club
- Psi Chi the National Honor Society in Psychology
Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations
UGA Mentor Program: Networking with your Bulldog family can help you get ahead in life and career, but where do you even start? The UGA Mentor Program narrows down the world of possibilities to meaningful connections. It personalizes the mentoring experience, connecting you with mentors that are just right for your commitment. There's a better way to network. Visit mentor.uga.edu today and find a mentor who can help you see your future.
Find alumni on LinkedIn who have graduated from UGA with their Cognitive Science degree. See what they are currently doing and how they got there! To find UGA alumni, search for UGA's LinkedIn profile and select Alumni from the menu in the left margin.
Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.
Researching Careers: Regardless of the career that you desire to pursue, talking with professionals in that field is essential and can help validate your decisions. Use the Informational Interview guidelines in the UGA Career Guide to learn more about how to connect with individuals in your areas of interest.
Graduate School: If you are interested in going to graduate school, check out these Getting Into Graduate School resources on the UGA Career Center’s website. For additional graduate school help, meet with your Career Consultant at the UGA Career Center.
Supplemental Career Research Dashboard
Additional Career Research Resources
O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.
My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.
Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.
Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.
Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.
UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.
Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance.
Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.
Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.
Employment Websites
General
- Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)
- LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!)
- Idealist (non-profit jobs)
- USAJobs (federal jobs)
Major/Industry Specific
Professional Associations/Resources
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2023 Cognitive Science majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
| Employer | Position Title(s) |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Software Engineer | Atlanta Sports Podiatry | Medical Assistant | Brandeis University | Academic Administrator | Chick-fil-A | Team Lead | Credera | Technology Consultant | Department of Energy | Science Technology and Policy Fellow | Discount Waste, Inc. | Account Manager | FAST Enterprises, LLC | Training and Testing Coordinator | Software Engineer | Invisors, LLC | Integrations Analyst | Miller Knoll | Software Developer | New Acquisitions | Customer Service Representative | PrizePicks | Game Operations Analyst | REPAY - Realtime Electronic Payments | Implementation Engineer | Ty J. Young Inc. Wealth Management | Client Relationship Administrator | University of Georgia | SBDC System Administrator | University of Georgia | Clinical Coordinator | Victaulic | Training Specialist |
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2023 Cognitive Science majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
| Graduate School | Program(s) |
|---|---|
| Cornell University | Computer Science, MEng | Tarleton State University | Business Administration and Management, MBA | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Dentistry, DDS | University of Georgia | Business Analytics, MS | University of Georgia | Linguistics, Degree Not Specified | University of Georgia | Artificial Intelligence, MS | University of Georgia | Artificial Intelligence, MS | University of Rochester | Computer Science, MS | Washington University in St. Louis | Audiology, AuD |