Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience, BSLAS

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration


Cognitive neuroscience is concerned with understanding the neuroscientific bases of cognition. Various methods are employed to assess the roles of different brain systems in psychological functions such as memory, attention, language, executive control, decision making, response processing, and emotion.

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration


Please see your academic advisor. A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours).


General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.


Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 32-36 hours of Psychology courses.

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.


Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.


Select one introductory course from the following:4
Intro Psych
PSYC 103
Statistics course:3-5
Intro to Statistics
Select one foundation course from the following:3
Behavioral Neuroscience
Cognitive Psych
Perception & Sensory Processes
Learning and Memory
Select two foundation courses from the following:6
Intro to Social Psych
Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination
Child Psych
Psychopathology and Problems in Living
Community Psych
Industrial Org Psych
Psych of Personality
Select one concentration core course:3
Intro to Brain and Cognition
Images of Mind
Concentration research methods course:4
Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
Select four elective courses from any of the following:12
Introduction to the Brain and Cognitive Science
Intelligence and the Brain
Intro to Brain and Cognition (if not chosen as the core course)
Images of Mind (if not chosen as the core course)
Applied Neuroscience
The Psychology of Aging
Intro Clin Neuropsych
Memory and Amnesia
Cognitive Neuroscience
Principles of Psychophysiology
Language and the Brain
Evolutionary Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychophysiology
Neurobio of Aging
Cog Neuroscience of Vision
Intermediate Current Topics in Psychology (taught by faculty members in the Cognitive Neuroscience program area)
Adv Current Topics in Psych (taught by faculty members in the Cognitive Neuroscience program area)
Total Hours35

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration


Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements.

First Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
Free elective course1PSYC 2353
PSYC 100 or PSYC 1034Language Other than English (4th level)4
General Education course3General Education course or Composition I3
Language Other than English (3rd level)4General Education course3
Composition I or General Education course4PSYC Foundation course list 23
 16 16
Second Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
General Education course3PSYC Foundation course list 13
PSYC 204 or 2203General Education course3
PSYC Foundation course list 2General Education course3
General Education course3Free elective course3
General Education course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3 
 15 15
Third Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
PSYC elective course3PSYC elective course3
General Education course3General Education course3
General Education course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3Free elective course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours
PSYC 4454PSYC elective course3
PSYC elective course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3Free elective course3
Free elective course3 
 16 12
Total Hours 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration


department website

department faculty: Psychology Faculty

advising:  Psychology advising

overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences

college website

email: psych-advising@illinois.edu