The academic framework is a double major format. The students’ second major would be related to cognitive and brain science: Psychology, Philosophy, Linguistics and languages, Computer Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Musicology, Statistics and Economics. The duration of studies is three years.

The academic program is based on three main principles:

1. Comprehensive fundamental studies in each of the main areas constituting cognitive science: Psychology, linguistics, philosophy and logic, computation and cognition, and brain and cognition.
2. Specialized studies in one area. This area would be one of those detailed above.

Interdisciplinary studies in courses such as language and thinking, thought and computers, neural computation, and musical cognition, highlighting the importance of the integration of knowledge and different methods in cognitive research.

To view the HUJI course catalogue click here

A combination suitable for those interested in interdisciplinary studies. In this program, the student chooses two majors. In the case of choosing one major from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the other from a different faculty - in order to receive a degree, the student must complete all duties from both faculties.

The faculty allows unique combinations of majors, however it should be noted that these may require special effort, and occasionally the extension of studies to more than three years. Such completion and coordination may at times not be possible when combining two majors, and lecture and exam times may overlap.

Duties and courses required for cognitive science are detailed in the curriculum.

It is possible, and recommended, to combine the cognitive science major with Life Sciences, Computer Science, Physics and Mathematics.

M.A. students devise an individual curriculum according to a subject of their choice. The program’s students specialize in subjects such as language and thinking, thought and computers, computational linguistics, music and cognition and more. The program includes a research-oriented degree, which encompasses writing a research paper.

In the 2014-15 academic year, the Department of Cognitive Science opened a special, accelerated program in which outstanding students can complete a B.A. + M.A. in four years. 

In order to be eligible for the program, the student must get in touch with an M.A. advisor at the end of their second year in undergrad studies.

It is recommended to begin lab work as soon as the second school year.

Curriculum:

• During the second year of their B.A., students will begin working on an individual research project under a lab of their choice. For this project, 4 B.A. credits could be obtained as part of the “Individual Lab Project” course (06137).
• During the third and fourth academic years, the student must complete the overall credits required for the master’s degree. The total number of credits required is 28, in addition to Advanced Research Methods (or another research tool). The curriculum would be devised alongside the advisor, and approved by the M.A. counselor.
• Also, it is obligatory to write a seminar paper (which does not entitle any credits, but is included in the degree’s average grade), a final exam and a thesis (a seminar paper with a research outline).
• During B.A. studies, it is possible to accumulate up to 12 credits for an M.A., which upon finalizing the bachelor’s degree would be transferred to the master’s studies.
• During the third school year, it is required to take the “Graduate seminar” course for Cognitive Science students  (06832).
• Toward the fourth school year, students will register as M.A. students for cognitive science, and will be required to meet the department and faculty’s admission criteria.
• Upon the end of the fourth school year, students must complete their duties (formally, the thesis itself may be submitted as late as 30.9).
• Students wishing to be considered for the program should contact the office by the end of July of their second year in undergrad studies.

Students in the program will receive a scholarship of 1,800 NIS per month, provided their compliance with the program requirements. The department is authorized to cease the scholarship if these requirements are not met.

For counseling and guidance, please contact Prof. Anat Maril, M.A. advisor: anat.maril@mail.huji.ac.il

Additionally, it is possible to contact the department office on Sunday-Thursday at 10:00-13:00, in the Australia Complex, Mount Scopus Campus. Phone no.: 02-5883758

We are happy to assist you with any questions.

Students wishing to study in the program should contact an adviser who will guide them in planning their studies and their Master’s thesis. The studies will correspond with the main subject in which the student chose to specialize, and should include courses, seminars and utility courses from different faculties. The academic obligations are those of all Master’s studies in the Faculty of Humanities.

In addition to faculty procedures, the program’s students are required to comply with the following:

1. Master’s students in the research program will study courses spanning 28 credits, to be  weighed into the degree. Also, each student is to obtain an exemption from an advanced research utility course (statistics and research methods, language, programming). This, in coordination with the adviser and M.A. counselor. The exemption can be obtained during the degree or based on previous studies.
2. During the degree, It is possible to study up to 8 credits’ worth of auxiliary B.A. courses (excluding introductory first year courses), both from within the faculty or outside. 

B.A. studies with an average of 90 or above in the faculty, in total and in 2 credits’ worth of supplementary courses = 10% of tuition

Participation in a lab-oriented course, such as a guided project, is recommended by the faculty.

* Request for courses acknowledgement - authorizing factor: M.A. counselor. The request should be submitted through a “request for counselor approval” form.

* Request for courses acknowledgement from other institutions - It is possible to have up to a third of the studies acknowledged.

Recommending factor: M.A. counselor. Authorizing factor: The Committee for Advanced Studies. The request should be submitted through a “Request for courses acknowledgement”, along with the advisor’s recommendation and an official grades sheet.

In accordance with the teaching committee, academic exemptions from other academic institutions would be given only for courses with a grade of at least 75.

Also, the credits are according to those studied in the Hebrew University. For example, students from the Open University who studied a course worth 6 credits; would be entitled to 4 credits only.

The goal of the Minor program is to enable students to take part in one of the research areas related to cognitive science and broaden their knowledge in others. The Minor program is open to 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor students.

Admission criteria: An average of at least 85 in 1st year's grades, and a basic Logic course with a grade of at least 85. The scope of the studies in the progran is 32 credits for B.Sc. students and 16 credits for B.A. students. Participation in the Minor program requires authorization of the B.A. advisor or office approval.

The course composition will be determined in coordination with the program adviser by e-mail:  cogBAadviser@mail.huji.ac.il

or with the program secretary, Mrs. Ziva Rahmin by e-mail:
zivara@savion.huji.ac.il