A Cognitive Science degree opens up a huge range of career options and offers a unique set of skills that can be applied to many different fields. This degree provides the opportunity to work in fields such as healthcare, education, technology, and business. With a Cognitive Science degree, you can focus on the development of digital tools and platforms, the understanding and application of cognitive theories, and the study of the brain, behavior, and mental processes. The degree is valuable for those interested in developing a deep understanding of the complexities of human cognition and the ways in which cognitive processes influence behavior. By combining knowledge of psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, this degree can provide a unique set of skills and opportunities for graduates. In this blog post, we will discuss what you can do with a Cognitive Science degree and how it can be used to pursue a successful career.
What kinds of cognitive science degrees are there?
Universities and colleges that provide cognitive science typically have robust technical, research, and graduate school programs. Here are the degree programs they might offer:
What is cognitive science?
The interdisciplinary study of how the human mind functions is called cognitive science. However, it can also include the study of biology and communication. Cognitive science degrees typically concentrate on neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology. Some degree programs in cognitive science concentrate on computer science and how it can simulate mental activity, giving their students a solid programming background comparable to that of a computer science major.
People with degrees in cognitive science can work in a variety of fields because of its interdisciplinary nature and emphasis on human behavior, including:
21 jobs for people with cognitive science degrees
Here are 21 careers in various sectors and specializations that someone with a degree in cognitive science can pursue:
A human resources coordinator’s main responsibilities include managing all personnel matters at a company, including hiring and firing employees, writing reports, and creating company policies. A background in cognitive science can assist human resources coordinators in understanding employees and creating guidelines that promote desired workplace behaviors.
An employment counselor’s main responsibilities include assisting individuals or groups in understanding their employment options and preparing for the job search and hiring process. To assist their clients in finding the ideal job, they gather data on their backgrounds, interests, and aptitudes. Employment counselors can assess their clients and develop plans for them with the aid of a degree in cognitive science.
One of a technical writer’s main responsibilities is to concisely and clearly explain complex subjects for internal documents, operation manuals, or training materials. Technical writers who are cognizant of cognitive science can better comprehend how their writing will be interpreted by readers and how to organize their work to maximize reading comprehension.
A company’s advertising campaigns are handled by an advertising manager, who may also be in charge of budget management, coordinating internal advertising experts, and analysing campaign performance. An advertising manager’s understanding of human motivation and behavior gained through research in cognitive science can help them more effectively target customers.
An archeologist’s main responsibilities are research and fieldwork in order to comprehend how ancient cultures functioned. To comprehend the historical context of artifacts, they may work for a government agency or a university and combine knowledge of human behavior with physical science and material analysis.
An instructional systems designer’s main responsibilities are to assess educational needs and develop solutions, whether they are systems for schools to use or systems for continuing education for businesses. This can involve developing e-learning systems, print or audiovisual materials. Cognitive science aids instructional system designers in comprehending various learning strategies and procedures at various stages of psychological development.
A professor’s primary responsibilities include conducting research and teaching courses for a college or university. A professor with a doctorate in cognitive science may be able to find employment that allows them to conduct additional research in the field while also instructing courses in cognitive science and related fields.
A clinical research coordinator’s main responsibilities include managing clinical trials and experiments, collaborating closely with principal investigators and research assistants to carry out exhaustive research that complies with accepted medical standards. Before graduating, a student of cognitive science may start working on research projects, and after earning their degree, there are opportunities to continue this work professionally.
Primary responsibilities: A political consultant assists a candidate with developing an efficient outreach strategy, writing speeches, managing advertising, developing public relations messaging, and planning appearances. Political science, marketing, and psychological techniques—the latter of which students learn in cognitive science courses—are crucial knowledge for this position.
A data analyst’s main responsibilities are to assist a business in interpreting vast amounts of data about sales, customer interactions, or manufacturing processes. Strong logical reasoning abilities and the capacity to process data digitally for interpretation and reports are prerequisites for this position. An individual can be prepared for data analyst work by using the computer science and data processing skills that a degree in cognitive science provides.
A quality engineer’s main responsibilities include overseeing a company’s manufacturing procedures and ensuring that workers use tools safely and correctly. A quality engineer can learn how to build systems to take advantage of people’s varied ways of doing things by studying cognitive science.
Primary responsibilities: When a patient is recovering from an illness or adjusting to a disability, an occupational therapist assists them in resuming daily activities like exercises and natural movements. An occupational therapist can develop treatment plans for patients that are motivating by understanding how people learn and think. A student of cognitive science must also pursue graduate work in occupational therapy to become a certified occupational therapist.
An interaction designer’s main responsibilities include conceptualizing the visual interface between a user and an application or website. These experts can better understand how to create interactions that are efficient and natural for the user with the aid of cognitive science. Additionally, it teaches them how to use placement, color, and function to encourage or discourage particular behaviors.
Primary responsibilities: A labor relations specialist works with a company to assist with employee training, address issues, and negotiate just contracts. This calls for in-depth familiarity with the laws governing workers’ rights as well as highly developed interpersonal abilities. A labor relations specialist with a background in cognitive science can assist with everything from creating educational materials to mediating disputes.
A technical consultant’s main responsibilities are to assist businesses in managing their technical systems and ensuring they have enough computing power to complete their tasks. Technical consultants who specialize in computer science and cognitive science can better understand user needs and the technologies that can meet them.
A user experience designer’s main responsibilities are to decide how a user will interact with a website, app, or other digital experience. A UX designer can benefit from cognitive science to better understand users’ priorities and how they react to particular design elements.
A computational linguist’s main responsibilities are to use computational analysis to comprehend both spoken and written language. They may also develop software that can automatically translate or produce texts. They may work for a technology company or a research facility developing speech recognition, translation, or language pattern recognition software. Computational linguists can learn from cognitive scientists with experience in computer science about how humans and machines perceive language.
A software development engineer’s main responsibilities are to determine what a user needs from a program, then to conceptualize and create that program. While the computer science component of a cognitive science degree prepares students for the software development portion of this role, psychology courses can help a software development engineer understand what a user needs.
A product designer’s main responsibilities are to create, construct, and test new products for a business. A product designer can make more useful and beautiful products by studying cognitive science because it can help them understand how people use their products.
A lawyer’s primary responsibilities include representing clients and pursuing cases in court. Outside of the courtroom, they may also assist clients with contract drafting, plea bargaining, legal research, and understanding regulations. After earning a degree in cognitive science, this profession necessitates additional training and licensing, but it can present a chance to use understanding of mental processes to produce legal outcomes and precedents.
A machine learning engineer’s main responsibilities include using artificial intelligence to make manufacturing processes safer and more effective. A machine learning engineer can use human learning and processing techniques as a model for technological processes by studying cognitive science.
10 Reasons to Major in Cognitive Science
FAQ
What can I do with a bachelors in cognitive science?
- Artificial intelligence.
- Data analysis.
- User interface.
- Game design.
- Software development.
- Education.
- Medicine.
- Medical research.
Is cognitive science major good?
It is extremely advantageous for students to have the flexibility that the cognitive science major provides because it enables you to learn about both the critical mental processes and how to apply the larger framework of human behavior to a wide range of disciplines.
Does cognitive science pay well?
The majority of Cognitive Science salaries currently range between $33,000 (25th percentile) and $73,500 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) making $124,500 annually across the United States, while ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $158,500 and as low as $21,000.
Is cognitive science major employable?
People with degrees in cognitive science can work in a variety of fields because of its interdisciplinary nature and emphasis on human behavior, including: Information technology. Healthcare.
