Understand cognitive science principles for studying the mind and behavior. Learn about perception, memory, learning, and decision-making processes.
The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

The University of Edinburgh
Skills you'll gain: Artificial Intelligence, Psychology, Human Learning, Anthropology, Human Development, Human Factors, Science and Research, Research
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Cambridge
Skills you'll gain: Human Learning, Psychology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Medical Imaging, Neurology, Research Methodologies, Research, Human Development, Learning Theory, Scientific Methods, Child Development
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

The University of Chicago
Skills you'll gain: Neurology, Physiology, Anatomy, Behavioral Health, Mental and Behavioral Health, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Vital Signs, Control Systems, Coordination, Biology, Communication Systems
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Washington
Skills you'll gain: Supervised Learning, Network Model, Matlab, Machine Learning Algorithms, Artificial Neural Networks, Computer Vision, Computer Science, Reinforcement Learning, Computational Thinking, Mathematical Modeling, Biology, Linear Algebra, Information Architecture, Differential Equations, Probability & Statistics
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Yale University
Skills you'll gain: Psychology, Child Development, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Human Development, Human Learning, Social Sciences, Behavioral Health, Sociology, Neurology, Critical Thinking, Scientific Methods, Problem Solving
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Cambridge
Skills you'll gain: Childhood Education and Development, Human Learning, Child Development, Psychology, Teaching, Decision Making, Learning Theory, Instructional Strategies, Learning Strategies, Empathy, Neurology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Medical Imaging, Special Education, Electrophysiology, Differentiated Instruction, Human Development, Non-Verbal Communication
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Colorado Boulder
Skills you'll gain: Problem Solving, Computational Thinking, Computer Vision, Game Theory, Image Analysis, Probability, Artificial Neural Networks, Mathematical Modeling, Deductive Reasoning, Algorithms, Human Development, Analytical Skills, Behavioral Economics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Computer Graphics, Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Human Learning, Theoretical Computer Science, Human Machine Interfaces
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Arizona State University
Skills you'll gain: Problem Solving, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Creativity, Decision Making, Human Learning, Usability, Psychology, Human Centered Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of California, Davis
Skills you'll gain: Social Network Analysis, Network Analysis, Data Wrangling, Natural Language Processing, Web Scraping, Social Sciences, Data Ethics, Databases, Artificial Intelligence, Research, Simulations, Big Data, Systems Thinking, Trend Analysis, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Research Methodologies, Machine Learning, Data Collection, Agentic systems
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Skills you'll gain: Artificial Intelligence, Social Sciences, Psychology, Human Learning, Human Development, Culture, Human Computer Interaction, Computational Thinking, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Science and Research, Neurology, Embedded Systems
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Psychology, Influencing, Case Studies, Persuasive Communication, Advertising, Consumer Behaviour, Decision Making, Marketing Effectiveness, Neurology, Behavioral Economics, Marketing, Psychology, Anatomy, Physiology
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Cambridge
Skills you'll gain: Human Development, Psychology, Neurology, Child Development, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Anatomy, Physiology, Biology, Research
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
To understand Cognitive Science, it’s key to understand cognition: the act or process of knowing and perceiving, including memory, judgment, language, attention, and reasoning. Cognitive Science studies refer to the precise nature of these different mental tasks, and the operations of the brain that enable them to be performed. To carry out such studies, Cognitive Scientists leverage an interdisciplinary approach from Psychology, Computer Science, Philosophy, Linguistics, and related fields.
One example of Cognitive Science in action is an individual having a stroke in a part of the brain dedicated to language, thus producing an inability to speak sentences. Examples like this are why it’s critical to learn Cognitive Science, so that successful learners may gain the skills to explain and treat mental illnesses.
An education in Cognitive Science is considered highly versatile, with its interdisciplinary characteristics. Learners can find opportunities in various fields, such as Telecommunications, Medical Analysis, Research, Data Representation and Retrieval, Intelligence Analysis, Human Factors Engineering, Computer-Human Interaction, Human Performance Testing, Speech Synthesis, Linguistic Analysis, Education, Marketing, and Science Writing.
Learners interested in Cognitive Science courses offered through Coursera can enjoy a multidisciplinary approach to the subject. Cognitive Science courses are taught in tandem with Philosophy, Psychology, Neurobiology, Computational Neuroscience, and even Consumer Behavior, among others.
Learners can explore topics at the juncture between Philosophy and the Cognitive Science; how our brains process spatial information; different cognitive abilities such as memory, learning, attention, perception, and consciousness; basic brain mechanisms in consumer choice; and more.
The skills and experiences you may need to already have to learn cognitive science could include the broad ability to think critically and to problem-solve. In addition, it can help you better understand cognitive science if you have some experience studying or working in the fields of biology, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, math, anthropology, and philosophy. Knowing about brain-imaging techniques, such as functional MRI or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), may give you some important skills needed for learning cognitive science. You may already have some of the experience necessary to learn cognitive science if you have worked in the fields of health care, business, law, psychology, or education because you likely need to understand how people think and make decisions. In addition, if you have a basic knowledge of computational neuroscience, artificial neural networks, and reinforcement learning, you may have some advanced experience that could be helpful when learning cognitive science.
The kind of people who are best suited for roles in cognitive science want to understand the evolution of the human mind, the nature of consciousness, and how the nervous system works to drive people to think, behave, make decisions, or communicate in specific ways. People well suited to work in roles in the cognitive science field want to understand the deeper intricacies of how the brain processes information. They want to understand how memory, language, reasoning, attention, and motor control affect the ability to communicate and learn from the world.
Learning cognitive science may be right for you if you wonder what motivates others to behave in certain ways or how artificial intelligence (AI) works to predict certain human behaviors. You may benefit from learning cognitive science if you're interested in jobs in education, health care and medical research, marketing, AI, or software development. If you are interested in the growing area of the scientific research of neurobiology, learning cognitive science may be right for you. Also, if you want to understand the growing importance of connections between the human mind and AI, then you may benefit from learning about cognitive science. In addition, someone who is interested in the field of neuroeconomics, or the study of how people make decisions or help others decide, may be the right type of person to learn cognitive science.
Online Cognitive Science courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Cognitive Science skills. Choose from a wide range of Cognitive Science courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.
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