Program Overview

Introduction to the Psychology Program

The Psychology program at the University of Amsterdam offers a comprehensive education in the field of psychology, with various specializations to choose from. One of the specializations available is the Brain and Cognition specialization.

Brain and Cognition Specialization

The Brain and Cognition specialization aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of human cognition and its neural basis. The program focuses on the basis of human functioning, studying how information from the environment is internalized, how humans prioritize and respond to information, and how we perceive and interact with other humans.

Educational Objectives

After completing the Brain and Cognition specialization, students will have gained insight into the neurosciences and the most up-to-date knowledge about attention, consciousness, language, learning, memory, perception, and social cognition. They will be able to analyze data obtained during physiological and behavioral experiments, apply statistical analysis techniques, and set up experiments using best research practices.

Content and Program

The program combines knowledge from behavioral and neuroscientific research to reach a thorough understanding of cognition. It emphasizes theoretical development, attempts to base explanations for cognitive phenomena on neurobiological principles, and aims to link clinical findings to insights from cognitive (neuro)science.

First- or Second Specialization

If students choose the Brain and Cognition specialization as their first specialization, they will continue the program with two courses: a methods and statistics course and their Bachelor's thesis. If they choose it as their second specialization, they need to take the methods and statistics course and do their Bachelor's thesis at their first specialization.

Follow-on Programs

After completing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, students can enter the labor market directly or pursue a Master's degree. The UvA Psychology department offers three Master's degree programs in the field of Psychology. Students who complete the Bachelor with Brain and Cognition as their first or second specialization are eligible for various tracks and programs, including the Research Master's in Psychology and the research master Brain and Cognitive Sciences.

Year 2 and 3 Curriculum

The curriculum for the Brain and Cognition specialization includes the following courses:

• B&C From Perception to Consciousness (6 EC)
• B&C Introduction to Neuroscience (6 EC)
• B&C Memory, Language and Emotion (6 EC)
• B&C Toolbox: Experimental and Neuroscientific Methods (12 EC)
• Behavioural Research Toolbox (6 EC)
• Bachelor's Thesis Brain & Cognition (12 EC)
• Restricted-choice electives: Current Topics (12 EC)
  • Current Topics: Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Clinical Developmental and Health Psychology (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Consciousness: From Theory to the Clinic (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Polarisation (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Stress in Health and Disease (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: A Clinical Perspective on Today's Issues (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Climate Psychology (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Introduction to Cultural Psychology (6 EC)
  • Current Topics: Psychology and AI (6 EC)