A major declared by sophomore year
Dartmouth says students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year. The pages read describe no separate admission to Cognitive Science.
Undergraduate · Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Cognitive Science: four disciplines for breadth, a focus area for depth
Dartmouth students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year, and Cognitive Science is one of the majors they can choose once enrolled. The program describes an issues-oriented approach drawing on psychology, philosophy, computer science and linguistics, with depth from a focus area. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to the major.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Dartmouth says about Dartmouth Cognitive Science
Taken from the Program in Cognitive Science's website, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Dartmouth's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Issues-oriented
The program draws on methods from several disciplines.
Breadth from four fields
Psychology, philosophy, computer science and linguistics.
Depth from a focus area
Electives chosen with an advisor.
The SAT or ACT, or an international alternative
US high school students submit the SAT or ACT. Students outside the US can meet the requirement in one of five ways, including predicted or final A-level or IB results.
Official sources
- Dartmouth Admissions: Majors & Minorsadmissions.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Program in Cognitive Sciencecognitive-science.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Admissions: Testing Policyadmissions.dartmouth.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Program in Cognitive Science's website, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Dartmouth's Organization, Regulations and Courses catalogue, the full requirement worksheet, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the department says the major is
The program's website says Dartmouth's cognitive science program is issues-oriented and relies on methods drawn from a number of disciplines. Students pursuing a major should become familiar with the basic approaches to cognition of psychology, philosophy, computer science and linguistics, and that breadth is complemented by depth from a focus area, with elective courses chosen under the guidance of an advisor. This guide does not list the requirements, which sit on a separate page.
Is it the right major?
Cognitive Science beside Psychology and Neuroscience
Dartmouth lists these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Cognitive Science fits if
you want four disciplines brought to questions about cognition, with a focus area.
Neuroscience fits if
you want the brain studied biologically. Avandy's Dartmouth Neuroscience guide covers it.
Physics fits if
you want physical science. Avandy's Dartmouth Physics guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Dartmouth application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Dartmouth requires students who attended high school in the United States to submit the SAT or ACT. Students who attended high school outside the United States may fulfil the requirement in one of five ways, which include predicted or final results from British A-Levels or the IB Diploma. The major is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Dartmouth's.
Which focus area would you choose?
The program lets you pick with an advisor.
Do you like drawing on four fields?
The program is built that way.
Which testing route will you use for Dartmouth?
Outside the US, Dartmouth lists five ways, including A-level and IB results.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Dartmouth's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Dartmouth's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Dartmouth has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Dartmouth for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the department's Cognitive Science page and decide which testing route you will use for Dartmouth.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Dartmouth College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Dartmouth College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Dartmouth Cognitive Science?
The pages read describe admission to Dartmouth. Students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year.
How is the major organised?
Breadth across psychology, philosophy, computer science and linguistics plus depth in a focus area.
Who advises?
The program says electives are chosen under the guidance of an advisor.
Do A levels and the IB count for testing?
Dartmouth lists predicted or final British A-Level and IB Diploma results among five ways to meet the requirement for students who attended high school outside the United States.
Is the SAT or ACT required?
For students who attended high school in the United States, yes: they must submit either test.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Dartmouth's wording with no entry-year label. Check Dartmouth's pages again when Dartmouth publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Dartmouth Cognitive Science
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their sciences and mathematics, how they weigh cognitive science against psychology and their testing route, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.