BA Computer Science and Psychology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Yale University

Program Overview

Yale’s B.A. in Psychology and Computer Science is an interdisciplinary program co-hosted by the Departments of Psychology and Computer Science. It allows students to explore human behavior through both experimental methods and computational models, preparing them to build technology that is not only powerful but empathetic, ethical, and deeply human-centered.

The major emphasizes both theoretical depth and applied experience across:

  • Cognitive science

  • Behavioral experimentation

  • Machine learning

  • Human-computer interaction (HCI)

Core Curriculum Components

Foundations in Psychology

  • PSYC 110: Introduction to Psychology

  • PSYC 160: Social Psychology

  • PSYC 180: The Human Brain

  • PSYC 200-level electives: Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience

Foundations in Computer Science

  • CPSC 201: Introduction to Computer Science

  • CPSC 223: Data Structures and Programming Techniques

  • CPSC 365: Design and Analysis of Algorithms

  • CPSC 470 or 478: Artificial Intelligence or Natural Language Processing

Integration & Interdisciplinary Courses

  • PSYC 270 / CPSC 276: Computational Modeling of Cognition

  • PSYC 355: Psychology of Language

  • CPSC 475: Machine Learning (with behavioral data sets)

  • CPSC/PSYC Research Seminars: Cognitive Modeling, HCI, or Neuroinformatics

Lab & Methods Requirement

Students must complete at least one course in:

  • Experimental psychology methods and statistics

  • Computational modeling of human behavior

Capstone or Research Experience

  • Senior Project (CPSC 490 or PSYC 490): Original research or system design integrating both disciplines, e.g.:

    • AI-based therapy tools

    • Computational models of memory

    • Ethical chatbot development

    • Attention/decision research via VR

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Yale encourages immersive learning for CS + Psychology majors, including lab research, digital innovation, and human-centered design studios.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Students may work in:

  • Yale’s Haskins Laboratories (Speech & language processing)

  • Yale Cognition & Development Lab

  • Human Nature Lab (network psychology)

  • Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics (AI & Ethics)

Research roles may involve:

  • Eye-tracking and EEG

  • Building neural network models of cognition

  • Designing behavioral experiments

  • Programming simulations or surveys

Project-Based Courses

Hands-on projects allow students to:

  • Build AI agents that simulate decision-making

  • Analyze user behavior in mobile apps

  • Develop therapeutic chatbots

  • Model cognitive bias in software interfaces

Hackathons & Design Challenges

  • YHack (Yale’s flagship hackathon)

  • Behavioral Science and Design Sprint

  • Interdisciplinary Student Research Symposium

  • Design for America – Yale Chapter

Internships & Applied Work

Students pursue roles with:

  • Mental health tech startups (e.g., Headspace, Woebot)

  • UX research at tech giants (e.g., Google, Meta)

  • Behavioral research in labs or think tanks

  • AI ethics teams at consultancies and NGOs

Progression & Future Opportunities

Yale’s Psychology and Computer Science graduates bridge two critical domains: understanding how humans think and how intelligent systems can augment that thinking. This positions them as leaders in emerging industries where empathy, ethics, and engineering must work in concert.

Career Progression

  • UX Designer → UX Research Lead → Head of Human-Centered Design

  • AI Product Manager → Cognitive AI Strategist → Director of AI Ethics

  • Research Assistant → Cognitive Science PhD → Neuroscience Professor

  • Data Analyst → Behavioral Scientist → Director of Insights

  • Software Developer → HCI Researcher → Tech-for-Good Founder

Graduate & Professional Pathways

Many graduates pursue:

  • MS or PhD in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, or Psychology

  • PhD in Computer Science (with focus on AI, NLP, or HCI)

  • Medical or Clinical Psychology degrees (with tech focus)

  • Law (AI and data privacy) or Public Policy (behavioral governance)

  • MBA or Master’s in Design Thinking / Innovation

Program Key Stats

$67,250
$ 80
Aug Intake : RD 2nd Jan EA/ED 1st Nov


5 %
No
Yes

Eligibility Criteria

AAA - A*A*A
3.5 - 4.0
38 - 42
90 - 95

1500 - 1580
33 - 35
7.0
100

Additional Information & Requirements

Career Options

  • Graduates of Yale’s Psychology and Computer Science combined major are uniquely equipped to work at the intersection of human behavior and intelligent systems
  • With a foundation in cognitive science
  • data analysis
  • software development
  • and behavioral modeling
  • students pursue careers in technology
  • mental health innovation
  • UX design
  • artificial intelligence
  • and research
  • Human-Centered Technology & UX UX Researcher: Studying user behavior to inform product design and functionality
  • Human Factors Specialist: Designing tech interfaces that align with cognitive and perceptual principles
  • Interaction Designer: Crafting seamless and intuitive digital experiences based on behavioral insights
  • Product Designer (Behavior Focus): Integrating psychology into feature development and customer journeys
  • AI
  • Machine Learning & Cognitive Computing AI Product Developer: Building systems that replicate or augment human decision-making
  • Computational Cognitive Scientist: Using algorithms to model perception
  • learning
  • and memory
  • Behavioral Data Scientist: Analyzing psychological trends from digital footprints
  • Conversational AI Designer: Developing natural language systems grounded in cognitive theory
  • Health Tech & Neurotech Digital Mental Health Analyst: Creating and evaluating therapeutic apps and tools
  • Neurotechnology Developer: Designing brain-computer interface systems or cognitive feedback tools
  • Clinical Research Coordinator: Applying behavioral science in tech-assisted therapies
  • Cognitive Health Product Manager: Bridging neuroscience and software in health startups
  • Academia
  • Policy
  • and Research Research Assistant in Cognitive Science or HCI: Supporting experimental studies and computational modeling
  • Tech Ethics Specialist: Evaluating the societal impact of algorithms on human well-being
  • Behavioral Economist / Policy Analyst: Using experimental data to shape human-centered public policy
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation Founder
  • Mental Health App or Behavioral Platform Innovation Lead in EdTech / Wellbeing Tech Tech-for-Good Product Designer

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