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
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
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
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