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Would getting a minor in CogSci as a rising senior computer science major be a good idea if I want to pivot into UI/UX design ?
It would be 5 extra classes on top of my major. I don't have any experience in CS except a research apprenticeship, but I ultimately found that I'm not super into CS as much as I thought I was.
The issue is I wonder if it would be more productive to graduate with a straight CS degree and spend my free time portfolio building or tack on the extra classes (where some of them don't heavily correlate to UI/UX). I have a 4 hour commute total so my time is pretty thinly spread out. I'm not sure how much weight having a minor in CogSci would hold in terms of future opportunities. Thank you.
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5 answers
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Donald’s Answer
If you feel that CogSci isn't right for you, don't worry about choosing it as a minor. Focus on your UX/UI degree and see if you can use some of your past classes as electives. UX/UI skills are useful for many projects, not just CogSci, so it might not be worth investing too much in something you might not use.
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Jennifer’s Answer
Hello! If you're curious about UI/UX design, you can definitely learn it during your free time or while working. Many companies offer training resources or classes to help you improve your skills. They often partner with learning centers that provide technical certifications. So, it might be a good idea to focus on this after you graduate. Wishing you the best of luck!
Thank you!
Anonymous
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Susan’s Answer
Skip the minor unless it aligns tightly with your interests and your long-term career plan. Your time is better spent building a UX/UI portfolio, getting hands-on with tools, and learning how to solve real user problems, those are the things that employers in today’s tech market are hungry for.
Let your degree be your foundation, and let your work be your distinguisher.
Let your degree be your foundation, and let your work be your distinguisher.
Thank you!
Anonymous
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Anonymous -
Cognitive Science has precious little correlation to UI/UX, so it sounds like a fashion statement rather than a rational objective.
Why would you not simply do a minor in UI/UX design if that is your goal?
Better yet, take classes you will enjoy and do well in rather than packing your academic resume. Focus on man-machine interface and psychology to help decode real user wants and desires (long story behind that, just know that the best UI designer understands how users think better than the user).
Tony
Cognitive Science has precious little correlation to UI/UX, so it sounds like a fashion statement rather than a rational objective.
Why would you not simply do a minor in UI/UX design if that is your goal?
Better yet, take classes you will enjoy and do well in rather than packing your academic resume. Focus on man-machine interface and psychology to help decode real user wants and desires (long story behind that, just know that the best UI designer understands how users think better than the user).
Tony
Hello, this is the original poster. HCI is a specialization under CogSci at my university. So in order for me to minor in UI/UX, I would have to minor in CogSci and gear my classes towards UI/UX. However, I have to take some classes that don't directly correlate to UI/UX because of lower division requirements for the minor.
Anonymous
No idea which university you're attending or what HCI means. In my world, cognitive science refers to machine learning.
Nonetheless, take the classes you think will advance your skill in UX/UI design. It makes for a much more interesting interview when getting a job.
Richard A. (Tony) Eckel
Updated
Angela’s Answer
As a UCSD alum, I've seen many classmates with Cognitive Science or Computer Science degrees both succeed in the UX/UI field. Both areas are highly relevant, so there's no need to switch majors or take on extra courses if it causes stress. It's more important to start building an online portfolio and get involved in projects or internships for hands-on experience in UX/UI. There are plenty of free online resources to help you begin. Even experimenting with tools like Figma can be very helpful, as many companies value experience with these tools.