<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COUSINS PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324355</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fordham Scott W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3344 PEACHTREE ROAD, NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30326</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>314859</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1937</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 25, 2019, Cousins Properties incorporated (&quot;Cousins&quot;) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) with Murphy Subsidiary Holdings Corporation (&quot;Merger Sub&quot;) and TIER REIT, Inc. (&quot;TIER&quot;) pursuant to which TIER was merged with and into Merger Sub (the &quot;Merger&quot;). At the effective time of the Merger, outstanding awards of restricted shares of TIER common stock and outstanding awards of restricted stock units corresponding to TIER common stock became vested to the extent provided in the Merger Agreement and were settled in shares of TIER common stock that were treated in the same manner as any other share of TIER common stock in the Merger and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Cousins common stock at the effective time equal to the applicable exchange ratio.  Subsequently, Cousins effected a one-for-four reverse stock split effective June 14, 2019.  All outstanding amounts reported herein have been adjusted to reflect post reverse stock split holdings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kristin R. Myers, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
