Summer Springboard

Behavioral Economics: Decision-Making & Human Behavior

ACADEMIC COURSE

UNCOVER THE REASONS BEHIND OUR CHOICES AND DIVE INTO THE SCIENCE OF DECISION-MAKING AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

Course Highlights

  • Explore how the brain influences decision-making, from personal choices to financial and social behavior.
  • Investigate cognitive biases, mental heuristics, and the science behind “irrational” decisions.
  • Participate in hands-on experiments and interactive simulations to test risk, reward, and social influence.
  • Design and conduct original behavioral experiments, collecting and analyzing data.
  • Understand how neuroeconomics informs business strategies, public policy, and social initiatives.
  • Gain insight into careers in behavioral economics, neuroscience, psychology, finance, and research.

Summer Springboard

Behavioral Economics: Decision-Making & Human Behavior

Course Overview

Why do people make the choices they do? Behavioral Economics explores the fascinating intersection of the brain, behavior, and decision-making. In this course, students combine insights from neuroscience, psychology, and economics to understand what drives human choices. Through interactive labs, discussions, and collaborative projects, participants gain a deeper understanding of behavior and the factors that influence decisions in everyday life. By the end of the program, students will have hands-on experience designing experiments, analyzing behavioral data, and seeing how neuroeconomics principles are applied in real-world contexts such as business, policy, and social initiatives.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Outcome #1

Explain key concepts in neuroeconomics, including behavioral biases, mental heuristics, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Outcome #2

Design and conduct behavioral experiments using data collection and analysis techniques.

Outcome #3

Evaluate real-world scenarios involving risk, reward, and social influence.

Outcome #4

Reflect on the ethical, social, and economic implications of human decision-making.

Summer Springboard

Behavioral Economics: Decision-Making & Human Behavior

Courses by Campus

BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS: DECISION-MAKING & HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Barnard College, Columbia University

New York City, New York