Online M.A. Behavioral Economics

Factors and materials to be considered for admission will include:

• Application
• Application fee ($50)
• Generally, an undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Official Transcripts
  • Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned.
  • It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.

Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 are required to submit additional documentation.

• Resume/CV or Work History (e.g. employer letter, LinkedIn profile, or other document that reflects your work history)
• Personal Statement (between 250 and 500 words for each question)
  • Please describe a challenge that you navigated successfully and how you will use what you have learned from that experience to be successful in your program.
  • How will the successful completion of this program support your professional career goals?

For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.

The Behavior Economics master's program offered online culminates in an Applied Research Project in which you will apply behavioral economics concepts to an approved topic. You will complete classwork throughout your studies that will guide you through the process of writing the Applied Research Project. A faculty member will approve and supervise the project through these courses.

Brain and Behavior

Studying how the brain informs our behaviors is an essential step in learning ways behavioral economics can be used to inform social interventions. Students will study neuropsychology with a focus on the study of how our brain structures are related to judgment and choice. From this foundation, students will be able to use neuro-marketing techniques (the use of marketing techniques to activate certain structures in the brain) to target ideal consumers and their diverse needs. This class concludes with a group project in which students will develop a neuro-marketing idea for use among diverse market segments.

Consumer Motivation

Consumers today are bombarded by fast-paced, technologically savvy inducements to make spontaneous purchases across media. This course helps students make sense of how potential buyers sort through the stimulus overload. Students learn how to design point-of-sale displays; improve visual merchandising; maintain the integrity of a brand image; and attract and retain customers over time. Individually tailored project work centers on the participant’s own work challenges.

Choice Architecture

Based on the principles of cognitive psychology, the concept of choice architecture involves purposefully placing primarily visual or auditory behavior-activating prompts or cues to influence choice making. Examples include changes to default choices to encourage participation in organ donor programs and retirement savings accounts. Students will learn how people respond differentially to similar cues based on interpretations of prompts through their owned cultural and personal values, attitudes, and beliefs. Students will also study ways in which to encourage positive behavioral outcomes while maintaining consumer free choice.

As an online student at The Chicago School pursuing an online M.A. in Behavioral Economics, you will enjoy a transformative educational experience with the flexibility to keep your other life commitments intact. The Global Student Dashboard offers access to the components you'll need to complete your programs successfully. These include coursework, assignments, and areas to interact with fellow students and ask your instructors questions.

Earning an online master's degree in behavioral economics can open up many career opportunities. Here are six pathways graduates may wish to pursue:

• Market research analyst
• Policy adviser
• Behavioral finance specialist
• Advertiser
• Professor
• Consultant

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone, regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

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