Earn your online master's degree in behavioral economics, designed for working professionals.
The Chicago School's M.A. Behavioral Economics online program provides a foundation in advanced psychology that addresses broader business applications such as human decision-making, negotiation, marketing, and consumer behavior.
Behavioral economics is the study of judgment and choice. This master's degree in behavioral economics applies cognitive, social, and consumer psychology, along with statistics and public policy, to decisions in business, marketing, and politics.
Studying elements of economics and financial literacy, you will generate a richer understanding of human behavior through a competency-based model grounded in:
- Political science
- Public policy
- Statistics
- Consumer psychology
- Social psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Consulting psychology
Graduates of the Behavioral Economics online master's program are well prepared to deliver professional services, perform market research, and sensitively serve diverse populations in business, marketing, and politics. They also have the tools to excel in nonprofits as consultants, public servants, and researchers.
Elizabeth Schwab, Psy.D.
Admissions Requirements
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?
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
400 S. Jefferson St., Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60607
For electronic delivery, send to [email protected].
Licensure
The M.A. Behavioral Economics is a non-licensure program.
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.
Applied Research Project
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.
Sample Courses
The M.A. Behavioral Economics is a 40-credit-hour program: 18 credit hours of core coursework, 16 credit hours of research coursework, and six credit hours of elective coursework. Courses such as Brain and Behavior, Consumer Motivation, and Choice Architecture examine consumer behavior, judgment, and choice.
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.
Online Student Experience
As an online student at The Chicago School pursuing an online M.A. in Behavioral Economics, you will have the flexibility to keep your other life commitments intact. The program is delivered 100% online and asynchronously, with optional online meetings each term to meet with instructors. 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.
Behavioral Economics Career Pathways
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
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Graduates of the online M.A. Behavioral Economics apply psychological research on judgment and choice to business, marketing, policy, and consulting problems. The figures below come from the closest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupations to the roles The Chicago School associates with this degree.
Economists, an occupation BLS says typically requires a master's degree, earned a median annual wage of $124,720 in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, adding about 900 jobs to a base of 18,600.
Market research analysts, who gather and analyze data on consumers and competitors, earned a median of $78,760 in May 2025 across about 82,000 jobs, with 7% growth projected from 2025 to 2035.
Management analysts, the closest match for consulting roles, earned a median of $101,860 in May 2025, with 10% growth projected over the same decade. About 94,100 openings for management analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Postsecondary teachers earned a median of $85,330 in May 2025, with 7% growth projected from 2025 to 2035. Qualifications for teaching roles vary by institution and subject.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Financing Your Education
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.
M.A. Behavioral Economics FAQs
What is a master's degree in behavioral economics?
A master's degree in behavioral economics studies how psychology shapes judgment and choice in economic and business settings. The Chicago School's online M.A. Behavioral Economics combines cognitive, social, and consumer psychology with statistics, public policy, and consulting psychology, and ends with an Applied Research Project supervised by a faculty member.
What are the behavioral economics principles?
The main principle of behavioral economics is that the science of understanding individual human behavior would necessarily provide the tools to understand all economic data. Because economic data is generated by individual behavior, studying judgment and choice is a direct route to understanding it. See the blog post on behavioral economics principles.
Is the M.A. Behavioral Economics offered online?
Yes. The M.A. Behavioral Economics is offered 100% online and asynchronously, with optional online meetings each term to meet with instructors. Students use the Global Student Dashboard to access coursework, submit assignments, and ask instructors questions.
How long does the M.A. Behavioral Economics take to complete?
The program takes two years of full-time study. It culminates in an Applied Research Project in which students apply behavioral economics concepts to an approved topic, with a faculty member approving and supervising the project.
What are the admissions requirements for the M.A. Behavioral Economics program?
Applicants submit an application, a $50 application fee, and official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is generally expected. Applicants below a 3.0 also submit a resume, CV, or work history and a personal statement of 250 to 500 words for each of two questions.
Is the M.A. Behavioral Economics a behavioral psychology or behavioral science degree?
The M.A. Behavioral Economics is grounded in psychology and applies it to decisions in business, marketing, and politics. Coursework draws on cognitive, social, and consumer psychology. It is a non-licensure program, so it does not lead to licensure as a psychologist or counselor. Check the licensure disclosures page for state-specific information.
What jobs can you get with a master's in behavioral economics?
Graduates pursue roles such as market research analyst, policy adviser, behavioral finance specialist, advertiser, professor, and consultant.
The Chicago School also associates its behavioral economics programs with job titles such as behavioral economist and behavioral scientist. Related U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupations include economists (median $124,720 in May 2025) and market research analysts (median $76,950 in May 2024).
Is behavioral economics an in-demand field?
Employment of economists, a related occupation, is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The BLS counted about 18,600 economist jobs in 2025 and reported a median annual wage of $124,720 in May 2025. Market research analysts, another common destination, are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035.
How is a master's in behavioral economics different from an MBA?
The Chicago School describes the M.A. Behavioral Economics as an alternative to the traditional MBA that adds a foundation in advanced psychology to business applications such as human decision-making, negotiation, marketing, and consumer behavior.
Is there a certificate in behavioral economics?
Yes. The Chicago School offers an online Certificate in Behavioral Economics that takes three terms and nine to 10 credit hours. Students can apply certificate courses toward the M.A. Behavioral Economics. Both programs are non-licensure and offered 100% online.
Is the M.A. Behavioral Economics accredited?
The Chicago School is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The institutional and programmatic accreditations held by The Chicago School are listed on the accreditation page.
