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Behavioral Economics, Minor

The Minor in Behavioral Economics

Peter Schwardmann, Faculty Director
Location: Porter Hall 319F
schwardmann@andrew.cmu.edu

Lizzy Stoyle, Senior Academic Advisor
Location: 208G
estoyle@andrew.cmu.edu
Schedule an appointment:  https://go.oncehub.com/LizzyStoyle

https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/undergraduate/index.html

Overview

Understanding human behavior is valuable in almost every profession. Whether designing products, building technologies, managing organizations, shaping public policy, or improving healthcare, success often depends on understanding how people actually think, choose, and respond to incentives. The Behavioral Economics minor introduces students to the scientific study of human behavior and decision making through the perspective of behavioral economists.

Students learn the core ideas and methods of behavioral economics, including experimental research, causal inference, and quantitative analysis, while exploring how behavioral science can improve products, digital platforms, organizations, markets, and public policy. The minor complements a wide range of majors by helping students understand the people they will ultimately serve, work with, and lead.

Double Counting

Students may double-count two courses with another major or minor. 73-102 is excluded from this double count policy. The prerequisite course of 36-200 (or its equivalent) is also excluded.

Curriculum

The core curriculum in Behavioral Economics consists of one quantitative course, two Economic courses, one Psychology course, and two Behavioral Economics courses.

Minor in Behavioral Economics63 units

Core Courses54 units
Quantitative Methods Core Units
36-202Methods for Statistics & Data Science9
Economics Core Units
73-102Principles of Microeconomics9
or 73-104 Principles of Microeconomics Accelerated
Second-Level Economics Course
88-221Markets, Democracy, and Public Policy9
or 73-103 Principles of Macroeconomics
or 73-155 Models, Math, and Markets
or 73-230 Intermediate Microeconomics
or 73-328 Health Economics
or 73-347 Game Theory Applications for Economics and Business
or 73-359 Benefit-Cost Analysis
or 73-408 Law and Economics
or 73-421 Emerging Markets
or 73-427 Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Economics
 18
Psychology Core Units
88-120Reason, Passion and Cognition9
Behavioral Economics Core Units
88-360Behavioral Economics9
88-367Designing Economics Experiments in the Wild *9
or 88-365 Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
 18
*

Behavioral Economics core courses CANNOT double count with the elective course.

Elective Courses9 units 
Complete at least one of the courses (9 units) from the following list. Some courses have additional prerequisites.
Elective Courses
88-130Behavioral Economics for Life *9
88-221Markets, Democracy, and Public Policy9
88-230Human Intelligence and Human Stupidity9
88-231Thinking in Person vs. Thinking Online9
88-234Negotiation: International Focus9
88-235Negotiation: Strategies and Behavioral Insights9
88-251Empirical Research Methods9
88-252Causal Inference: from Data to Decisions9
88-255Strategic Decision Making9
88-261Health Policy and Decision Making9
88-275Bubbles: Data Science for Human Minds9
88-285Deconstructing and Dismantling Discrimination9
88-290Confessions, Lies, and Gossip9
88-300Programming and Data Analysis for Social Scientists9
88-302Behavioral Decision Making9
88-312Decision Models and Games9
88-323
& 88-324		Policy in a Global Economy 1: International Trade and Trade Policy
and Policy in a Global Economy 2: International Trade and Trade Policy		12
88-344Systems Analysis: Environmental Policy9
88-365Behavioral Economics and Public Policy9
88-366Behavioral Economics of Poverty and Development9
88-367Designing Economics Experiments in the Wild9
*

Students who have completed 88-302 Behavioral Decision Making OR 88-360 Behavioral Economics cannot take 88-130 Behavioral Economics for Life

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