The Behavioral Decision Science (BDS) minor was created to allow students to pursue a science-based understanding of how people think, make decisions, and act. The program integrates courses across psychology, neuroscience, economics, sociology, and philosophy, politics, & economics (PPE). As they progress, students build a personal decision-making toolkit they can apply to their own choices and use to ethically advise and influence others - skills valuable in every academic and professional field. As Dr. Jill Sundie, collegiate associate professor BDS program leader explained, “No matter what your major is, you will need to understand how people make decisions and how to positively and ethically influence them.”

Open to students across all majors, the BDS Minor became a Pathways program in 2025, offering a broader selection of required courses and electives that complement diverse areas of study. Its flexible, interdisciplinary structure reflects strong support from partner departments and enables students to deepen their understanding of human behavior in applied settings. 

Faculty bring to the table cross-disciplinary expertise, which helps broaden the subject matter taught in the courses. Students benefit from hands-on experiences in the Capstone and Undergraduate Research courses, where they explore behavioral science in both laboratory and real-world contexts. They examine how behavioral insights are used in marketing, product design, user experience, health care, finance, and public policy, learning to connect scientific research with practical impact.

Graduates are prepared to go on contribute to organizations in business, government, and the nonprofit sector. These include institutions such as think tanks and people-focused departments that focus on behavior. However, students aren’t just confined to these fields. BDS students leave the program having developed behavioral skills that can translate to client- and human-focused roles across many different industries. 

A key recent milestone is the launch of the expanded 2025–2026 curriculum, which maintains the program’s core strengths while increasing elective options and access for students across majors. Dr. Sundie noted, “I’m excited that the program is growing while staying true to its mission - our students are engaged, curious, and a lot of fun to work with.”

Ultimately, the Behavioral Decision Science Minor offers an inviting home for students who are interested in human behavior. Its combination of academic rigor, flexibility, and real-world application make it an interesting and accessible choice for students from many disciplines.