Leading to a Bachelor of Arts, the study of decision making at Brown covers descriptive questions like how people, institutions, and nations make judgments and decisions; normative questions about rationality, such as what constitutes the best judgments and decisions; and prescriptive questions, such as how the process of decision making can be improved to make actual decisions closer to optimal ones. By virtue of its broad interdisciplinary nature, the study of decision making covers work found in a variety of more traditional disciplines including psychology, cognitive science, economics, philosophy, computer science, and neuroscience. Professors Steven Sloman and David Levari are the concentration advisors. Upon declaring, concentrators are also encouraged to speak with the appropriate area specialist from among those listed here.
Standard Program for the AB Degree
These are the new requirements approved by CCC effective Fall 2024. For existing concentrators graduating in 2024-25, the prior requirements can be found by selecting the Bulletin archive https://bulletin.brown.edu/archive/2023-24/
| Foundational Courses: | ||
| CPSY 0220 | Making Decisions | 1 |
| Choose one of the following: | 1 | |
| Human Cognition | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Brain Damage and the Mind | ||
| Social and Moral Development | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 1 | |
| The Psychology and Philosophy of Happiness | ||
| Special Topics in Cognition: Collective Cognition and Collective Behavior | ||
| Topics in Cognition: Information and Decision Making | ||
| Mechanisms of Motivated Decision Making | ||
| Affective Neuroscience | ||
| Visually-Guided Action and Cognitive Processes | ||
| Topics in Development: Social Learning | ||
| Psychology in Business and Economics | ||
| Blame and Punishment | ||
| The Moral Brain | ||
| Distribution Requirements: | ||
| Select one Introductory Course from the following: | 1 | |
| Introduction to programming | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science | ||
| Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction | ||
| Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction | ||
| Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Select Two Advanced Courses From: | 2 | |
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Introduction to Game Theory | ||
| Intermediate Microeconomics | ||
| Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) | ||
| Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory | ||
| History of Economic Thought | ||
| Experimental and Behavioral Economics | ||
| Theory of Behavioral Economics | ||
| Game Theory and Applications to Economics | ||
| Decision Theory: Foundations and Applications | ||
| Moral Theories | ||
| Micro-Organizational Theory: Social Behavior in Organizations | ||
| Macro-Organizational Theory: Organizations in Social Context | ||
| Methods Classes: | ||
| Basic Probability and Statistics. Choose One From the Following: | 1 | |
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics with Calculus | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Probability for Computing and Data Science | ||
| Data Science Fluency | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics | ||
| Advanced Methods. Choose one of the following: | 1 | |
| Computational Methods for Mind, Brain and Behavior | ||
| Computational Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Mathematical Econometrics I | ||
| Big Data | ||
| Market and Social Surveys | ||
| Market Research in Public and Private Sectors | ||
or any advanced course in Computer Science beyond the introductory set of classes | ||
| Choose one of the following Research Methods and Design courses: | 1 | |
| Laboratory in Social Cognition | ||
| Laboratory in Psycholinguistics | ||
| Research Methods And Design | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Applied Research Methods for Economists | ||
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| Political Research Methods | ||
| Methods of Social Research | ||
| Market Research in Public and Private Sectors | ||
| Electives: | 3 | |
Students will choose three additional courses in consultation with a concentration advisor that will constitute an integrated specialization in some area of decision science. Any advanced course taught at Brown is eligible. | ||
| Capstone: | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar in Behavioral Decision Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Students will be expected to take no more than 6 courses below the 1000-level within the concentration. Students with multiple concentrations may not apply more than 2 courses from a second concentration to the AB in Behavioral Decision Sciences. Students are responsible for satisfying all prerequisites for courses they plan to take.
Honors
The Honors Program in BDS gives undergraduates a special opportunity to carry out a research project under the direction of a faculty member that they have developed a relationship with. The program also provides the opportunity for senior concentrators to receive their undergraduate degree with Honors. Participation in the program allows students to develop an understanding of research and acquire research skills and background.
Candidates for Honors in BDS must meet all of the requirements of the BDS concentration as described above. Candidates submit their application for the program at the beginning of semester 7. We encourage students to seek out a faculty mentor prior to semester 7 and to complete their methods courses and two of their three electives before semester 7. Please refer to the CPSY Honors Program page for detailed information about the specific requirements for the Honors Program in BDS.