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As a behavioral science PhD student at Chicago Booth, you’ll study human behavior in a wide range of contexts, including processes of negotiation, power and influence, and motivation and self-control.

You will have the flexibility to focus your doctoral studies in behavioral science on the research topics that most interest you. You can also augment your studies with work in economics, policy and intervention, psychology, marketing, finance, sociology, public policy, and other disciplines at Booth and across the university.

Some students earn a joint degree in psychology and business, a joint program between Booth’s behavioral science program and the Department of Psychology in the Division of the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago. Students must be admitted to the behavioral science dissertation area and apply for the joint program within their first two years in the Stevens Doctoral Program.

Our Distinguished Behavioral Science Faculty

Chicago Booth behavioral science faculty are thought leaders in their fields who have changed the way we evaluate economic judgment and decision-making. These world-renowned scholars, including a Nobel laureate, will serve as mentors during your time at Chicago Booth and beyond.

Alumni Success

Graduates of the Behavioral Science PhD Program go on to successful careers in a wide range of fields in academia and industry, including positions in some of the world’s most influential institutions of higher education.

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David Munguia Gomez, PhD '23

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior
Yale School of Management
David Munguia Gomez studies decisions about allocating rewards and opportunities, such as college admission and employment. His research interests encompass ethics and decision-making, merit, fairness, and organizational behavior. His PhD is in behavioral science.

David Munguia Gomez, PhD '23
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Annabelle Roberts, PhD '22

Assistant Professor of Marketing
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

Annabelle studies judgment and decision making in the context of consumer behavior, with a focus on motivation and self-control. In her research, she explores what leads people to make more patient decisions and feel more patient while waiting. Her PhD is in behavioral science.

Annabelle Roberts, PhD '22

A Network of Support

Doctoral students at Booth have access to the resources of several high-powered research centers that offer funding for student work, host conferences, and foster a strong research community, as well as weekly workshops.

Center for Decision Research
Positioned at the forefront of the rapidly developing field of behavioral science, the CDR is devoted to building a richer understanding of human behavior and experience.

Research Workshops
Keep up to date with the latest behavioral science work through the Center for Decision Research's weekly workshop series. Faculty, students, and invited guests meet to discuss their work on the behavioral implications of decision and judgment models.

Spotlight on PhD Research

Chicago Booth Review frequently highlights the work of PhD students and faculty in behavioral science.

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What's the Best Way to Motivate Yourself?

How can we set better goals and follow through on them? We put that question to two experts on motivation, including Chicago Booth’s Ayelet Fishbach, and they discuss best tips and practices.

What's the Best Way to Motivate Yourself?
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Line of Inquiry: Shereen Chaudhry on Why We Hesitate to Apologize

Research examines a hurdle to offering an apology in conflicts in which both parties are to blame.

Line of Inquiry: Shereen Chaudhry on Why We Hesitate to Apologize

Inside the Student Experience

Juliana Schroeder, PhD ’15, talks about her research into how people convey their mental capacity to others.

Current Behavioral Science Students

Behavioral science students come to Chicago Booth from around the world, bringing a wide array of interests and perspectives. Their recent research has covered topics ranging from self-disclosures to coaching decisions in professional basketball. Our graduates begin their careers in a wide range of fields, from research and teaching at prestigious institutions such as Cornell University to providing analysis for the New York Yankees.

Program Expectations and Requirements

The Stevens Program at Booth is a full-time program. Students generally complete the majority of coursework and examination requirements within the first two years of studies and begin work on their dissertation during the third year.

For details, see General Examination Requirements by Area in the Stevens Program Guidebook.
Download the Guidebook