Human behavior is complex. In this program, students gain an understanding of the why behind our everyday behaviors. They gain an understanding of what we choose to overconsume, why we recycle or why people commit crime. They discover why some groups are more affected by inequality than others and why crime levels differ across locations.
“If we want to solve these problems, first we need to understand human behavior, then we have to find ways of changing it. This is what we are building here in this program—we create human behavior experts.”
Dr. Alistair Fildes, vice dean of the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences
The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences takes a different approach to traditional social sciences programs. Through a range of subjects—such as behavioral science, sociology, economics, psychology and neuroscience—our students gain a holistic view of the world around them, as well as the varying factors at play. We believe no one subject has all the answers to human problems, so taking a step back is key to solving these complex issues. This variety of perspectives enriches our students’ problem-solving and decision-making skills.
But it doesn’t stop there—we also understand the importance of soft skills in making a voice heard and considering all the important stakeholders before coming to a decision. With this in mind, the program helps students learn to work effectively on a team while also covering topics like persuasion, influencing and leadership. What’s more, through a combination of workshops, presentations and group projects, our students will develop a skill set to help them make an impact no matter where they work in the future.
As we can’t understand human behavior without looking within, we encourage students to carve out their own path in order to maximize their potential. The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences provides students the freedom to tailor their experience to best suit their professional and personal goals. Whether they are leaning more toward helping people or using data to improve people’s lives, there is a specialization track for everyone. Over four years, students take a progressively deeper look at human behavior—first gaining a broad perspective before deciding where to focus their skills and interests during their fourth year.
“Where do you want to go, and how will we help you get there? We will support your journey by offering a choice of tracks in your fourth year. A track is a collection of courses that align to particular jobs that need human behavior experts.”
Dr. Alistair Fildes, Vice Dean for the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences
With personalization in mind, the program offers two unique tracks: Human-Centered Consulting and Marketing & Talent Strategy. The Human-Centered Consulting track is more data-focused and will guide students toward a career as a customer experience designer, behavioral scientist, business analyst or product manager. Students will step into the role of a consultant, applying behavioral science to real business challenges for actual clients while learning to frame complex problems, manage stakeholders and design and test experiments inside real organizations. The Marketing & Talent Strategy track is designed for those wanting to pursue a career in marketing, human resources or recruitment. Students will learn how to bring products and people together, from building a brand to attracting, developing and retaining talent. On this track, students also take part in an AI-driven, semester-long simulation that mirrors real business environments, giving them hands-on expertise in marketing, recruitment and people strategy.
Learning about human behavior at IE University isn’t limited to the classroom either. As a student of the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences, students can apply to participate in the Behavior Lab—a unique initiative designed to enable students to apply their knowledge to real business settings. Enriched by our partnerships with real-world businesses, NGOs and government bodies, the Behavior Lab provides a space for game-changers to tackle the world’s most pressing issues hands-on.
If you’re looking to drive positive change in the world based on insights and patterns, this could be the program for you. You’ll unlock the door to various opportunities across the world while benefiting from IE University’s international network. You can also see what our students have to say about the program here and here.
If you’d like to learn more about the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences check out the program page, or hear from Vice Dean Dr. Alistair Fildes, about what the program can do for you.
