Full course description
Businesses of all sizes and industries are applying behavioral economics to work with the brain of their customers instead of relying on what they believe people should do. To remain competitive, companies and their employees will need an understanding of how the brain really works and basic concepts from the field of behavioral economics. This in-depth knowledge is required to begin combining concepts together to properly apply and test ways to solve real business problems with BE. This 10-week course, a core class of the Certificate in Applied Behavioral Economics, provides this foundation and a safe opportunity for students to begin applying behavioral economics concepts.
What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer is required reading for this course. The price of the course had been adjusted by $20 so you can buy the book.
The course instructor is Melina Palmer, founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business, has more than 1.2 million downloads in over 170 countries. Melina worked in corporate marketing and brand strategy for over a decade before earning her master’s in behavioral economics. She has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and runs the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. Check out her award-winning books, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You (2021), What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (2022), and The Truth About Pricing (2024) on sale now.
Curriculum Outline (subject to change)
In this class, students can expect to learn about:
- An introduction to how the brain really works, what behavioral economics is, and why it matters in business
- Important Behavioral Economics Concepts, and How To Start Using Them, Including:
- Framing
- Priming
- Anchoring & Adjustment
- Relativity
- Loss Aversion
- Scarcity
- Herding
- Social Proof
- Choice Architecture
- NUDGES
- The Paradox of Choice
- Surprise & Delight
- Peak-End Rule
- Reciprocity
- Habits
- Melina's Behavioral Baking method and how to start considering applying behavioral economics into your work
➡️ FAQs ⬅️
How many courses do you need to finish to receive the certificate?
To earn the certificate, students must complete 6 courses – 3 required courses and any 3 electives or 2 electives and 2 condensed courses.
Do you have to complete the program or can I just take individual courses?
There is no requirement to complete the entire program. Students can choose to take any course that interests them.
How are the courses taught?
This program is entirely online so students from around the world can participate. One aspect that makes this course unique is that it is the lecture is prerecorded so you can listen whenever you wish. Students can choose to attend the virtual office hours and interact with fellow students and the instructor or they can watch the recorded discussion later. The course is pass/fail with the majority of graded material being posted discussions with your class cohorts.
Do you have to take the courses in any particular order?
No, there is no set schedule but it is highly recommended to complete the Foundations of Behavioral Economics as soon as possible because a lot of that material runs throughout the program.
How many courses can I take at a time?
We want to ensure that students take time and learn the material deeply so we limit students to taking up to two-courses per semester. There are opportunities to take shorter condensed courses in between semesters.
How long do you have to complete the certificate program?
Most students can complete the program in one year if they take two courses per semester. However, this is a self-paced program and we do not have a set time period although we suggest faster completion to ensure the course material remains at the forefront of your mind.
Are the course credits transferable to either a Bachelor’s or Master’s program?
No. Courses offered through CPED.tamu.edu are non-credit bearing courses. These are offered as opportunities to learn new skills and enhance job performance and to assist numerous professional licensing and accrediting bodies that require continuing education as a provision for the preservation of good standing in their industry.
How long are the courses?
Typically, the Required and Elective course are 10-weeks long, while the condensed course is 3-weeks long.
Can you drop a course once it has started?
Yes, you can drop any required or elective course before the second week of class for a full refund. You will receive a 50% refund between weeks two and five.
What is Human Behavior Laboratory?
The Human Behavior Laboratory at Texas A&M University is one of the largest biometrics lab in the academic world, bringing together a transdisciplinary team of leading researchers and advanced technology to deliver insights never before produced at this scale and speed. From marketing and education to nutrition and economics, biometric research applies to a wide range of disciplines. When you understand how people make decisions, you can be better prepared to help them make better ones. Individuals can make better life choices about their health, finances, relationships, what they buy, and how they manage risk. Businesses can increase product recognition and sales if they know what customers really want and how to reach them. Health providers can increase patient compliance and success by understanding how to motivate patients to develop self-control and adopt healthy behaviors.
Questions? Contact the program manager at HBL@TAMU.EDU
Ready to Enroll? Awesome! We look forward to seeing you in class soon!