Thinking about a behavioral science degree? There's a lot to consider.

Traditional institutions offer undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral programs in behavioral science. If you want to teach — in conjunction with writing and research — a PhD is a perfect fit. This path prepares you for academia, but it won’t train you for an industry career. If you want something more applied, an industry-focused bootcamp or learning-by-doing might be a better fit.

Daniela Jones, an Irrational Labs’ Behavioral Scientist, recently earned a Masters of Behavioral and Decision Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania—and she has some advice. She'll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of a degree in behavioral science, and help inform your decision to go for that degree (or not).

Connor Joyce was the first Behavioral Researcher at Microsoft, where he worked across the Microsoft Office portfolio. He also helped direct Microsoft’s New Future of Work Initiative, focused on creating productive and engaging workplaces. More recently, Connor led the creation of a behavioral science team at Tonal, incorporating social science thinking throughout the customer journey to create an inviting and retaining experience. Connor is a frequent writer, speaker, published Nature Human Behavior co-author, and behavioral science community builder.

James O'Flaherty is a behavioral consultant with a diverse background and expertise in a number of fields. He's combined his military and leadership expertise, his business experience, and his interests in behavioral science to join the management consulting sphere. He focuses on organizational culture, specifically sustaining improvements in team morale, productivity, and effectiveness. James has written about a wide range of subjects like ‘servant’ leadership, ‘cultures of empowerment,’ imposter syndrome, generational difference in the workplace and the interdependence of culture and organizational processes. He also founded and serves as the Governance Committee Chair for ‘The Weekly Fight,’ an organization devoted to supporting veterans and their experiences with post-traumatic stress.

Why they got a degree in Behavioral Science, instead of following other paths

How the degree shaped their professional interests, and helped them land a job.

What they wish they would have known prior to getting this degree

Their most impactful learnings, and how they advocate for the value of behavioral science in their everyday work

The future of the field, and what a new generation of behavioral scientists can contribute

School's out for now—but maybe not forever.

Thinking about a Behavioral Science Degree?