Industry Opportunities

In addition to traditional coursework, the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences (MBDS) program provides a variety of exclusive industry opportunities. Through special projects and engagement with our partner organizations and experts, students gain hands-on experience with real industry challenges, expand their professional networks, and broaden their career perspectives.

As an MBDS student, you have opportunities to:

  • Integrate behavioral science knowledge into real-life challenges during the 12-week Design Challenge
  • Practice your consulting skills working for real clients
  • Join world-renowned experts in supporting positive behavioral change at the Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics

Design Challenge

The Design Challenge, part of the required Capstone course, drives collaboration between student groups and Industry Affiliates who, together, apply cutting-edge knowledge to real-life problems. Design Challenges highlight students’ training and diverse skill sets in behavioral economics, decision sciences, network analysis, and public policy by connecting behavioral insights to industry questions in an immersive and actionable format.

Learn more about the Design Challenge

Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics

The Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics (Penn CSNBD) enables organizations around the world to sustainably enact positive behavioral change through specialized consulting, research, and training services. As a proud partner of Penn CSNBD, MBDS provides students with work and research opportunities in measuring behavior, analyzing behavioral data, and identifying systematic behavioral drivers.

Learn more about the Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics

MBDS Industry Affiliates

As a training ground for the next generation of applied behavioral scientists, the MBDS program is always looking to partner with organizations to help develop opportunities for students, including workshops, lectures, and Design Challenge projects.

Learn more about becoming an Industry Affiliate

Upcoming application deadlines

The application deadline for fall 2025 is February 1, 2025.

Meet the faculty

Learn from the University's most celebrated scholars and the industry's leading minds.

Anu Raghuram

Student and alumni stories

“I knew I wanted to do a design challenge in the first place so that I could apply what I was learning in a real-world context.”
— Anu Raghuram, MBDS `19