Social and Decision Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Decision Science
The interdisciplinary field of decision science examines how individuals, groups and organizations make decisions and how those decisions can be improved.
好色先生TV’s Bachelor of Science in Decision Science prepares students to model, analyze and improve decision making using analytical and empirical methods. The program integrates data analysis, experimentation and formal frameworks to address complex problems across a range of domains.
What is decision science?
Decision science draws on psychology, economics, philosophy, statistics and management science to study how people make choices.
The field includes three complementary approaches:
- Normative analysis: developing formal models of decision making
- Descriptive research: studying how people actually make decisions
- Prescriptive methods: designing interventions to support better decision making
Students learn to design experiments, analyze behavioral data and evaluate decision-making strategies across a range of settings.
Why study decision science at Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon offers a distinctive undergraduate program in decision science that emphasizes applying decision-making frameworks in practice.
Faculty apply decision science across domains such as medicine, law, climate risk, marketing and business, and bring those experiences into the classroom.
Students engage with applied examples that illustrate how decision-making principles operate across different contexts.
You can learn more about the program from the faculty director Silvia Saccardo.
Core courses
Core courses introduce foundational theories of decision making and their application. Students learn methods for collecting and analyzing data, including:
- Designing and conducting surveys
- Developing and testing experiments
- Evaluating decision-making interventions
These courses establish the analytical and empirical foundations of the major.
Electives and areas of focus
Elective courses allow students to tailor their studies to their interests and goals. Courses are organized into six areas:
- Biological and behavioral aspects of decision making
- Managerial and organizational decision making
- Philosophical and ethical perspectives
- Economic and statistical methods
- Public policy
- Research methods
Students may concentrate in one area or explore multiple domains.
Research opportunities
The department offers research opportunities for interested and qualified students. Participating in research allows students to deepen their understanding, explore potential research careers and work closely with faculty and graduate students.
Where our graduates go
Graduates pursue Ph.D. programs in decision science and related fields such as psychology, business and economics. Others go on to professional degrees including MBA, MD, JD and MPH programs, or take positions in business, government, consulting and nonprofit organizations.
Students work closely with faculty and the academic advisor to tailor their coursework and experiences to their individual interests and goals.
Students also gain experience through internships, research positions and early career roles across a range of industries.
View internships and job outcomes
Learning outcomes for Decision Science
- Explain normative and descriptive theories from economics, psychology, and decision science
- Apply concepts and phenomena from decision science to policy decisions and real world problems
- Explain, defend, and critique the empirical research methods used in decision science
- Structure complex and amorphous problems for quantitative analysis
- Display effective written and spoken communication about decision science ideas, theories, and phenomena