Studies & Degrees in Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences Study Programs
Behavioral sciences study how people think, decide and act, alone and in groups. The term covers several disciplines, not one. IE University describes behavioral science as a broad, interdisciplinary umbrella that takes in psychology, sociology, anthropology, neuroscience and behavioral economics, while psychology on its own focuses on how individuals think, feel and act. In the United States the National Science Foundation groups the field with the social and economic sciences and describes it as the study of human behavior and social organizations from birth to old age.
Students learn the main theories of each discipline and, above all, the methods used to test them: research design, surveys, experiments, interviews, statistics and data analysis. Most programmes ask students to apply these methods to a concrete area such as health, education, organisations, consumers or public policy.
Qualifications and levels
The name on the diploma varies from one university to another, so it helps to look at how each one organises the subject.
- Bachelor's degrees with this name. The University of Southern Maine teaches a social and behavioral sciences degree that integrates psychology, sociology and anthropology. In Spain, IE University teaches a Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences that lasts four years, is taught in English and combines human behavior, business and analytics, with elective tracks in Human-Centered Consulting and Marketing & Talent Strategy.
- Degrees in one discipline. At many universities, behavioral sciences is the name of a faculty or division, and students enrol in psychology, sociology, anthropology or education. Utrecht University and Leiden University each have a Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Utrecht's faculty covers interdisciplinary social sciences, cultural anthropology, educational sciences, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, and methodology, statistics and data science; Leiden's covers cultural anthropology, education and child studies, political science, psychology, and science and technology studies.
- Spain. Official degrees are assigned to fields of knowledge, and one of them is "Ciencias del comportamiento y psicología" (behavioral sciences and psychology). An official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and a master's degree has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- Master's degrees and doctorates. Postgraduate study is where most students specialise, and it is required for some professions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists typically need a master's or doctoral degree in psychology, and in most US states practising psychology or using the title of psychologist requires a licence.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 29 active schools for behavioral sciences. Nineteen are in the United States. The Netherlands and Germany have two each, and Spain, Canada, Japan, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom and Bermuda have one each. The United States list includes Stanford University, where the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences has worked since 1954, Harvard University, Purdue University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Florida, Boston University and the University of Southern Maine. In Europe the list includes Utrecht University and Leiden University in the Netherlands, the Universität Heidelberg and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Germany, the University of Bristol in England and IE in Madrid. McGill University in Montreal, The University of Tokyo and Addis Ababa University are also listed.
The language of instruction follows the country in most cases: English in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In the Netherlands, Germany and Spain, check each programme, because universities teach some degrees in the national language and others in English. At IE, students who start in Segovia spend the first year there and years two to four in Madrid; students who start in Madrid stay there for all four years.
Careers
A bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences does not lead to one regulated profession. The University of Southern Maine prepares students for careers in social services, mental health, law and public policy, child and youth services, and education. IE names business roles: consultant, consumer behavior expert, behavioral scientist, market research analyst, talent or human resources development manager and customer experience designer.
Work as a psychologist, sociologist or survey researcher normally requires a master's degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It projects employment of psychologists in the United States to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, and employment in life, physical and social science occupations as a whole to grow much faster than the average for all occupations over the same period.
Frequently asked questions
Is behavioral science the same as psychology?
No. Psychology is one of the behavioral sciences. The field also includes sociology, anthropology, neuroscience and behavioral economics, and degrees with this name usually combine several of them.
Can I become a psychologist with a behavioral sciences degree?
Not directly. In the United States psychologists typically need a master's or doctoral degree in psychology, and most states require a licence. Rules differ in each country, so check the requirements of the country where you want to practise.
Can I study behavioral sciences in English in Spain?
Yes. The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences of IE University is taught in English over four years, in Segovia and Madrid, and starts in September.
What jobs can I get with a behavioral sciences degree?
Graduates work in social services, education, public policy, human resources, market research and consulting. Research and clinical roles usually need a master's degree or a doctorate.