In Duke's Behavioral Economics & Behavioral Science online course, explore how behavioral insights can help you better understand and address critical challenges faced by governments, non-profits, and other organizations. This course will give you a foundation in behavioral science theory, methods and real-world behavioral science applications. Working alongside Duke faculty and peers, you'll apply your new knowledge and skills to various policies and programs aimed at improving the lives of citizens during the course’s immersive and engaging group project component.
About the Program
In this four-week online course, explore how behavioral insights can help you better understand and address challenges faced by low-income communities. Working alongside Duke faculty and peers, you'll apply your new knowledge and skills to a variety of policy challenges during the course’s immersive and engaging group project component.
Program Topics
Theory and Fundamentals
- Foundational behavioral principles, using the behavioral economics EAST framework
- Common behavioral and psychological biases that serve as levers to improve program outcomes
- Introduction to Human-Centered Design (HCD) and its relation to behavioral science
- Complex ethical questions in behavioral research
Methods and Applications
- Real-world case study applications across sectors such as: financial inclusion, sustainability, governance, health, and education.
- Innovation through evidence-based and human-centered policymaking
- Testing behavioral economics interventions using randomized control trials
Group Project Component
Working with faculty and peers, students will engage in an interactive mock client project. They will choose from a select array of real-world development challenges to form groups in which they will work together for the four weeks of the program. The groups will develop literature reviews on their issue topic, identify opportunities for behavioral interventions, develop prototypes, and design implementation test plans. The group project will culminate in a joint presentation to the class and faculty. Previous group project topics include curbing consumption, nudging farmers and fishermen to take more sustainable practices, combating Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, and increasing school retention rates.
Session Format
- 12 Live Online Sessions via Zoom (M,W,F from 10am-1pm US EST)
- Session Length: 3 hours
- Total Contact Hours: 36.0
The tuition rate for this program is $2,500. Applicants who are accepted by March 20th will receive a 25% priority registration pricing. Special alumni and partner pricing is available upon request. For more information, please email us.
Note: This course is part of the Behavioral Design Expert Certification. This certification provides participants with an overall Certification in Behavioral Design in addition to courses on HCD and BE. The cost for enrolling in this certification is $3,000 ($1,000 in savings).
This program is ideal for professionals wanting to learn how to integrate behavioral economics principles and methods into their development policy work.
- Past program participants include the following:
- Program and project managers from the public and non-profit sectors
- Researchers from think tanks and academic institutions
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialists
- Communications, public relations, and donor campaign specialists
- Policy advocacy professionals
Program Information
Program Dates:
May 25 - June 19, 2026 (M,W, F, from 10am-1pm US EST)
Priority Registration Deadline:
March 20, 2026 (for priority pricing)
Registration Deadline:
May 15, 2026
Location:
Online via Zoom
Questions?
Email the Executive Education Team at sanfordexeced@duke.edu.
More Courses:
Interested in similar courses? Check out our Human-Centered Design Program.
Meet the Program Director
Joseph Sherlock is a Lecturer at the School for Government at King’s College London. His PhD is from the London School of Economics, focused on applying behavioural science to strengthen democracy. Driven by a passion for evidence-based and evidence-generating innovation, his work generally centers on leveraging behavioural science to advance democracy and sustainability, as well as the science of behavioural science.
Joseph also serves as a Behavioural Science Fellow in the United Nations Secretary-General’s Office. Previously, he was a Principal Behavioral Scientist at Duke University, where he led a team dedicated to fostering innovation in civic society through behavioral science. He also held the role of Principal Behavioural Researcher at HM Revenue & Customs, contributing to public sector innovation and policy development.
“This course had the best virtual facilitation that I've encountered to date. It was the perfect balance of content, pace, short break, and participant engagement”
2024 Participant