Doctor of Philosophy in Decision Neuroscience

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Decision Neuroscience from Temple University’s Fox School of Business provides doctoral students with the foundation, tools and support to conduct cutting-edge research in order to better understand how people make choices.

The field of decision neuroscience—and related areas such as neuroeconomics and neuromarketing—allows the exploration of psychological, economic and social phenomena such as addiction, consumer behavior, interpersonal conflict and risky choices. These fields of study prepare students to pursue careers as researchers in academia as well as roles in the business, healthcare and social services industries.

As one of the few schools offering this cutting-edge doctoral program, Temple provides students with the unique opportunity to work alongside faculty who are at the forefront of their fields, highly awarded, and frequently published in top-tier research journals such as the Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Neuroscience and Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. 

In this inherently interdisciplinary program, students work closely with faculty and students from different academic areas to conduct research in a variety of fields, including business administration, economics, engineering, philosophy, physics and psychology. In addition to a collaborative academic environment, students have access to Temple’s state-of-the-art research facilities such as

The PhD curriculum structure is intended to prepare students for individual research by combining classroom learning with hands-on lab experience. Specifically, all students will be required to complete two lab rotations in their first year as part of their curriculum, an aspect that is unique to this program. Learn more about research opportunities for Fox students.

Classes & Curriculum

In the first two years of the program, doctoral students complete a seminar, required and elective coursework, and research rotations that prepare them for independent work in the field of decision neuroscience.

Some of the course options are as follows.

  • Introduction to Decision Neuroscience
  • Seminar in Cognitive Psychology
  • Seminar in Judgment and Decision-Making

At the end of two years, PhD candidates take a comprehensive exam at which point they can begin work on their dissertation with their research advisor.

Learn more about Decision Neuroscience PhD curriculum.

Related Graduate Degrees

*College of Liberal Arts

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Doctor of Philosophy offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,000.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,250.00 per credit

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

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Additional Program Information