The minor Consumer Studies without statistics focusses on understanding consumer behaviour and you will discover how to innovate food from a user perspective. It is assumed that you already have sufficient knowledge about statistical methods to analyze consumer behaviour.

It is aimed at students considering continuing their education with The Master’s “Consumer Studies” at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). 

It includes the courses: Human decision making (UEC31306) in period 4 (whole day); Origin of Food: people, place and products (RSO35206) in period 5 (Morning); Economics of Consumption Welfare and Society (UEC22306) in period 5 (Afternoon); Consumer Law (LAW32506) in period 6 (Morning); and Food Innovation Research, a beta gamma approach (FQD23306) in period 6 (Afternoon).

The learning outcomes of this minor are given by the learning outcomes of the specified courses and may be summarized as follows.

After successful completion of this minor, students are expected to be able to:

• Apply concepts, theories and models from behavioural economics, and sociology to understand consumer behaviour.
• Solve legal cases involving consumer law legislation
• Combine beta (natural sciences) and gamma  (social sciences) perspectives to innovate food

Students are expected to have a keen interest in consumer behaviour and some background in statistics.

Textbooks used in the courses are listed in de detailed course descriptions listed above.

In many cases e-book versions of textbooks are available for students, once enrolled, through the Wageningen University Library.

Courses in Wageingen are offered throughout the week Monday-Friday. 

Period 4 has 6 credits and runs for 4 weeks, with usually 1 course of 6 credits.
Peirod 5 and 6 both have 12 credits, run for 8 weeks and usually have one course in the morning and another in the afternoon. 

The detailed schedule of each course is published on TimeEdit, and linked from the course-links given above.  

The annual calendar can be found online.  

Each course has it's own set of assessment methods. This is outlined in the course description linked above.

Upon passing all courses of the minor, the minor is successfully completed.

Written tests of courses can be taken twice each academic year. Once when the course is attended, and once in a subsequent resit period. 
Details on when a written test of a course can be re-taken, are listed in the linked course-descriptions.    

For questions about this minor contact Gineke.Boven@wur.nl