Topic: Modeling Social Phenomena
| Time | Days | Location | Instructor | GER | Credit | OPUS Class Number | Syllabus (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8:30am-9:45am | TuTh | TARBUTTON_120A | Courtney Brown. | WRT. | 4 | 13143 | TBA. |
This advanced seminar satisfies the post-Freshman writing requirement of the GERs, and it is designed for juniors and seniors who seek an introduction to theory construction and dynamic modeling in the social sciences. The course content covers a range of theory-driven and easy-to-use tools that are used to construct sophisticated mathematical models that are relevant to a wide range of important applications in fields such as political science, international studies and development, public health, public policy, economics, business, the environment, and even law. The ability to invent/construct mathematical models that describe a wide range of social phenomena is vitally important for today's college graduates. High school algebra is all that is required to begin. (Honest!) This course is also useful for honors students who desire to develop a theory about society for their final thesis paper. Check out the syllabus and other course materials at www.courtneybrown.com. [Click on "Student Area (Emory)" in the navigation menu. Also see the instructor's videos on the value of knowing statistics and R for today's college graduates.]
Required Textbooks, Articles, and Resources
- 1995. Chaos and Catastrophe Theories. ISBN: 9780803958470.Sage Publications
- 1982. Dynamic Modeling: An Introduction, Vol. 27. ISBN: 9780803909465.Sage Publications
- 2007. Graph Algebra: Mathematical Modeling with a Systems Approach. ISBN: 9781412941099.Sage Publications
- 2007. Differential Equations: A Modeling Approach. ISBN: 9781412941082.Sage Publications
Grading
| Assignment/Exam | Details | % of Total Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Assignments | (Regular shorter assignments, plus a writing requirement longer paper) | 60% |
| Class Participation | (Students will make presentations to the class.) | 30% |
| Attendance | (Three absences are permitted without penalty.) | 10% |
The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.