SOAN 267 - Simulating Society

FDR: SS5
Credits: 3

Prerequisite: SOAN 101 or 102 or instructor consent. This course is an introduction to computational social science, a rapidly growing field that spans the boundaries of several disciplines. It focuses on complex phenomena such as the spread of rumors, cascades of collective action, dynamics of inter-group violence, housing segregation, and related processes. To analyze such processes, we can make use of agent-based models. In this course, students read and discuss key works in this area of research. They also explore simulations of social processes and develop their own simulations. No programming background is required or expected. Eastwood. Planned Offering: Winter 2016 and alternate years