Certificate in Computational Social Science
All graduate students in degree-granting programs at the University of Chicago can earn a Certificate in Computational Social Science that will appear on their transcript. To do so, they must complete:
- Perspectives on Computational Analysis
- Perspectives on Computational Modeling (or Introduction to Machine Learning - MACS 33002)
- Computing for the Social Sciences (or another programming course based in Python or R)
- An additional elective in computational social science (e.g. any other course with a MACS course listing)
These course requirements can be met in a single year or over several years of study.
A minimum average grade of “B” will be needed for the Certificate to be awarded, following a petition submitted to our Managing Director and approved by our MA program and by the Dean of Students for the Division of the Social Sciences.
Students interested in the Certificate are strongly encouraged to take the Computational Math Camp, which runs for three weeks in early September. The topics to be reviewed include mathematical notation and functions, linear algebra, calculus, probability theory, statistical inference, and linear regression. Students are assumed to have encountered most of these topics previously, with the camp serving as a refresher.
Students are invited to participate in our Computational Social Science Workshop on an occasional basis.
For more information on the Certificate or the Computational Math Camp, please contact Jon Clindaniel.