Advising
Academic Minor Advising
The CSCS Director and core faculty will serve as advisors to students. The CSCS Chief Administrator and other administrative staff are initial points of contact. Students interested in scheduling a time to talk with an advisor can email cscs@umich.edu.
Prerequisites
There will be no formal prerequisites but students who have not taken calculus may find some of the courses difficult. Therefore, previous experience with calculus is strongly recommended.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2023
Requirements
Minimum Credits: 15
Students are required to elect 15 credits (5 courses) as outlined below.
A. Core Courses. We require students to take at least one of the following.
- CMPLXSYS 270: Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling
- CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391: Modeling Political Processes
- CMPLXSYS 501: Introduction to Complex Systems
- CMPLXSYS 511: Theory of Complex Systems
B. Complex Systems Courses. Students must select at least two additional courses from the following list:
- CMPLXSYS 251 /SOC 251: Computational Social Sciences
- CMPLXSYS 260/SOC 260: Tipping Points, Bandwagons and Cascades: From Individual Behavior to Social Dynamics
- CMPLXSYS 270: Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling
- CMPLXSYS 325/EEB 325: Memes, Measles, & Misinformation
- CMPLXSYS 351: MINI-COURSE Introduction to Social Science Data
- CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391: Modeling Political Processes
- CMPLXSYS 425: Evolution in Silico
- CMPLXSYS 430: Modeling Infectious Diseases
- CMPLXSYS 435: Ecological Networks
- CMPLXSYS 445/BIOPHYS 445/PHYSICS 445: Introduction to Information Theory for the Natural Sciences
- CMPLXSYS 466/EEB 466/MATH 466: Mathematical Ecology
- CMPLXSYS 470/PHYSICS 470: Experiments in Nonlinear Dynamics
- CMPLXSYS 501: Introduction to Complex Systems
- CMPLXSYS 510/MATH 550: Introduction to Adaptive Systems
- CMPLXSYS 511: Theory of Complex Systems
- CMPLXSYS 520/PHYSICS 580/MATH 552: Empirical Analysis of Nonlinear Systems
- CMPLXSYS 530/EPID 638: Computer Modeling of Complex Systems
- CMPLXSYS 535/PHYSICS 508: Network Theory
- CMPLXSYS 541/PHYSICS 413: Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics and the Physics of Complexity
- MO 410: Collective Intelligence
C. Elective Courses. Students may select additional courses from the following list to bring their minor credits to 15. One course not on this list may be counted with permission of the CSCS Director.
- BIOINF 540: Mathematics of Biological Networks
- EEB 315/ENVIRON 315: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
- EEB 480: Interrogating Data with Models
- EECS 492: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- EPID 633: Introduction to mathematical modeling in epidemiology and public health
- EPID 637: Systems modeling of behavior, social processes, and chronic disease
- MATH 462: Mathematical Models
- MATH 463/BIOINF 463/BIOPHYS 463: Mathematical Modeling in Biology
- MICRBIOL 510: Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Diseases
- NRE 550: Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development
- PUBPOL 250/CMPLXSYS 250: Social Systems, Energy, and Public Policy
- SI 301: Social Information Processing
- SI 608: Networks
Complex Systems Courses Meeting Distribution and General Requirements
CMPLXSYS 251 Computational Social Sciences meets the following requirements: Social Science and Quantitative Reasoning (QR/1)
CMPLXSYS 270 Intro to Agent-Based Modeling meets the Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis (MSA) and (QR/1) requirements
CMPLXSYS 325/EEB 325 - Memes, Measles and Misinformation meets the MSA; Bachelor of Science; and (QR/1) requirements
CMPLXSYS 351 MINI-COURSE - Introduction to Social Science Data meets the MSA requirement
CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391 'Modeling Political Processes' meets BS, SS, QR/1 requirements.
Complex Systems Minor Requirements Prior to Winter 2023
Program Requirements
Students are required to elect 15 credits (5 courses) including two core courses and three electives from the following areas of focus: (1) Social Sciences, (2) Biological Science, (3) Physical Science and Engineering or (4) Complex Systems Theory and Methods. Two of the electives are to be from one area and one from another.
Please note: during the COVID-19 pandemic, CSCS is conducting advising appointments by email or in virtual meetings. Please contact cscs@umich.edu with your questions or to make an appointment for a virtual meeting. Thank you and stay safe!
A. Core Courses (Take 2 of 4)
- CMPLXSYS 270 Intro to Agent-Based Modeling (ABM)
- CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391 Intro to Modeling
- CMPLXSYS 501 Basic Readings in Complex Systems
- CMPLXSYS 511 Theory of Complex Systems
Elective Courses
Students must take two (2) courses from one section and one (1) course from another section. An elective course can be from this list or a course not on this list as long as it is approved by the CSCS Director.
Section I: Physical Science & Engineering
| CMPLXSYS 535/PHYSICS 508 | Network Theory |
| CMPLXSYS 541/PHYSICS 413 | Nonlinear Dynamical Systems |
| EECS 492 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence |
| EECS 587 | Parallel Computing |
| EECS 598 | Algorithms for Robotics |
| ENGR 371/Math 371 | Numerical Methods for Engineers & Scientists |
| MATH 176 | Explorations in Topology and Analysis (Nonlinear Systems and Chaos) |
| MATH 463/BIOPHYS 463 | Mathematical Modeling in Biology |
| MATH 471 | Introduction to Numerical Methods |
Section II: Social Science
| CMPLXSYS 250/ENVIRON 250/PUBPOL 250 | Energy & Climate Change |
| CMPLXSYS 251/SOC 251 | Computational Social Sciences |
| CMPLXSYS 260/SOC 260 | Tipping Points, Bandwagons and Cascades: From Individual Behavior to Social Dynamics |
| CMPLXSYS 391/ POLSCI 391 |
Modeling Political Processes |
| CMPLXSYS 489 |
Topics Course (not offered at this time) |
| EAS 550/STRATEGY 566 | Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development |
| EECS 594 | Introduction to Adaptive Systems: Complexity & Emergence |
| MATH 425/STATS 425 | Introduction to Probability |
| MO 410 | Designing for Collective Intelligence (ROSS) |
| POLSCI 598 | Mathematics for Political Science |
| PSYCH 447 | Current Topics in Cognition and Perception: Complexity & Emergence |
| PUBPOL 513 | Calculus |
| SI 301 |
Models of Social Information Processes |
Section III: Biological Science
| BIOPHYS 463/MATH 463 | Mathematical Modeling in Biology |
| CMPLXSYS 425 | Evolution In Silico |
| CMPLXSYS 435/EEB 435 | Ecological Networks |
| CMPLXSYS 466/EEB 466/MATH 466 | Mathematical Ecology |
| CMPLXSYS 510/Math 550 | Introduction to Adaptive Systems |
| EEB 315/ENVIRON 315 | Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Disease |
| EEB 401 | Advanced Topics in Biology: Interrogating Data With Models |
| ENVIRON 401 |
Modeling Coupled Human-Natural Systems (not offered at this time) |
| MATH 559 | Selected Topics in Applied Mathematics: Computation and Neuroscience |
| MICRBIOL 510 | Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Diseases (not offered at this time) |
| PHYSIOL 520 | Computational Systems Biology Physiology (not offered at this time) |
Section IV: Theory & Methods
| CMPLXSYS 445/ BIOPHYSICS 445/PHYSICS 445 | Introduction to Information Theory for the Natural Sciences |
| CMPLXSYS 501 | Intro. to Complex Systems: Basic Readings |
| CMPLXSYS 530 | Computer Modeling of Complex Systems |
| EEB 466/MATH 466 | Mathematical Ecology |
| EECS 594 | Introduction to Adaptive Systems: Complexity and Emergence |
| HONORS 493 | College Honors Seminar: Complexity & Emergence and Introduction to Networks |
| MATH 425/STATS 425 | Introduction to Probability |
| MATH 462 | Mathematical Models |
| MATH 559 | Selected Topics in Mathematics: Computation and Neuroscience |
