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Course Descriptions

COURSES PRIMARILY FOR FIRST-YEAR, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR STUDENTS

MATH 285-1,2,3 – Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS

First Year: 1. Linear algebra. 2. Continuation of linear algebra; multivariable differential calculus. 3. Multivariable integral calculus. Prerequisite: first-year standing in MMSS.

MATH 385-0 – Probability and Statistics for MMSS

Probability theory and its social science applications. May not receive credit for both 385 and any of 310-1, 311-1, 314, or STAT 320-1, 383. Prerequisite: second-year standing in MMSS.

MATH 386-1,2 – Econometrics for MMSS

Econometric methods. Prerequisite: second-year standing in MMSS.

MMSS 211-1 – Intermediate Microeconomics

A fast-paced mathematical treatment of intermediate microeconomics designed for mathematically sophisticated students.  No previous training in microeconomics is assumed.  Topics covered include consumer and producer behavior in market economies, equilibrium in competitive and monopolistic markets, public goods and externalities, and welfare analysis.

MMSS 211-2 – Introduction to Game Theory

The first course of the two quarter MMSS game theory sequence.  It covers static and dynamic games of complete information and evolutionary game theory.  It considers examples drawn from economics and the other social sciences.

MMSS 211-3 – Formal Models in Political Science

This course provides an introduction to positive political theory and describes how formal methods may be used to analyze politics and political institutions.  Topics covered include preference aggregation, social choice, voting theory, and executive legislative relations.  A goal of the course is to demonstrate how formal models and methods can be applied to questions of substantive interest. The course emphasizes the identification of relevant questions worthy of investigation, and the intuition behind models and methods.

MMSS 300-0 – Foundations of Math Social Science

Formal methods in Social Science are diverse but all are built on a common foundational set of tools ranging from models of individual decision-making to theories of collective action, including Individual Decision Making, Choice Under Uncertainty, Social Choice and Welfare, Efficiency Concepts, and Dynamic Decision Making.  This course will expose MMSS students to these tools in a mathematically rigorous way in order to prepare them for the advanced Social Science applications of second-year MMSS coursework.  

MMSS 311-1 – Advanced Game Theory

It covers static and dynamic games of complete information and evolutionary game theory.

MMSS 311-2 –

COURSES PRIMARILY FOR SENIORS

MMSS 398-1,2,3 – Senior Thesis Seminar

Students design and carry out a research project on the topic of their choice,  under the close supervision of a faculty advisor during their final year at Northwestern.