Computational Social Science Concentration

Merging social science with computer programming and modeling

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MAIS-ISIN-CSS

Green Leaf

The MAIS in interdisciplinary studies is for students who seek a master's degree that integrates knowledge from several disciplines. It addresses the rapidly evolving demand for unique graduate study by promoting advanced scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students can pursue one of the following structured interdisciplinary concentrations and also have the opportunity to design an individualized concentration to meet the special needs of their careers.

The MAIS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Energy and Sustainability is a Green Leaf program

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 36

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate coursework. Students must submit a curriculum worksheet that has been approved by their concentration head and the director. Some concentrations require a project or thesis.

Concentration in Computational Social Science (CSS)

Computational social science (CSS) is a relatively new interdisciplinary science in which social science questions are investigated with modern computational tools. Computational social scientists investigate complex social phenomena such as economic markets, traffic control, and political systems by simulating the interactions of the many actors in such systems on computers. They hope to gain insights which will lead to better management of the behavior of the larger social systems, i.e., prevention of market crashes, smoothed traffic flow, or maintenance of political stability. The intractability of many social problems calls for the new approaches provided by computational social science.

CSS is a highly interdisciplinary field that requires teams to plan and complete projects, be they undertaken by government, industry, or non-profit entities. Project managers of such teams, overseeing all elements of project design and execution, tend to hold PhDs. The MAIS concentration will train students to be members of these project teams, able to meaningfully contribute to background research and to project design, execution, and communication.

Prior background should include a bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences, in computer science, in engineering, or in a relevant discipline, as well as undergraduate courses in these and related areas. Bachelor’s degrees in other areas are also eligible, but the student may be required to take additional courses in social science, mathematics, or computer science as prerequisites to admission.

Core Courses

Required Courses 1  
CSS 600 Introduction to Computational Social Science 3
CSS 605 Object-Oriented Modeling in Social Science 3
CSS 610 Agent-based Modeling and Simulation 3
Electives 2  
Select three electives from the following: 9
Origins of Social Complexity  
Complexity Theory in the Social Sciences  
Spatial Agent-Based Models of Human-Environment Interactions  
Social Network Analysis  
Topics in Computational Social Science  
Total Credits 18

Research Course

The research course provides students with exposure to the most current ongoing research in the field and allows them to further develop their computational research expertise.

Select one from the following: 3
Directed Reading and Research  
Research Colloquium in Computational Social Science  
Colloquium in Computational Social Science  
Total Credits 3

Electives (9-12 credits)

The electives allow students to acquire a substantive specialization as well as additional training in social and computational science. Because of the broad spectrum of social science phenomena, methodologies, and student backgrounds, there is a large pool of potential courses. Electives may include any Mason master's-level course in computational social science, social science, computer science, computational science and informatics, statistics, or other quantitative methods such as data visualization, information technology, and geographic information science. Electives should be selected in conjunction with and approval of the student's advisor and the Director of CSS Graduate Studies. If the student does not have prior coursework in multivariate statistical analysis, the electives should include at least one such course relevant for the student's chosen specialization.

Students who elect to complete a thesis or project will take 9 elective credits. Students who do not complete a thesis or project take 12 elective credits.

Integrative Learning Experience Course

MAIS 793 Integrated Learning Experience 3

Optional Project or Thesis

Students have the option to select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits)  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits)  

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking global affairs or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Global Affairs, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Global Affairs MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 54 credits rather than 66 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Total credits: 54

Required Global Affairs Courses

GLOA 600 Global Competencies 3
GLOA 610 Economic Globalization and Development 3
GLOA 615 Case Studies in Globalization 3
GLOA 710 Seminar Abroad 3
Select three courses from the chosen specialization for the global affairs MA 9
Total Credits 21

Required Women and Gender Studies Courses

WMST 630 Feminist Theories 3
WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 3
Select one course in critical race studies from the following: 3
Critical Race Studies  
Representations of Race  
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought  
Policing Black Bodies
Policing Black Bodies  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: 3
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Queer Theory  
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: 3
Transnational Sexualities  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Sociology of Globalization  
Social Justice and Equity in International Education  
Select 9 credits in elective courses chosen from the following and not used to fulfill another requirement: 9
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Transnational Sexualities  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Queer Theory  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Internship  
Total Credits 24

Required Methods Course 

Select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Research Methods  
Feminist Research Methods  
Total Credits 3

Capstone

Select one of the following: 3
Capstone Research Seminar  
Integrated Learning Experience  
Total Credits 3

Project or Thesis

Select one of the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits)  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits)  
Total Credits 3

Total Credits: 54

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking philosophy or interdisciplinary studies (women and gender studies concentration) and a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Philosophy, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (Concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Department of Philosophy and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program offer a dual master's degree program where students can earn both the MA and the MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 55 credits rather than 67 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Students pursuing dual master's study linking the Philosophy MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS with a concentration in women and gender studies will complete WMST 630 Feminist Theories across the Disciplines/PHIL 658 Feminist Theory and 3 additional credits of WMST courses approved by the Department of Philosophy to apply to the philosophy degree as elective credit. Six credits of approved PHIL credits will apply to the MAIS degree as elective credit.

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking sociology or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Sociology, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Sociology MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 57 credits rather than 69 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Total credits: 57

Required Sociology Courses

SOCI 601 Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology 3
SOCI 620 Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry 3
SOCI 711 Classical Sociological Theory 3
SOCI 712 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3
Elective Methodology and Analysis Course 3
Survey Research  
Evaluation Research for Social Programs  
Special Topics in Sociology  
Qualitative Research Methods  
Statistical Reasoning  
Feminist Theory  
Ethnography  
Historical and Comparative Sociology  
Analytic Techniques of Social Research  
Methods in Anthropology  
Select three advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology 9
Total Credits 24

Required Women and Gender Studies Courses

WMST 630 Feminist Theories 3
WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 3
MAIS 793 Integrated Learning Experience 3
Select one course in critical race studies form the following: 3
Critical Race Studies  
Representations of Race  
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought  
Policing Black Bodies  
Policing Black Bodies
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: 3
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Queer Theory  
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: 3
Transnational Sexualities  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Sociology of Globalization  
Seminar for Supervision in Teacher Education  
Social Justice and Equity in International Education  
Select three courses from the following that address the study of women and gender and that are not taken as part of the core focus. 9
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Transnational Sexualities  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Queer Theory  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Internship  
Other relevant courses from other disciplines chosen in consultation with concentration head
 
Total Credits 27

Required Methods Course

WMST 610 Feminist Research Methods 3

Capstone, Project, or Thesis

Select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis  
Thesis  
Master's Capstone Paper  
Total Credits 3