Systems Science is the study of general principles governing systems of widely differing types, and the use of systems ideas and methods in research and socio-technical system design and management. Systems science draws on the natural and social sciences, mathematics, computer science, and engineering to address complex problems in the public and private sectors.
Systems ideas and methods offer valuable insights into and fundamental ways to think about a wide range of phenomena. They will help you to better understand and address problems in such diverse areas as climate change, resource use, renewable energy, and public health and biomedicine, and shed new light on the challenges and opportunities of new technologies.
The systems minor offers coursework in methods for approaching complex systems including opportunities to design conceptual models using graphical understanding, computational models to simulate system behaviors, dynamics of biological or ecological systems, the evolution of cooperation, and networks in society.
Learning systems ideas and methods will enhance the knowledge and skills you gain in any specific program, making the minor a perfect complement to any major. Our systems minor has been designed to be entirely cross-disciplinary, meaning engineering or biology majors can take systems just as comfortably as a philosophy or geography major. The classes can also help you fulfill requirements for a number of core curriculum courses.