Program Overview
Quantitative Social Science Program
The Quantitative Social Science (QSS) program is designed for students who want to develop skills in quantitative techniques and apply these techniques to a substantive and coherent area of interest in social science.
Overview
The QSS major requires a foundation in mathematics, modeling, programming, and statistics, and it builds on this foundation with applied social science coursework and a culminating experience that involves either an honors thesis that is completed during a student's fourth year at Dartmouth or a one-quarter, independent, faculty-guided research project.
Major Requirements
- Programming: either COSC 1, ENGS 20, or another programming course approved by the QSS Chair.
- Mathematics: MATH 3 and MATH 8.
- Introductory statistics: either ECON 10, GOVT 10, MATH 10, QSS 15, PSYC 10, SOCY 10, or another introductory statistics course approved by the QSS Chair.
- Intermediate statistics: either ECON 20, GOV 19.01, MATH 40, MATH 50, QSS 54, or another intermediate statistics course approved by the QSS Chair.
- Mathematical modeling: either ECON 21, QSS 18, QSS 30.04, QSS 36, or another game theory course approved by the QSS Chair.
- Introductory social science: one of ANTH 1, ANTH 3, ANTH 6, ANTH 9, ECON 1, EDUC 1, ENVS 3, GEOG 1, GEOG 6, GOVT 3, GOVT 4, GOVT 5, GOVT 6, LING 1, PBPL 5, PSYC 1, SOCY 1, SOCY 2, or another course approved by the QSS Chair.
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum for the major in quantitative social science includes QSS 17 and QSS 20.
Methods-Oriented Requirements
- MATH 11, MATH 13, or MATH 22 (or COSC 70).
- And a course from the following:
- COSC 74, Machine Learning and Statistical Data Analysis
- GEOG 9.01, Geographical Information Systems
- GEOG 54, Geovisualization
- MATH 50, Introduction to Linear Models
- MATH 76, Topics in Applied Mathematics (to be approved by the QSS Chair)
- QSS 19, Advanced Data Visualization
- QSS 30, Special Topics in QSS
- QSS 36, Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences
- QSS 41, Analysis of Social Networks
- QSS 45, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Social Science
Social Science Requirements
Four non-introductory courses that focus on a social science area of the student’s choosing.
Research Project Requirement
To graduate with a major in QSS, a student must complete an independent research project. At the end of his or her third year on campus, each QSS major must choose one of two project options: either an intensive, one-quarter project or a three-quarters honors thesis. The honors thesis option requires approval from the program, and QSS honors theses are governed by guidelines established by the College.
Honors Thesis Track
A student in the honors thesis track of the QSS major will take QSS 81 in the fall. Participating in the thesis track requires work and engagement during the fall, winter, and spring terms of a student's fourth year. Students applying to write an honors thesis in QSS should have at the time of application an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Intensive Project Track
Students completing one-quarter research project will take QSS 82 in the student's last year on campus. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the QSS Director of Undergraduate Research (DUR) and the QSS Chair.
Inclusivity
Dartmouth is committed to academic excellence and encourages the open exchange of ideas within a culture of mutual respect. People with different backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives make the Dartmouth community diverse, which enhances academic excellence.