Program Overview

MMSS students pursue a double course of study: a common mathematics and quantitative methods sequence and a social science major of their choice.  In addition to the traditional social science disciplines - anthropology, economics, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology - other fields such as Slavic studies, cognitive science, computer science, mathematics, philosophy and statistics have been chosen as joint majors by students in the MMSS program.

In their first two years in the program, MMSS students enroll in a coordinated sequence of twelve one quarter courses (two courses per quarter)  that provide a coordinated and rigorous treatment of mathematics and  statistics and their applications in the social sciences.  Classes in this core curriculum are open only to MMSS students and are taught at an advanced level that is appropriate for this select group of students. The mathematics and social science topics are interwoven so that the material introduced in the mathematics courses can be used efficiently in the social science courses.  Courses address both theory and analysis of concrete data, stressing the historical context within which various models were developed, the data to be explained, the policy questions of interest, and the mathematical implications of the models.

In their senior year, all MMSS students participate in a year-long senior thesis seminar.  Working closely with the seminar leader and a social science faculty advisor, students formulate, research, and write an independent thesis. 

There are no other required MMSS courses, but students must fulfill the requirements of their joint major.