Networks, Data, and Computational Methods

(1.5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Nothing operates in isolation. People are connected to their friends, family, and neighbors. Organizations rely on their supply chains, and knowledge of their competitors, to make business decisions. Information systems link users and data to inform operational processes. The interconnected nature of these entities means their outcomes depend on the type and structure of their ties. These patterns of connections between actors lead to complex networks that influence behavior, decision-making, and results. This course focuses on the application of network methods to interpret complex systems. Students will learn the fundamentals of network science theory, as well as the core analytical techniques for analyzing network data. Topics covered include: data creation and cleaning, visualization, centrality, community detection, and computational methods. By the end of this course students will be able to construct and analyze networks, and use what they’ve learned to understand organizations, communities, and themselves.