Computational Social Science Minor

Overview

The interdisciplinary minor in Computational Social Science (CSS) at UC San Diego combines formal causal models from the Social Sciences with statistics, programming, and large-scale data analysis. Students enrolled in the minor will complete 28 total units, of which at least 20 units (5 courses) must be upper-division (including the core course CSS 100). Students may petition to receive credit for courses not listed below.

Learning Objectives

• Provide a robust curriculum that gives students the skills to understand and apply computational and analytic techniques to theoretical and empirical questions in the social sciences.
• Understand the ethical constraints associated with computational social science and large-scale human data.
• Provide extensive statistical training and application of modeling, programming, and data analysis techniques.
• Combine large data with formal, causal social science models.
• Expand applied learning opportunities in Computational Social Science to widen the possible career paths for undergraduates.

Examples of Research Topics

Some research topics that could be answered using computational social science methods include:

• During COVID-19, how can we find the areas that lack testing and need it the most?
• How do microaggressions relate to consumer behavior?
• How does gender bias play a role in sports journalism?
• How can we reduce misinformation in social media during crisis events?

Of course there are many other research questions out there!  The goal of CSS is to give you the tools to help come up with answers to the questions that you are passionate about.

Minimum Requirements

• A grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 in your computational social science minor is required for graduation.
• At least 4 upper-division courses towards the minor must be taken at UC San Diego
• Students enrolled in the minor will take the following set of courses:
  • 3 core courses in Computational Social Science 
    • These core courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • At least 4 upper-division electives
    • At least 2 of these electives must be selected from departments outside of the student's major field of study (e.g., a student with a major in Cognitive Science must take at least 2 electives that are not Cognitive Science courses).
      • Note: Joint majors like CBN are considered students from two departments and must take these two courses from outside of both departments.
    • At least 3 of these electives must be taken for a letter grade.

Check out our CSS Information Session Video: 

Course List

Guidelines for Applying for a CSS Minor

• To declare or change your minor, use the online minor tool on Tritonlink.
• You are not required to finish your minor as declared; you are only demonstrating your basic knowledge of minor requirements and will not be held to the classes listed.
• When completing the computational social science minor application, be sure to list exactly 7 courses (and only 7) or your application will be denied.
• You can only overlap up to 2 upper-division (UD) courses between your major and CSS minor. Both departments must pre-approve the UD courses you plan to overlap.
• Processing time for computational social science minor applications is 7-14 business days from the date you submit your application.
  
  • Applicants will be notified of any errors through the Virtual Advising Center. All students can check their status on TritonLink under the major/minor tool.

Advising

Advising Hours & Location: 

• Students may use the "Ask a Question" feature within the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) to submit questions to CSS Advising. Advisor's responses can be found in the student's "Contact Record" area of their VAC. 

Drop-In Advising is currently being handled in person and via Zoom. 

• In-person: the CSS Advising Office is located at 1503 Mandler Hall
• Remote: sign in to your Virtual Advising Center (VAC), select "Meet with Advisor," scroll to "Computational Social Science" and you will be placed in the advisors' queue for a Zoom meeting.

Advising Hours

• Tuesday (remote)
  • 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday (in person): 
  
  • 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. 

Note: advising hours availability is subject to change.