Mathematics for Social Scientists

Pedram Safari
Harvard University, Fall 2011 - Spring 2012

[Syllabus (pdf)] [Assignments] [Announcements] [Comments]

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This year-long course is meant to be a fast-track and conceptual coverage of mathematics necessary for the students of social sciences. It combines courses which normally span several semesters into a single, coherent course. The audience includes, but is not limited to, graduate students of government, education, psychology, public health, etc.

In the Fall semester, the focus has been on probability and single-variable calculus. In the Spring half of the course, we will pick up the discussion of integration, and will then move on to multi-variable calculus, matrix algebra and more advanced mathematical analysis.

You might come across other math course offerings whose syllabi overlap with ours, but at a different level or pace, or with different audience in mind. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help to decide if this course is right for you.

Registration Information. Government 1020 (Harvard College/GSAS: 7487)

Textbooks.

[HC] Hughes-Hallett et al., Applied Calculus, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010. ISBN: 978-0-470-17052-6.
We may also partially consult the book Calculus: Single and Multivariable by the same authors, but you don't really need to buy this book; the ISBN for the 5th edition of the book is 978-0-470-08914-9.

 [L]   David C. Lay, Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Addison-Wesley, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-321-28713-7.

Meetings. WF 1-2:30 PM in Lowell Lecture Hall B12.

Office hours. Wednesdays 2:30-4 PM and Fridays 12-1 PM and 2:30-3 PM in CGIS South 310 or by appointment.

Assignments will be posted here. ^{Updated frequently!}

Announcements

• Per new Faculty policy, all alternative assessment (including papers, projects, and take-home exams) must be completed by the last day of Reading Period, May 3rd, for Undergraduate students, and by the last day of the Exam Period, May 12th, for graduate students (GSAS). In addition, all seated exams NOT scheduled by the FAS Registrar's Office [our case] must be completed by the last day of classes, April 25th.

• If you are planning to attend the course, please e-mail me with the following information about yourself (one item per line and in order, please).
  1. Last name
  2. First name
  3. E-mail
  4. Contact number
  5. Hometown
  6. School/field of study
  7. Expected graduation date
  8. Reason for taking this course
  9. Highest level math course(s) you have ever taken (with dates)
  10. Something amusing, interesting or impressive about yourself

• Links to course pages in Spring 2011 and Fall 2011.

Comments

Your opinion on the course is important to us. You may also submit an anonymous feedback.

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Last updated Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
Pedram Safari, safari at fas dot harvard dot edu