G-QMS-C - Advanced Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences Certificate

• Four graduate-level, interdisciplinary courses in social sciences.

• Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics: All candidates must demonstrate competence in basic mathematics, equivalent to completion of a basic course or series of courses in multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and probability theory through Statistics 611 or Economics 703.

• Research Design: All candidates must have the equivalent of a course in the fundamental principles of research design, typically acquired through training within the home department, such as Political Science 731 or 732, Psychology 718S, or Sociology 702 and 720S.

• Formal Modeling and Derivation of Hypotheses: All candidates must achieve competence in formal modeling. The expectation is that the student will have training at least at the equivalent of a micro-economics course in economics. The most preferred course is Economics 705 depending on the applicant’s objectives (e.g., Political Science 631L, Psychology 749/750, Sociology 702, or Business Administration 513).

• Hypothesis Testing: All candidates must achieve competence in the testing of hypotheses. This can be satisfied by successful completion of Statistics 601 or 831. In addition, applicants may ask that the board accept a disciplinary equivalent (currently taught examples include Economics 707, Political Science 630, Psychology 720, and Sociology 723).

• Advanced, Interdisciplinary Knowledge: A minimum of two courses—the equivalent of a year-long training—in one or more advanced, interdisciplinary topics of special interest to the student (all courses being outside the individual’s own department and ordinarily unavailable within it), plus the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences capstone course. 

For additional information, visit the program’s website at ssri.duke.edu.