HCS - Frequently Asked Questions </head> <body leftmargin=0 topmargin=0 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="800"> <tr> <td width="800" colspan=3> <img border="0" src="titlebar.jpg" width="800" height="43"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="800" colspan=3 bgcolor="black"> <a href="home.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_home.jpg" width="68" height="20" name="o1" onMouseOver="o1.src='click_home.jpg'" onMouseOut="o1.src='tab_home.jpg'"></a><a href="about.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_about.jpg" width="93" height="20" name="o2" onMouseOver="o2.src='click_about.jpg'" onMouseOut="o2.src='tab_about.jpg'"></a><a href="people.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_people.jpg" width="81" height="20" name="o4" onMouseOver="o4.src='click_people.jpg'" onMouseOut="o4.src='tab_people.jpg'"></a><a href="events.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_events.jpg" width="72" height="20" name="o5" onMouseOver="o5.src='click_events.jpg'" onMouseOut="o5.src='tab_events.jpg'"></a><a href="courses.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_courses.jpg" width="81" height="20" name="o3" onMouseOver="o3.src='click_courses.jpg'" onMouseOut="o3.src='tab_courses.jpg'"></a><a href="methods.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_methods.jpg" width="70" height="20" name="o6" onMouseOver="o6.src='click_methods.jpg'" onMouseOut="o6.src='tab_methods.jpg'"></a><a href="signup.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_signup.jpg" width="114" height="20" name="o8"onMouseOver="o8.src='click_signup.jpg'" onMouseOut="o8.src='tab_signup.jpg'"></a><img border="0" src="tab_blank.jpg"><a href="japan.htm"><img border="0" src="tab_japan.jpg" width="72" height="20" name="o7"onMouseOver="o7.src='click_japan.jpg'" onMouseOut="o7.src='tab_japan.jpg'"></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td background="backdrop_left.jpg" width="328" height="482" valign="top"> <p style="margin-left: 8"><br> <b><font face="Tahoma, Arial">Answers for You from Our Students</font></b> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <font face="Tahoma, Arial" size="2"> The following information was gained from current and past Human Complex Systems students. We hope you find this helpful for planning your academic program with us. <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>Who's in HCS? </b><br> Students hail from many majors. Students are majoring in anthropology, psychology, political science, sociology, biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, economics, and communication studies, plus many other minors. As of May 2007 we had forty-five minors, with a distribution of 50% male and 50% female. That was only the end of our second year, and we continue to grow. </p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>Why have students registered for HCS? </b><br> Here are some reasons our students have given. <ul> <li>I looked for a minor and it seemed the most interesting. <li>Take the HumCS 100 class to find out why; it's awesome! <li>There are few courses to complete and HCS has many prereq's I'd already done. <li>An easy opportunity to take classes outside of my major. <li>I'm taking it with my friends. I've also met a lot of new people here! <li>I wanted a minor but within the unit cap, and I found HCS was within units. <li>After taking a course, I felt I could succeed in the program. <li>It seemed a perfect blend of what the future will need in an educated professional. <li>As a social science major, being educated in the true complexity of life is important. <li>It's innovative with a combination of intriguing subjects. <li>I wanted to add a qualitative element to my studies. </ul></p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>What is the minor really about? </b><br> This is what our graduating students say the minor is about. Human Complex Systems is: <ul> <li>The study of human behaviors using computer simulation. <li>Kind of a scientific way of looking at the social sciences. <li>Thematically, the program is loosely held together by studies of modeling and simulation. <li>Computational models, simulations, and why humans make the kind of decisions we do. <li>Studying people's behaviors in terms of social patterns that are observed and reconstructed with the help of math models or computer simulations. <li>How to get a holistic view of human beings and society. <li>A great set of ideas to really help solve our social issues. </ul></p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>What actually happens in HCS courses? </b><br> Our courses vary from traditional lecture format to laboratories and participative instruction. Here are some typical activities in one lecture: <ul> <li> Learn how to analyze a set of observations using a social science model. <li> Work in small groups to practice fieldwork techniques such as interviews. <li> Work on a computer in the Powell CLICC lab to craft a software simulation of a social phenomenon. <li> Discuss a contemporary issue and how we might scrutizine and address that issue using "complexity theory" methods. <li> Go outside possibly to engage in a game or simulated experience, then debrief afterward. <li> Hear a guest speaker discuss how Complexity Theory is useful in real-world situations. <li> As you might guess, HCS is more than lecture! </ul> </p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>How will Human Complex Systems enrich my major? </b><br> Here are some responses to this question from our graduates. HCS has given me... <ul> <li>ideas for how we can study complex social networks by using computer stimulation. <li>understanding of the world in different ways. <li>a much-needed break from my major. <li>the opportunity to think of new things and learn from a different perspective. <li>different lenses to view what I'm learning in my major. <li>more variety and breadth in my education. <li>a complement to my major with a scientific aspect and a hands-on approach so that I can study things up close instead of reading about other people's research. <li>a way to bridge the gap between disciplines: mine are psychology and political science. <li>more insight on viewing agents and systems. <li>computer programming skills and various model types that are very helpful when writing research papers. </ul></p> <p> </p> </td> <td background="halfdrop_right.jpg" width="323" valign="top"><br> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <font face="Tahoma, Arial" size="2"> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>In what order should I take courses? </b><br> Beyond the lower-division requirements, you are free take our upper-division courses in any order. To sample the minor, we suggest HumCS M100. We suggest HumCS M100 first, concurrent with or before HumCS M100L (a 1-unit lab). Afterward, fulfill one or both of the core course requirements. If you choose a Management course, we suggest taking that concurrent with or after HumCS M110. While it may be helpful to wait to take HumCS M110 later, try not wait until the last quarter before graduation unless you have time for a 5-unit lab. Finally, complete the minor with a 2-unit or 4-unit elective. </p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>Will HCS change my life?!? </b><br> We asked our students, "Imagine you are walking down the street. In what ways, if any, has your experience in HCS altered what you see, hear, or do?" This is what we heard: <ul> <li>Now I have a tendency to observe people more carefully. <li>I have become more aware of my surroundings. <li>Makes me wonder what motivates people, and to try to understand how the entire system works. <li>I look at things from a more broad perspective. I don't take everything I learn to be totally certain, or the only way of approaching a problem. <li>Helps me pay attention to the social structures that I am now beginning to question. <li>Especially when I cross the road, I think to myself about the decisions of who chooses to cross first. <li>When I see a person introduce someone else to a group, I'm aware of the social connections being made. When I'm in a club meeting, I notice pairs of members detaching from the meeting and forming alliances. <li>I notice what people do and say more often. <li>I think of different possible situations that can occur, rather than just assuming. <li>I have become more aware of what's going on around me. <li>Instead of just judging someone's actions at face-value, I consider factors that may have influenced that behavior.<li>I'm more understanding and more analytic. <li>I realized that we as human beings are indeed &*(#$#*! </ul></p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>What are your suggestions for new students? </b><br> Our graduates give the following advice to current sudents and those who are considering to add the minor: <ul> <li>Just enjoy what you will learn. <li>To take it as is. <li>If you don't want to understand different views and alternative directions, then you aren't in the right minor. <li>Take the minor... It's fun, it's interesting, relatively easy, and definitely worth the effort. <li>I would suggest to every HCS student to do research with their major and HCS. HCS is a tool. <li>Stay close to the minor's professors, they are interesting and since this is a new minor they aren't jaded like in other subjects. <li>Imagine, what you are questioning probably hasn't been answered! This is something I never have found in my major. <li>Take the minor, it's fun and you learn at the same time. <li>Don't slack off! <li>Learn the material so you can apply it, because there is a lot of potential to use it. </ul></p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>When can I join Human Complex Systems? </b><br> Most of our students have junior or senior standing; however, you are welcome to officially declare the minor at any time, and you may begin taking our upper-division courses as soon as you feel ready, which for many students is when they complete the lower-division requirements. </p> <p style="margin-left: 8"> <b>How do I declare HCS? </b><br> You declare officially by visiting Selma Morley in the Anthropology main office (Haines 341). Note that you may need to schedule an appointment or come on certain days. For academic counseling to discuss issues such as course selection and planning, see Prof. Dario Nardi (Haines A04). </p> </p> </td> <td bgcolor="#6699CC" width="149" valign="top"> <p style="margin-left: 4"><font face="Tahoma, Arial" size=2 color="#003366"><b> </b> </font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>