Complex Systems 530 - Winter 2015

The inaugural offering of CMPLXSYS 530 - Computer Modeling of Complex Systems at the University of Michigan, establishing a new approach to teaching computational complex systems through open-source materials.

Course Overview

This foundational course introduced students to computational approaches for understanding complex systems, emphasizing hands-on programming and model development. As a core requirement for the Complex Systems Graduate Certificate, it set the standard for subsequent offerings.

Course Details

• Instructors: Mike Bommarito and Sarah Cherng
• Schedule: Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:00-2:30 PM ET
• Location: 120 West Hall, University of Michigan
• Term: Winter 2015

Repository Structure

The course materials include:

• Code examples: Python implementations of complex systems models
• Course materials: Lecture content and assignments
• Notebook references: Interactive computational examples
• Slides: Presentation materials for lectures

Educational Innovation

As the first iteration of this course, it established:

• Open-source approach to complex systems education
• Integration of theory with practical programming
• Foundation for future course development
• Template for computational modeling curriculum

Technical Focus

The course emphasized:

• Python programming for scientific computing
• Mathematical modeling of complex phenomena
• Computational experimentation methods
• Reproducible research practices

Prerequisites

• Basic programming experience
• Intermediate calculus (Math 216 equivalent)
• Interest in interdisciplinary approaches

Legacy

This initial offering laid the groundwork for:

• Annual iterations of the course
• Growing complex systems program at Michigan
• Open educational resources in complexity science
• Community of computational modelers

Licensed under BSD-2-Clause to encourage educational reuse and adaptation.