Complexity, an interdisciplinary minor, is the study of the behavior of multiple interactions, including how crowds turn into mobs or how birds flock.
About the Minor
The minor is constructed in a manner that affords all students, regardless of college or major, the opportunity to take a minor in complexity. The minor has multiple access points, incorporates existing courses, and, by design, does not require a prohibitive number of prerequisites. As a result, you will have the opportunity to take a minor in complexity without adding a large number of credits and should, in most cases, be able to complete the minor using free electives and courses meeting other requirements. The structure allows for the application within your major field of study.
You will have the opportunity to study with faculty from across the campus as you explore the basic concepts and techniques used to study complex systems. And you can apply what you have learned to your major field of study. Earning a minor in complexity, we believe, will be value-added for our students regardless of major.
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate students can earn the Minor in Complexity by completing 18 credit hours.
Required (6 credits)
- CPLX 100 – Introduction to Complexity
- CS 105 – Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling
Electives (12 credits)
Students must take four courses from a list of courses approved for the minor. At least 6 credits must be taken at the 300-level or above. Students are encouraged to consult with the Program Director, who oversees the minor with the van Rooy Center Curriculum Advisory Committee.
The minor is described in detail in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Students Engaged in Complexity Studies
The van Rooy Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis
The mission of the van Rooy Center is to assist the University of Hartford and its faculty in advancing the understanding among its students of the fundamentals of the new science of complexity.
Join the Fun
We study the elements of complex systems and experiment with Netlogo—a programming language. This course satisfies the Information Technology Literacy requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Faculty & Staff
Politics, Economics, and International Studies