Math Camp*
Math Camp is an intensive one-week introductory course offered during the summer. It is recommended for incoming students and students who are entering their 2nd year and plan to take an advanced statistics course.
During this course students will learn fundamental concepts of mathematics and probability designed to help prepare social science graduate students for advanced courses in statistical methodology in general (and CSSS courses in particular). Professors in Math Camp do not assume prior exposure to this material, but do assume basic math skills through high school algebra. Key concepts will be presented in lectures but students will also have opportunities to work through problem sets with the assistance of Teaching Assistants (TAs).
Some of our students have found that Math Camp is really helpful and others have found that it moves very fast, making it hard to keep up. Students who want to enroll in Math Camp should contact the PhD Program Office so the School can coordinate enrollment and make arrangements to cover the cost.
Courses
CSSS 505, Review of Mathematics for Social Scientists*
This 1-credit course covers similar material as that which is covered in Math Camp and is highly recommended for the 1st year students. Topics reviewed are algebra, functions and limits, differentiation, maximization of functions, integration, matrix algebra, linear equations and least squares, and probability. This course is typically offered during winter and spring quarters and has been found to be particularly helpful when taken during the same quarter as a statistics course.
CSSS 508,Introduction to "R"
The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the "R" environment for statistical computing. "R" is a freely available multi-platform program for statistical analysis and graphics. It is used most heavily during spring quarter in our required statistics course, Soc 506. Enrolling in this course during winter quarter is a good way to prepare for that course.
Tutors
The Center for the Social Science Computation and Research (CSSCR) offers statistical computing support. The mission of this Center is to bridge the gap between fields and facilitate social scientists’ access to emerging statistical methods. These methods are very useful for addressing research that uses complex, real-world data, which social work research typically does.
The Statistics Tutor and Study Center offers support to UW students enrolled in introductory statistics classes. The center’s tutors can also offer help with math skills (e.g., differentiation, integration, and matrix algebra).
Supplemental Reading
Iversen, Gudmund R. (1996). Calculus-Quantitative-Applications-Social-Sciences Series: Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Sage.
Namboodiri, Krishnan (1984). Matrix-Algebra-Introduction-Quantitative-Applications Series: Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Sage.
Note: Math Camp and CSSS 505 are intended to review math material that most students have seen at some point in the past. If most of these topics are new to the student they should consider supplemental readings or on-line courses that teach these topics before starting the program. Much of the material is covered in introductory calculus, linear algebra and statistics texts, and in high school integrated math texts.