Unit name | Mathematics and Programming Skills for Social Scientists |
---|---|
Unit code | GEOGM0032 |
Credit points | 15 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. David Manley |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
Other AQM mandatory units |
School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This is an advanced-level mathematics and programming course which aims to provide students with the essential mathematical skills needed to solve various types of optimisation problems and to introduce them to software with which they can solve practical optimisation problems within research.
The main topics covered are programming statistical and graphical techniques using R; dynamic programming and coding using Python; multi-level modelling theory and application using MLwiN. Each day-long session will involve lectures outlining the theory behind a technique or the rudiments of a programming language, its application and use, along with practical sessions implementing the skills learned on a common dataset that will be used for each of the three day-long sessions and with each of the different computing packages.
This course is delivered via three full-day sessions, one in each institution (Bath, Bristol and Exeter) plus pre-reading delivered online in advance of each full-day session. Additional computer lab sessions also take place within ‘home’ institutions to prepare the coursework.
One 2000 - 3000 word research project using the skills/techniques developed in one of the programming languages/applications to investigate a research problem relevant to the student’s chosen discipline. This will assess all learning outcomes
TBC