What's MMSS at Northwestern?

Hi there! Was speaking with a friend and they mentioned Northwestern's MMSS program, but I'm not entirely familiar with it. Can anyone provide some information on what MMSS encompasses? Thanks!

MMSS stands for Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences. It's a specialized program offered at Northwestern University that combines mathematics, economics, and data analysis in a unique way.

The idea behind MMSS is to provide students with a strong mathematical background that they can apply to social sciences. This could include areas like economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. The goal here is to better understand and address complex societal problems using mathematical models and data analysis.

Admission into the MMSS program is competitive and students usually apply during their first year at Northwestern, although applications are accepted from high school seniors as well. Once admitted, students in this program take a sequence of MMSS classes in addition to their regular major.

The curriculum includes courses not only in mathematics and social sciences but also in statistical and computational modeling. The program culminates in a senior thesis, where students apply their learnings in MMSS to a real-world problem.

Something to note is that MMSS is a supplementary major, meaning it must be combined with a standard major. Many MMSS students choose economics, political science, psychology, statistics, or another related field as their primary major.

Overall, the MMSS program provides rigorous training in utilizing quantitative methods for solving problems in the social sciences. It's particularly beneficial for students interested in careers in data analytics, consulting, finance, or academic research in the social sciences.