Student Engagement

The Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC) is committed to involving students in cutting-edge research, training, and community. Whether through coursework, research collaborations, or informal discussion, undergraduate and graduate students are at the heart of our mission.

Jonathan Ring, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Baker School, teaches a Policy Process and Program Evaluation class (BCPP 480) for undergraduate students inside the The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Photo by Steven Bridges/University of Tennessee.

Courses and Programs

CSS 201: Introduction to Computational Social Science — an accessible entry point to data-driven approaches in the social sciences.
Computational Social Science Major, Minor, and Certificate — the first of their kind at UT, training students in computational tools and social theory.
Graduate Training — DySoC-affiliated faculty regularly mentor graduate students in cultural evolution, information sciences, anthropology, psychology, policy analytics, and other disciplines.

Research Opportunities

COIL Collaboration (2026) — DySoC is launching a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program linking CSS students at UT with peers at Durham University (UK) to work on AI and social complexity projects relevant to Advai Ltd., a London-based AI safety company.
Graduate Student Small Grants — DySoC will provides small grants for graduate student research projects mentored by DySoC-affiliated faculty.

Community and Events

DySoC Webinars — regular public talks by leading researchers in cultural evolution, social complexity, and computational social science.
Journal Club — open to all students, offering a space to discuss recent research in an informal, interdisciplinary setting.