Structure of Randomness

Structure of Randomness is a Natural Science course taught by Ken Hoffman.

This course satisfies Division I requirements.

Course Description
Many events, like developing cancer or winning the lottery, are apparently random when considered individually, but often possess a great deal of predictability when studied collectively. The elaboration of this insight is one of the most far-reaching developments of the last century, an understanding of which is arguably essential for anyone trying to make sense of the data and choices thrown at us daily. A variety of random processes have also been increasingly used to analyze and create music, art, and poetry. In this course we will develop the idea of stochastic (i.e., random) models for thinking about a wide range of phenomena in the sciences, arts, and everyday life. Topics will include elementary probability theory; risk analysis; stochastic music; computer generated art; elementary statistics. It is designed for all students, regardless of field of interest or prior love of mathematics. Computers will be used throughout the course, but no prior experience is assumed.

Learning Goals

 * Expressive
 * Project-based
 * Quantitative