Graduate Certificate FAQ

Offered by the Center for the Study of Complex Systems in conjunction with the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, this interdisciplinary curriculum introduces students to complex, nonlinear, and adaptive systems. It's designed for students from a breadth of disciplines in the physical, biological, and social sciences, aiming to integrate complex systems methods into research. You can read more about Complex Systems at the University of Michigan here.

Offered by the Center for the Study of Complex Systems in conjunction with the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, this interdisciplinary curriculum introduces students to complex, nonlinear, and adaptive systems. It's designed for students from a breadth of disciplines in the physical, biological, and social sciences, aiming to integrate complex systems methods into research. You can read a general overview of the Complex Systems Graduate Certificate here.

You can read more about the knowledge that students are expected to have going into the program here, under the section “Program Requirements.”

You can find a full list of courses and their descriptions here.

• Students must take five courses, including the two Required Core Courses, CMPLXSYS 401: History and Philosophy of Complex Systems and CMPLXSYS 530: Computer Modeling and Complex Systems (3 credits each). In addition, students must take at least one course from the list of “Core Electives” below and additional elective courses (see the “Program Requirements” tab under this webpage) for a total of 15 to 19 credits. 
• With permission of the Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS) Director, it is possible to replace the Core Elective course with an equivalent advanced dynamical systems course or, in very special circumstances, to replace CMPLXSYS 530 with an equivalent course. Please note prerequisites for CMPLXSYS 530 include the equivalent of a basic programming course and intermediate-level calculus (Math 216). 

• CMPLXSYS 510/Math 550: Introduction to Adaptive Systems (3 credits)
• CMPLXSYS 541/Phys 413: Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics/Physics of Complexity (3 credits)
• CMPLXSYS 535/Phys 508: Theory of Social & Technological Networks (3 credits)
• CMPLXSYS 511: Theory of Complex Systems (3 credits)

• Current University of Michigan Rackham Graduate Students use the Dual Admission application process. Non-Rackham University of Michigan Graduate Students and non-university applicants follow separate procedures detailed on the Rackham admissions website. 
• More specific information on how to apply to the Graduate Certificate program can be found on the general overview page of the Graduate Certificate, under “Application to the Program.”

The program accepts new students starting in both the Fall and Winter terms. The Complex Systems Certificate program does not have a specific deadline to apply, for either the Fall or Winter terms, but allow at least 30 days for paperwork processing. Reach out to the Rackham Admissions Office and check out the Rackham website for more information about the general application process. Two of the required courses, CMPLXSYS 401: History and Philosophy of Complex Systems and CMPLXSYS 530: Computer Modeling of Complex Systems are not offered in the same term, so completing the program typically takes at least two terms.

Please provide two letters of recommendation for your Complex Systems Certificate application.

• Instructions for how to estimate current tuition and fees can be found on this page of the Rackham Graduate School website. The cost will depend on if you are planning to take the Certificate as a stand-alone course, or with another University of Michigan degree. 
• The Complex Systems Graduate Certificate Program requires 15-19 credits, or around 5 classes. According to the Office of the Registrar, for the 2023-24 schoolyear, Rackham Graduate School full-term tuition for a full course load (9 credits or more, approximately three classes or more) was $13,596 per term for Michigan residents, and $27,360 per term for non-Michigan residents.
• You can contact the Office of the Registrar’s Department of Tuition and Fees at 734-615-1572 (phone) or ro.tuition@umich.edu and they can give you more information.

While the Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS) does not provide scholarship funding, Rackham Graduate School administers funding and fee waivers. Visit the Rackham website to learn more about cost of attendance and need-based application fee waivers.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to take all of the courses in one term as the two required courses, CMPLXSYS 401: History and Philosophy of Complex Systems and CMPLXSYS 530: Computer Modeling of Complex Systems, are not offered in the same term. Most people take the Certificate along with another degree so that they are taking one or two Complex Systems courses per term.

For more information, you can contact us at the Center for the Study of Complex Systems at 734-763-3301 (phone), 734-763-9267 (fax), or cscs.academics@umich.edu. You can contact Rackham Admissions at 734-764-8129 (phone), 734-936-3335 (fax), or rackadmis@umich.edu.