Honors College 499CM - Uncertainty, Risk, Decision 1

Fall
2023
01
4.00
Hossein Pishro-Nik

M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM

UMass Amherst
79123
Elm Room 210
pishro@engin.umass.edu
The goal of the course is to better understand randomness and uncertainty, and develop tools to make more informed decisions under uncertain situations. In the beginning of the first semester, the instructor covers some fundamental and relevant concepts from probability, decision theory, and psychology. The presentation will be made in a way accessible to students from all majors and no advanced knowledge will be required. The goal is to lay the foundations for deeper investigation by students in their theses. In the later parts of the course, students will focus on specific topics in this wide area based on their interests and backgrounds. As the topic of decision making under uncertainty can be studied from many different perspectives, it is expected that it could be appealing to a wide variety of honors students. For example, students in humanities (e.g., philosophy majors) can investigate the connections to morality and ethics. Students in psychology and neuroscience can investigate the psychological aspects, for example the evolutionary aspects, human biases, etc.

This course is open to Senior Commonwealth College students only.

Permission is required for interchange registration during all registration periods.