List of Open Online Courses in Complex Systems and Systems Science

This list is hierarchically structured, updated every month, and attempts to be as full as possible. Within each section, courses are sorted by generality, difficulty (easy to difficult), and color key, in that order. Courses in some relevant fields are not listed here since they are often deemed as subfields of other disciplines; these include: artificial intelligence, dynamics (mechanics), cognitive psychology, bioinformatics, and evolutionary biology.

Last updated: 6/2019

Color key:

• Free online course with a (free or paid) certificate of completion
• Free online course without a certificate of completion
• Paid online course with a certificate of completion
• Paid online course without a certificate of completion

Some courses that offer certificates are only open for enrollment a few times a year.

General Introduction

• Introduction to Complexity – Melanie Mitchell, SFI on Complexity Explorer
• Thinking Complexity – Cameron Guthrie, University of Toulouse on Iversity
• Systems Thinking and Complexity – Jeffrey Johnson, Open University on FutureLearn
• Principles of Complex Systems – Peter Sheridan Dodds, University of Vermont
• Understanding Complexity – Scott E. Page, University of Michigan on TheGreatCourses.com

Flavored Introduction

• Analysing Complexity – Evaluating Problems – Creating Innovation – Solving Complex Problems Capstone – form a 4 course paid series – multiple professors, Macquarie University on Coursera
• Decision making in a complex and uncertain world – Lex Hoogduin, Groningen University on FutureLearn
• Complexity Explorer Tutorials – multiple professors, SFI on Complexity Explorer
• Model Thinking – Scott E. Page, University of Michigan on Coursera
• Godel, Escher, Bach – multiple graduate students, MIT OpenCourseWare
• The Hidden Factor: Why Thinking Differently Is Your Greatest Asset – Scott E. Page, University of Michigan on TheGreatCourses.com

Systems Theory

• Dynamics and Control – Pedro Albertos, Polytechnic University of Valencia on edX
• Information and Entropy – Paul Penfield and Seth Lloyd, MIT OpenCourseWare
• Information Theory – Raymond Yeung, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• The Science of Information – Benjamin Schumacher, Kenyon College on TheGreatCourses.com
• Algorithmic Information Dynamics: From Networks to Cells – Hector Zenil and Narsis Kiani, SFI on Complexity Explorer

Dynamics and Chaos

• Introduction to Dynamical Systems and Chaos – David Feldman, College of the Atlantic on Complexity Explorer
• Nonlinear Differential Equations: Order and Chaos – Paul Blanchard and Kyle Vigil, Boston University on edX
• Nonlinear Dynamics: Mathematical and Computational Approaches – Elizabeth Bradley, University of Colorado at Boulder on Complexity Explorer
• Nonlinear Dynamics 1 & 2: Geometry of Chaos –  Predrag Cvitanović, Georgia Tech
• Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos – Steven Strogatz, Cornell University on YouTube
• Nonlinear Dynamical Systems – Harish Pillai and Madhu Belur, IIT Bombay on NPTEL
• Chaos, Fractals & Dynamic Systems – S Banerjee, IIT Kharagpur on NPTEL
• Chaos – Steven Strogatz, Cornell University on TheGreatCourses.com
• Topics in Nonlinear Dynamics – V. Balakrishman, IIT Madras on NPTEL

Pattern Formation

• Fractals and Scaling – David Feldman, College of the Atlantic on Complexity Explorer
• Maths for Humans: Inverse Relations and Power Laws – Norman Wildberger and Daniel Mansfield, UNSW on FutureLearn
• Emergent Phenomena in Science and Everyday Life – multiple professors, UC Irvine on Coursera
• The Fascination of Crystals and Symmetry – Frank Hoffmann, University of Hamburg
• Introduction to Crystal Chemistry – multiple professors, Samara University on Canvas

Collective Behavior

• Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling – Bill Rand, North Carolina State University on Complexity Explorer
• Agent Based Modeling of Complex Adaptive Systems (Basic) – Agent Based Modeling of Complex Adaptive Systems (advanced) – Igor Nikolic and Ivo Bouwmans, Delft University of Technology OpenCourseWare
• Modeling and Simulation of Natural Processes – multiple professors, University of Geneva on Coursera

Adaptation and Learning

• Stochastic Evolution Equations – Jan van Neerven, Delft University of Technology OpenCourseWare
• Reinforcement Learning – Course Web – Emma Brunskill, Stanford on YouTube
• Reinforcement Learning – multiple professors, Georgia Institute of Technology on Udacity
• Reinforcement Learning – David Silver, University College London
• Reinforcement Learning Explained – multiple professors, Microsoft on edX
• Deep Reinforcement Learning – Sergey Levine, UC Berkeley
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning courses are excluded from this list unless the methods are dynamic or adaptive. Artificial neural networks courses are entirely excluded since they deserve a separate list (such as the one by Class Central) due to their abundance.

Networks

• Networks Illustrated: without Calculus – Mung Chiang, Princeton University on Coursera
• Analysis of Networks – Course Web – Jure Leskovec, Stanford University
• Structural Analysis and Visualization of Networks – Leonid Zhukov, Higher School of Economics
• Networks, Crowds and Markets – multiple professors, Cornell University on edX
• Networked Life – Michael Kearns, University of Pennsylvania
• Networks: Friends, Money, and Bytes – Mung Chiang, Princeton University on Coursera
• Complex Network: Theory and Application – Animesh Mukherjee, IIT Kharapur on NPTEL
• Network Dynamics of Social Behavior – Damon Centola, University of Pennsylvania on Coursera
• Probabilistic Graphical Models 1: Representation – Probabilistic Graphical Models 2: Inference – Probabilistic Graphical Models 3: Learning – form a 3 course paid series – Daphne Koller, Stanford on Coursera
• Probabilistic Graphical Models – Eric Xing, Carnegie Mellon University

Social Networks

• Social Network Analysis – Lada Adamic, University of Michigan on GitHub
• Applied Social Network Analysis in Python – Daniel Romero, University of Michigan on Coursera
• Social Network Analysis (SNA) – Sasha Poquet and Shane Dawson, UT Arlington on edX
• Social Networks – Sudarshan Iyengar, IIT Ropar on NPTEL
• Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis – Matthew Jackson, Stanford University on Coursera

Game Theory

• Game Theory – multiple professors, Stanford University and University of British Columbia on Coursera on Coursera
• Welcome to Game Theory – Michihiro Kandori, University of Tokyo on Coursera
• Game Theory – Joel Watson, UC San Diego Podcasts
• Game Theory – Ben Polak, Yale University on Open Yale Courses
• Politics and Strategy – Kathleen Bawn, UC Los Angeles on YouTube
• Policy and Decision Models –  Scott Cunningham, TU Delft OpenCourseWare
• Game Theory and Economics – Debarshi Das, IIT Guwahati on NPTEL
• Series on Dynamic Games and Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium – Joel Watson, UC San Diego
• Algorithmic Game Theory – Lecture Notes – Tim Roughgarden, Stanford University on YouTube
• Experimental Economics : Behavioral Game Theory – Joseph Wang, National Taiwan University OpenCourseWare
• Mathematical Game Theory – multiple professors, Saint Petersburg State University on Coursera
• Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory – Tom Morley, Georgia Institute of Technology on Coursera

Biological applications

• Origins Of Life – Sarah Maurer and Chris Kempes, SFI on Complexity Explorer

Systems Biology

• Introduction to Systems Biology – Experimental Methods in Systems Biology – Network Analysis in Systems Biology – Dynamical Modeling Methods for Systems Biology – Integrated Analysis in Systems Biology – Systems Biology and Biotechnology Capstone form a 6 course paid series – multiple professors, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on Coursera
• Introduction to Systems Biology – Yong-Jun Shin, IEEE on edX
• Systems Biology – Jeff Gore, MIT OpenCourseWare
• Foundations of Computational and Systems Biology – multiple professors, MIT OpenCourseWare

Neural applications

• The Multi-scale brain – multiple professors, EPFL on edX
• Brain Waves Across Scales – Lara Rangel, UC San Diego Webcast
• Computational Neuroscience – Rajesh Rao and Adrienne Fairhall, University of Washington on Coursera
• Computational Neuroscience: Neuronal Dynamics of Cognition – Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL on edX
• Neuronal Dynamics – Computational Neuroscience of Single Neurons – Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL on edX
• Neural Networks and Biological Modeling – Wulfram Gerstner, EPFL
• Simulation Neuroscience – multiple professors, EPFL on edX

Environmental applications

• Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation – Ana Luz Porzecanski, American Museum of Natural History on Coursera
• The Ecosystem Approach And Systems Thinking – Advanced Ecosystem Approach and Systems Thinking – Loyola Sustainability Research Centre, Concordia University on Environmental Academy
• The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science – Harvard University
• Tipping Points: Climate Change and Society – multiple professors, University of Exeter on FutureLearn
• Sustainability through Soccer: Systems Thinking in Action – Leidy Klotz, University of Virginia on Coursera
• Sustainable Food Security: The value of systems thinking – multiple professors, Wageningen University and Research Centre on edX
• Technological, Social, and Sustainable Systems – Brad Allenby, Arizona State University on edX
• Sustainability of Social Ecological Systems: the Nexus between Water, Energy and Food – multiple professors, Autonomous University of Barcelona on Coursera
• Concepts in Sustainable Development: an Introduction to the Key Issues – Derek Raine, Leicester University on FutureLearn
• Circular Economy – multiple professors, Wageningen University on edX
• Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Approach – multiple professors, Wageningen University on edX

Health Science applications

• Epidemics Dynamics of Infects Diseases – multiple professors, Pennsylvania State University on Coursera
• System Dynamics for Health Sciences – multiple professors, Wits University on edX
• Systems Thinking in Public Health – David Bishai and Ligia Paina, Johns Hopkins University on Coursera
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: Developing a Systems View (Patient Safety I) – Melinda Sawyer, Johns Hopkins University on Coursera

Systems Engineering

• Introduction to Systems Engineering – Mike Ryan and Ian Faulconbridge, UNSW on Coursera
• MBSE: Model Based Systems Engineering – Ken English, University at Buffalo on Coursera
• Model-based Systems Engineering: Foundations – Dov Dori, Israel Institute of Technology on edX
• Model-based Systems Engineering: Advanced Approaches with OPM – Dov Dori, Israel Institute of Technology on edX
• Architecture and Systems Engineering – multiple professors, MIT on MIT xPRO
• Model-Based Automotive Systems Engineering – Jonas Fredriksson, Chalmers University of Technology on edX
• Everything is the Same: Modeling Engineered Systems – Todd Murphey, Northwestern University on YouTube
• NOC: Systems Engineering: Theory & Practice – Deepu Philip, IIT Kanpur on NPTEL
• Railway Engineering: An Integral Approach – Rolf Dollevoet, Delft University of Technology on edX
• The Next Generation of Infrastructure – Margot Weijnen and Ernst ten Heuvelhof, Delft University of Technology on edX

Statistical Mechanics

• Statistical Mechanics I: Statistical Mechanics of Particles – Statistical Mechanics II: Statistical Physics of Fields – Mehran Kardar, MIT OpenCourseWare
• Statistical Mechanics – Leonard Susskind, Stanford University on The Theoretical Minimum
• Statistical Mechanics: Algorithms and Computations – Werner Krauth, École Normale Supérieure on Coursera
• Statistical Thermodynamics: Molecules to Machines –  Venkat Viswanathan, Carnegie Mellon University on Coursera
• Statistical Molecular Thermodynamics – Christopher Cramer, University of Minnesota on Coursera

Social applications

• The Dynamics of Group Communication – Matthew A. Koschmann, University of Colorado on Coursera
• Social Computing –  Scott Klemmer, UC San Diego on Coursera
• Introduction to Citizen Science & Scientific Crowdsourcing – multiple professors, University College London
• Systems Science and Obesity – multiple professors, Johns Hopkins University on Coursera
• Big Data and Social Physics – Alex Pentland, MIT on edX
• Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems – Bert Enserlink, Delft University of Technology OpenCourseWare
• Problem Structuring Methods – Leon Hermans, Delft University of Technology OpenCourseWare
• Global Systems Science and Policy: an Introduction – multiple professors, UNESCO UNITWIN Complex Systems Digital Campus on FutureLearn
• Transforming Development: The Science and Practice of Resilience Thinking –

  Johan Rockström and Michele-Lee Moore, SDG Academy on edX

• Theories of Media and Technology – Scott Fitzgerald, New York University on edX

Business applications

• Crowdfunding – Ethan Mollick, University of Pennsylvania on Coursera
• Organizational Design: Creating Competitive Advantage – Sourav Mukherji, IIMB on edX
• You Can Innovate: User Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Eric von Hippel and Erdin Beshimov, MIT on edX
• Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content – Jonah Berger, University of Pennsylvania on Coursera
• Systems Practice: A Practical Approach to Move from Impossible to Impact – The Omidyar Group, Acumen on NovoEd
• Effective Decision Making: Dealing with Business Complexity – Influencing Stakeholders: Dealing with Power and Dynamics in Teams and Networks – multiple professors, Delft University of Technology on edX
• Optimizing Diversity on Teams – Creating a Team Culture of Continuous Learning – multiple professors, University of Pennsylvania on Coursera

Computational applications

• Generative Art and Computational Creativity – Philippe Pasquier, Simon Fraser University on Kadenze
• Advanced Generative Art and Computational Creativity – Philippe Pasquier, Simon Fraser University on Kadenze
• The Nature of Code – Daniel Shiffman, NYU on Kadenze
• Nature, in Code: Biology in JavaScript – Marcel Salathé, EPFL on edX
• Creative Coding – Jon McCormack and Mark Guglielmetti, Monash University on FutureLearn

 

Great courses that don’t qualify for this list

• Complexity Labs – 16+ free courses taught by professionals
• List of courses by Complexity Explorer – 30+ courses in all kinds of forms, half of which are also listed above

 

Open courses that are closed or removed

• Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics – Gaurav Raina, IIT Madras on NPTEL
• Reinforcement Learning – Balaraman Ravindran, IIT Madras on NPTEL
• Chaotic Dynamical Systems – Anima Nagar, IIT Delhi on NPTEL
• Social Networks – Sudarshan Iyengar, IIT Ropar on NPTEL
• Statistical Mechanics – Ashwin Joy, IIT Madras on NPTEL
• Game Theory in the Social Sciences – Yves Zenou, UC Berkeley WebCast on iTunes U
• Complexity Economics – Hoyne Farmer, Santa Fe Institute on Complexity Explorer (canceled)

 

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Please contact me or leave a comment if you find any new courses or broken links. Course inclusion criteria:

• Must have a video or audio component
• Must be produced by an accredited university or a professor working there or taught on a major MOOC platform
• The language of instruction is English or has English subtitles
• The course does not have to be free, but there should be no admission process

I have unpublished lists of economics, statistics, artificial intelligence, psychology, anthropology, and linguistics courses. Contact me if you would like to collaborate and publish those lists.