Introduction to Network Models
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this introduction to complex networks, covering how their structure shapes what they can do. Topics include spectral graph theory, measures of node centrality, random graph models such as Erdos-Renyi and small-world networks, contagion and cascade dynamics, and opinion formation across social ties. Examples are drawn from engineering, applied mathematics, and social science, treating networks as a common language for problems as different as power grids, epidemics, and rumor spread. The course, from MIT's Civil and Environmental Engineering department, provides lecture notes, problem sets, and exams from an actual MIT class, letting you work through the same material assigned to enrolled students. As with all MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, materials are free to use under a Creative Commons license, with no certificate offered. It suits anyone who wants the mathematical tools behind network analysis rather than just an intuitive overview.