The course aims to help students develop “networking thinking” that views people, organizations, events, and anything else around us as “network nodes” interconnected in some meaningful ways. The course covers a variety of networks in mass media, business, and technological contexts. Specific topics include human interactions over online social networking sites, spatial flow of media content, networking approach to the creation of artistic works, word of mouth and viral marketing, business networks, supplies chain management, the Internet of Things, networking traffic based on human behavioural dynamics, contagious models for prevention of human diseases and computer virus, and etc.

Through individual exercises, group projects, class discussions, and other activities, the students will learn how to apply the networking perspectives to real life issues. The broad range of the practical issues makes the course relevant to students from almost all disciplines such as social sciences, business, humanities, arts, engineering, and sciences.