The following Minors in Regional Studies have been approved: African and African Diaspora Studies, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, and Russian Studies. These interdisciplinary programs provide MIT undergraduates with a valuable opportunity to acquire knowledge of a particular country or region in conjunction with proficiency in a foreign language. This better prepares them for academic, business, and government careers in a world where regions and countries are increasingly interdependent.
Because the nature of these minors is cross-disciplinary, combining foreign language study with humanities, arts, and social sciences, they are arranged into the following four areas of study:
Area I: Language (Intermediate level)
Area II: Humanities and the Arts
Area III: Social Sciences
Area IV: Historical Studies
Students are required to take six subjects (at least three of which must be MIT subjects) in the following configuration: two intermediate-level language subjects (Area I) and four other subjects, chosen from at least two of the other three areas. If a student already has achieved the equivalent of intermediate-level proficiency, he or she can take either two more advanced-level language subjects or two more subjects from Areas II, III, or IV in place of the intermediate language subjects. Languages not presently taught at MIT may be taken at Harvard or Wellesley, or elsewhere during the summer with the permission of the minor advisor.
Details on each of the minors are given below. Lists of subjects that are appropriate for a HASS minor in each of the regional studies, as well as additional information about minors, advisors, etc., can be obtained from the relevant minor advisor or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
The Minor in African and African Diaspora Studies is designed for students interested in the cultures and experiences of the peoples of African descent on the continent or elsewhere. The minor includes study of economic and political systems as they reflect the African continent and areas of the African diaspora, and the histories, languages, and literatures of Africans and peoples of African descent elsewhere. All of Africa falls within the geographical scope of the minor. A student may concentrate on a particular region or on any of the broad groupings of African cultures, such as Arabic-speaking, Anglophone, Francophone, or Lusophone Africa. Equally, a student choosing to focus on the African diaspora may concentrate on any group of African-descended populations in the Americas. Students focusing on either principal area (Africa or the African diaspora) must also take at least one subject which deals with the other area or with interactions between them. The goal of the minor program is to emphasize the importance of Africa and people of African descent in world cultural, economic, and social developments, and to provide a balance between language, humanistic, historical, and contemporary study.
Students are expected to have two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects in either the official language of the region of study or in an indigenous African language. In cases where the student is specializing in Anglophone Africa or an English-speaking region of the diaspora, and does not undertake study of an indigenous language, or is a native speaker of the official language(s) of a country or region of emphasis, this component would be replaced by literature or other humanities subjects.
Additional information can be obtained from the minor advisor, Professor Helen Elaine Lee, Room 14N-425, 617-253-3060, helee@mit.edu, or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
The Minor in East Asian Studies is designed for students interested in the language, history, politics, and culture of Asia. East Asia includes the countries which share a common background in the Chinese classical tradition: present-day People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam; but the core offerings at MIT cover China and Japan. The goal of the minor program is to provide balanced coverage of language, humanistic, and social science offerings on the region and to expose students to comparative perspectives.
The language requirement can be satisfied by taking two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects in an East Asian language (Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese). Chinese and Japanese are now taught at MIT.
Additional information can be obtained from the minor advisor, Professor Peter C. Perdue, Room E51-291, 617-253-3064, or from the History Office, Room E51-285, 617-253-9846, or the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
The Minor in Modern European Studies is designed for students who are seeking a fuller understanding of the forces which have shaped modern Europe. The geographical and chronological scope of the minor program has been made deliberately broad to accommodate the wide variety of student interests. Subjects range in content from the Renaissance to the present, and from the British Isles to Central Europe. A student can choose to focus on one particular country or on a broader region, with a comparative perspective. Given the breadth of offerings, the student should consult closely with his or her minor advisor in order to devise a coherent program of study.
Students are expected to demonstrate intermediate level proficiency in a modern European language other than English by taking two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects, but they need not concentrate their other subjects on the country associated with that language.
Additional information can be obtained from the minor advisor, Professor Isabelle de Courtivron, Room 14N-311, 617-253-4776, or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
The Minor in Latin American Studies is designed for students interested in the languages, history, politics, and cultures of Latin America. The core offerings at MIT largely concentrate on those areas formerly colonized by Spain, although students are not required to focus their study exclusively on these areas. They are encouraged to develop a program that is both international and comparative in perspective and that takes into account the heterogeneous cultural experiences of people living in the vast territory loosely termed Latin America, as well as of those people living in the United States who identify themselves as Latino.
Two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects, either in Spanish or Portuguese, satisfy Area I. MIT offers Levels III and IV of Spanish every semester and those wishing to study Portuguese may do so at Harvard University. All students opting for the Minor are required to take 21F.084J/17.541J/21A.224J Introduction to Latin American Studies.
Additional information can be obtained from the fall 2007 minor advisor, Professor Elizabeth Garrels, Room 14N-303, 617-253-9688, egarrels@mit.edu, and the spring 2008 minor advisor, Professor Jeffrey Ravel, Room E51-179, 617-253-4451, ravel@mit.edu, or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
Middle Eastern Studies at MIT offers students the opportunity to explore the connections among culture, society, politics, economics, technology, and environment in the Middle East, including North Africa. MIT offers a number of subjects open to undergraduates which provide a variety of perspectives on the ancient, Islamic, and modern Middle East. The goal of the HASS Minor Program in Middle Eastern Studies is to lead the student from the basic language into survey subjects and then into more focused studies of individual countries or specific historical periods and to encourage analysis of the main methodological and conceptual issues in Middle Eastern Studies.
Two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects in one of the following Middle Eastern languages are required: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Because MIT does not offer instruction in these languages, students may satisfy the Area I language requirement at Harvard University. They may satisfy the language requirement at other institutions provided they receive permission in advance from the HASS minor advisor in Middle Eastern Studies.
Additional information can be obtained from the minor advisor, Professor Philip S. Khoury, Room 10-280, 617-253-0887, or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.
The Russian Regional Studies Minor is intended for students seeking an interdisciplinary program of study centered on Russia and the former Soviet Union. The historical, cultural, and political importance of Russia itself, as well as the nature of MIT's subject offerings, suggest a primary concentration on that particular country, the dominant element in the former Soviet Union. The program is, however, regional in spirit, given both the multinational and multicultural role of the Russian Republic and the likelihood that other former Soviet Republics choose to remain in political and economic association with it.
Two intermediate (Levels III and IV) subjects in the Russian language are required to satisfy Area I. These subjects are not offered at MIT, but may be taken at Harvard University or Wellesley College through cross-registration. For more information, see Undergraduate Education in Part 1.
Additional information can be obtained from the minor advisor, Professor Elizabeth Wood, Room E51-282, 617-253-3255, or from the HASS Education Office, Room 14N-410, 617-253-4441.