About the Requirement

The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement is an indispensable part of every student’s undergraduate education that provides students with a broad understanding of human society, its traditions, and its institutions. The Requirement deepens students’ knowledge in a variety of cultural and disciplinary areas and encourages the development of sensibilities and skills vital to an effective and satisfying life as an individual, a professional, and a member of society.

To fulfill the HASS Requirement, each student must complete eight HASS subjects designated as counting towards the Requirement. Students are expected to complete at least one HASS subject each semester until the eight required subjects are complete. There are three components to the HASS Requirement: distribution, concentration, and HASS electives.

Distribution Component (3 subjects)

In Fall 2010, the Institute began phasing in a revised Distribution Component to the HASS Requirement. This revised distribution has been implemented starting with incoming freshmen in Fall 2010. Under this system, undergraduates will be required to take three HASS distribution subjects, one each from each of the three categories: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Students who entered prior to the 2010-11 academic year will continue under the distribution known as HASS-D.

Any student who wishes to enroll in a subject that is noted as HASS-D in the subject listings must enter the HASS-D Lottery. More information is available on the HASS-D Lottery site.

Concentration Component (3 or 4 subjects)

All undergraduates must complete a HASS Concentration of 3-4 subjects (some fields require 3, some 4) that together provide an increased knowledge in that particular field. Students must select a field of concentration and submit a proposal form by the end of the first week second semester junior year. One subject may be counted toward both the distribution and concentration components with the permission of the concentration advisor.

A list of Concentrations can be found in the concentration section of this site.

HASS Elective (1 or 2 subjects)

The remainder of the eight-subject HASS Requirement can be fulfilled with subjects of the student's choosing from any HASS category (HASS-A, HASS-H, or HASS-S) or subjects designated as HASS Elective (HASS-E).

Special Notes:

Students who wish to enroll in a subject that is noted as HASS-D in the subject listings must enter the HASS-D Lottery, including students who are following the revised distribution component of the HASS Requirement . More information is available on the HASS-D Lottery site.

The HASS Requirement overlaps with the Communication Requirement. All students must take two HASS subjects that are designated Communication Intensive (CI-H or CI-HW). The first subject must be completed in the freshman year. Complete information can be found on the Communication Requirement site.

Contacts:

Advisor, Communication and HASS Requirements Office of the HASS Requirement	HASS Academic Administrator SHASS Dean's Office
http://web.mit.edu/hassreq	http://shass.mit.edu/undergraduate
Patty Fernandes hassreq@mit.edu 12-126 x3-2313	Liz Friedman lizf@mit.edu 4-240 x3-4441
Questions about: HASS Requirement Concentrations Petitions for substitutions within the HASS Requirement and Distribution credit for transfer subjects Overlap between the HASS and Communication Requirements	Questions about: HASS-D Lottery HASS Minors Major Departures 21E/S Majors HASS@Cambridge (CME) Undergraduate Harvard Cross-Registration General SHASS information Advising for special concentrations

Please note: The Office of the HASS Requirement and the HASS Academic Administrator will be handling all student matters previously handled by the HASS Education Office, which closed as of July 1, 2010.