Classes of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

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. There are three components to the HASS Requirement: distribution, concentration, and electives.

Distribution requirement (3 subjects)

All students who entered prior to Fall 2010, will continue under the distribution known as HASS-D. Students must complete at least three (3) HASS distribution subjects, one subject in 3 of the 5 HASS-D categories (Literary and Textual Studies, Language, Thought, and Value, Visual and Performing Arts, Cultural and Social Studies, and Historical Studies). Students are strongly encouraged to complete this component of the HASS Requirement by the end of the junior year.

Concentration (3 or 4 subjects)

All undergraduates must complete a HASS Concentration of 3-4 subjects (some fields require 3, some 4) where they will gain a sophisticated sense of the questions that characterize these fields of study.  Students in collaboration with their concentration advisors must select a field of concentration and submit a Concentration Proposal Form by the end of the first week of classes second semester junior year. Ideally, students will have completed their HASS Distribution subjects by this point, and their experiences with these subjects will guide their choice of Concentration. One subject may be counted toward both the distribution and concentration components with the permission of the Concentration Advisor. Students must submit a Concentration Completion Form by the end of the first week of their final term at MIT, whether or not they are taking some of your concentration subjects during that term.

HASS Elective (1 or 2 subjects)

The remainder of the eight-subject HASS Requirement can be fulfilled with any HASS-D or HASS-E subject.

 

Special Notes:

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.

Students who wish 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.

For more information see Classes of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 FAQ.

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