1. The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement The Undergraduate HASS Requirement Freshman Advisor Orientation August 29, 2016 Michael Cuthbert Associate Professor of Music

2. The HASS Requirement provides students with a broad understanding of human society, its traditions, and its institutions deepens students’ knowledge in a variety of cultural and disciplinary areas encourages the development of sensibilities and skills vital to an effective and satisfying life as an individual, a professional, and a member of society The Undergraduate HASS Requirement

3. The HASS Requirement = 8 classes over 4 years 3 subject Distribution Component (breadth) 3-4 subject Concentration Component (depth) 1-2 HASS Electives (experimentation) The Undergraduate HASS Requirement

4. HASS Distribution Component 3 subjects, 1 from each category: Humanities (HASS-H) Interpret human achievements, problems, and historical changes through close analysis of texts and ideas. Arts (HASS-A) Create representations through skilled craft and practice focusing on expressive and aesthetic techniques. Social Sciences (HASS-S) Engage in theory-driven and empirical exploration and analysis to seek generalizable interpretations of human interaction.

5. The Undergraduate HASS Requirement HASS Concentration Component 3-4 subjects, depending on the HASS field HASS Concentration fields include: African & African Diaspora StudiesEthicsPhilosophy American StudiesGlobal Studies & LanguagesPolitical Science Ancient & Medieval StudiesHistoryReligious Studies AnthropologyHistory of Architecture, Art & Design Russian & Eurasian Studies Archaeology & Archaeological Science Latin American & Latino StudiesScience, Technology, & Society Art, Culture & TechnologyLegal StudiesTheater Arts Asian & Asian Diaspora StudiesLinguisticsUrban Studies Comparative Media StudiesLiteratureWomen’s & Gender Studies Development EconomicsMiddle Eastern StudiesWriting EconomicsMusic

6. *A one subject overlap between the distribution and the concentration components is allowed. The Undergraduate HASS Requirement HASS Requirement 8 subjects Arts HASS Distribution 3 subjects, one from each category Humanities HASS Social Sciences Concentration 3-4 subjects* Concentration 3-4 subjects* Electives 1-2 subjects Electives 1-2 subjects

7. Identifying HASS subjects in the online subject listing: The Undergraduate HASS Requirement Look for the little blue book symbol following the subject number and title. Humanities Arts Social Sciences Elective Additionally, the CI-H/HW status (also counts toward the Communication Requirement) will follow the HASS symbol.

8. Keep in mind: The HASS Requirement overlaps with the Communication Requirement. All students must take two HASS subjects that are designated as CI-H or CI-HW. The first CI subject must be completed in the freshman year. HASS Exploration (HEX) subjects are recommended to students as one pathway into the HASS Requirement. These subjects are team-taught by faculty and provide opportunities for faculty- student interaction. More information can be found at: http://web.mit.edu/hassreq/exploration.html. http://web.mit.edu/hassreq/exploration.html Most HASS subjects provide a welcome complement to problem-set-oriented Science Core subjects. The Undergraduate HASS Requirement

9. HASS Exploration (HEX) Subjects, Fall 2016 21H.009 The World 1400-Present 21L.009 Shakespeare (Global Shakespeares) 21L.010J/21W.042J Writing with Shakespeare (Global Shakespeares) 21L.020J Globalization: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between HASS Exploration (HEX) Subjects, Spring 2017 17.53 The Rise of Asia 21L.017 The Art of the Probable 24.912J Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies The Undergraduate HASS Requirement

10. Ways to get more information: Office of the HASS Requirement, 5-133 Patty Fernandes Assistant Dean, Communication and HASS Requirements hassreq@mit.eduhassreq@mit.edu or 617-253-2313 HASS Requirement website: http://web.mit.edu/hassreq http://web.mit.edu/hassreq The Undergraduate HASS Requirement