HASS Requirement?

aznxboy1228 · 07-17-2007, 03:51 PM

I've read the guide to HASS classes that MIT sent us a while ago and I've asked many students at MIT what the HASS requirements are, but they're all unsure. Could someone explain (preferably in bullet form) what's required? I'm really confused.

Sklog_W · 07-17-2007, 06:35 PM

Okay, I think I can actually do this.

First if you failed/didn't take and didn't pass out of the FEE you have to take a HASS-CW (writing) class first semester.

Second, you have to take two HASS-CI (Communication Intensive) courses, one by the end of freshman year, and the other whenever. These have at least 20 pages or so of writing assignments during the semester.

Third, you need three HASS-D (Distribution) courses, from three of the five categories, Literature, Language, Art, Social Studies, and history. The course catalouge has little numbers next to HASS-D's indicating which category it is in.

Fourth, you need a HASS concentration, which is 3 or 4 courses in a particular subject (economics, linguistics, philosophy, history, etc.). Watch out, some courses do not count towards this, even though they may be in a "HASS" subject like economics.

Fifth, you need to have taken at least 8 HASS courses (one each semester) throughout your stay at MIT, so some electives may be required if you have a lot of overlap (for example you can have a HASS-CI which is a HASS-D and counts towards your concentration, killing three birds with one stone).

Finally, you need 2 HASS-CIM, which are usually lab type courses and particular to your major.

You can end up taking very little or a lot of HASS classes depending on how you set up your schedule. I passed out of the FEE, I've taken 2 CI courses which were also HASS-Ds, I've taken three economics courses for my concentration, and I'm taking 2 more economics coursed and another HASS-D to fill out the 8 course requirement and the HASS-D, all while getting a minor in economics. I think I've written three papers while at MIT which weren't lab reports. Just to give you a taste of how you can set it up.

molliebatmit · 07-17-2007, 06:59 PM

Don't worry too much if you don't totally understand the HASS requirement right now -- you'll figure it out later.

What first-term freshmen mostly need to know is that it's a good idea to take a class that is both HASS-D and CI first semester. It's also a good idea, although not critical, to take another HASS that is both HASS-D and CI second semester.

If it helps to see the requirement visually, I wrote in another thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by me

To expand, the humanities requirement has several sub-requirements.

Eight humanities, arts, and social science classes.
1. Two communication-intensive HASS classes
2. Three to four classes which make up a concentration
3. Three HASS distribution classes
  1. All three from different lists

Some of those categories overlap -- for example, many HASS distribution classes are also communication intensive, and you can concentrate in an area in which you took a HASS-D/CI-H, if you want.

over30 · 07-18-2007, 10:05 PM

My son is trying to figure out what to put down for his HASS class. Has anyone taken cassics in Western Philosophy? It's a HASS-D and CI.
He really wants to take Minds and Machines or possibly Problems of Philosophy, which are also HASS-D and CI, but won't be offered until spring 08.
Are there any other classes you would recommend?

differential · 07-19-2007, 10:55 AM

Er... what would be the best way to approach HASS at MIT for someone who wants to do the absolute bare minimum in humanities...?

XaserT · 07-19-2007, 11:29 AM

has anyone taken or known of any who has taken the Rhetoric class? how is it, any reasons not to take it?

molliebatmit · 07-19-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Er... what would be the best way to approach HASS at MIT for someone who wants to do the absolute bare minimum in humanities...?

Well, there are a few different things to think about. Taking classes in Science, Technology, and Society is often nice for people who don't really like the humanities, because even though you are reading books and writing papers, you're learning about science and the way it's affected humanity. My fiance concentrated in STS and really liked all of his classes. I think Comparative Media Studies is much the same -- people like the classes because they get to watch a lot of movies.

You might also consider taking a language. The language classes are as much work or more work than the reading/discussion/paper humanities classes, but the work is more frequent and in smaller chunks -- you would have a short worksheet three times a week instead of writing a paper, for example.

Taking classes in the economics department is a popular was to fulfill the HASS requirement -- hey, it even uses math!

Obviously, if you want to fulfill the HASS requirement with the least amount of fuss, it's a good idea to get all of your HASS-Ds and CI classes out of the way as quickly as possible (preferably by taking classes that are both HASS-D and CI) and picking a concentration that only requires three classes. Then the rest of your HASS slots will be free for random electives that interest you.

kryptonsa36 · 07-23-2007, 04:15 PM

And like Sklog_W mentioned, some HASS Concentration courses are also HASS-D and CI-H, helping you to complete the HASS requirement even sooner. ("Introduction to Linguistics," for instance, is one class that does such. "Disease and Society in America" does this, too, and is also required for Pre-Med, so you can obviously take care of multiple requirements with a single class.) However, that requires a boatload of planning, not to mention you'll have to know what Concentration you're interested in, a choice that could prove even more demanding than choosing a major since many are related and all are humanities-based.