About SHASS

Page Contents:01.Dean’s Welcome02.At a Glance03.By the Numbers
The humanities have an essential research role in solving major civilizational problems.”
Dean Agustín Rayo

Dean’s Welcome

Welcome to SHASS

The research in our school pushes the limits of human understanding. We study the ethical, social, economic, and human dimensions of the world’s greatest challenges, and we pursue human understanding for its own sake.

We also help students become their whole selves. We mentor them to think about the best way to live, to compose symphonies, to gain an understanding of shared human history. We drive our students to have a moral compass and build the foundations of a well-lived life.

We invite you to explore our community, programs, and research.

Explore the value of human-centered thinking with Dean Rayo in the latest edition of MIT Spectrum.

Our students will be out in the world deploying new technologies and making critical decisions about impact: Are these technologies broadly beneficial? Could they be harmful? The education SHASS provides allows students to develop a deep understanding of the societal context in which they’re making these decisions, helping them to become wiser, more effective leaders.”
Sally Kornbluth
MIT President

At a Glance

SHASS at a glance

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences is made up of 13 different academic units, spanning disciplines from music and literature to economics and political science. Our faculty carry out world-class research, train exceptional graduate students, and bring critical skills and methodologies to MIT’s undergraduates.

SHASS by the numbers

Programs

  • PhD programs: 5
  • Master’s programs: 5
  • Undergraduate major programs: 20
  • Undergraduate minor programs: 30

Faculty awards and honors

  • Nobel Laureates: 11
  • Pulitzer Prize winners: 5
  • Guggenheim Fellows: 53
  • John Bates Clark Medal winners: 15
  • MacArthur Fellows: 20
  • Endowed chairs: 105
  • MacVicar Fellows: 40

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