Introductory Classes
Suggested introductory subjects
The following is a list of subjects that have been suggested by the departments, programs, and sections as among those recommended for students who may not already have experience in these fields. This list is not all-inclusive, and is intended only as one possible starting point for students looking to explore the MIT SHASS fields. HASS-Exploration (HEX) subjects, for instance, provide another appropriate route, and many students will find additional subjects that match their own distinctive interests.
Fields of Study
African and African Diaspora Studies
- 24.912[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies; HASS-A, HASS-H; CI-H | D. Wood
American Studies
- 17.20 Introduction to the American Political Process; HASS-S & CI-H | C. Stewart
Ancient and Medieval Studies
- 21H.130 The Ancience World: Greece; HASS-H & CI-H | E. Driscoll
Anthropology
- 21A.00 Introduction to Anthropology: Comparing Human Cultures; HASS-S. B. Stoetzer
- 21A.500[J] Technology and Culture; HASS-S | M. Thompson
Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies
- 21G.041[J]/21L.040[J] Foundations of East Asian Literature and Culture: From Confucius to the Beats; HASS-H & CI-H | W. Denecke
- 21G.043[J]/21H.107[J] Asian American History: 1865 to 1965; HASS-H | E. Teng
Comparative Media Studies (CMS)
- CMS.100 Introduction to Media Studies; HASS-H & CI-H | Picker, Reich
- CMS.300 Introduction to Game Studies; HASS-H | Jakobsson
- CMS.303 DJ History, Technique, and Technology; HASS-A | P. Tan
- CMS.376 History of Media and Technology; HASS-H & CI-H | Battles
- CMS.422[J]/21L.474[J]/WGS.230[J] Representing Girlhood; HASS-H | Gubar
- CMS.614[J]/21W.791[J] Critical Internet Studies; HASS-S | Peterson
- CMS.586[J]/11.124[J] Introduction to Education: Looking Forward and Looking Back on Education; HASS-S & CI-H | Klopfer
Economics
- 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics; HASS-S | S. Ellison
- 14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics; HASS-S | M. Beraja
- 14.73 The Challenge of World Poverty; HASS-S & CI-H | E. Duflo
Global Languages (GL)
- 21G.700 Introductory Spanish for Heritage Learners; HASS-H | Javier Barroso
- 21G.881 Portuguese I (Hybrid); HASS-H | Nilma Dominique
- 21G.951 Arabic I; HASS-H | Muna Bruce
- Global Languages offers language instruction courses at a variety of levels to suit your skills. All programs provide subjects for complete beginners: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
History
- 21H.135 J.R.R. Tolkien: Scholar, Author, and Thinker; HASS-H, CI-H | E. Goldberg
- 21H.143[J]/21G.056[J] The Making of Modern Europe: 1789-Present; HASS-H | E. Kempf
- 21H.157/STS.037 Modern South Asia | Sana Aiyar and Dwai Banerjee
- 21H.165 A Survey of Modern African History; HASS-H | K. Mutongi
- 21H.181/17.035 Libertarianism, HASS-H | M. Ghachem
Latin America and Latino/a Studies
- 17.55J Introduction to Latin American Studies will next be offered in AY24-25.
Linguistics
- 24.900 Introduction to Linguistics; HASS-S, CI-H | N. Richards
Literature
- 21L.003 Reading Fiction Jane Austen TR 2:30-4 H, CI-H
- 21L.004 Reading Poetry L1 TR 3-4:30 pm H CI-H
- 21L.004 Reading Poetry L2 MW 11-12:30 pm H CIH
- 21L.005 Introduction to Drama MW 11-12:30 pm A, CIH
- 21L.011 Introduction to Film Studies A CIH T 3:30-5, M 7-10 pm, R 1:30-3 or R 3:30-5
- 21L.032 Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and Other Otherwise Worlds CIH, HTR 3:30-5
- 21L.040 Foundations of East Asian Literature from Confucius to the Beats CI-H, H TR 3:30-5
- 21L.050 Reading Nonfiction the Art of Seeing Things TR 11-12:30 pm CI-H
Music
- 21M.051 Fundamentals of Music; HASS-A | S. Iker, D. David
- 21M.150 Introductory Music Theory; HASS-A | G. Saraydarian
- 21M.139 Introduction to Arranging; HASS-A| G. Saraydarian
Philosophy
- 24.00 Problems of Philosophy; HASS-H & CI-H | A. Byrne
- 24.01 Classics of Western Philosophy; HASS-H & CI-H | S. Haslanger
- 24.04J Justice; HASS-H & CI-H | B. Zacka
Political Science
- 17.01 Justice; HASS-H & CI-H; B. Zacka
- 17.03 Introduction to Political Thought; HASS-S; K. Hoss
- 17.20 Introduction to the American Political Process; HASS-S & CI-H | D. Caughey
- 17.30 Making Public Policy; HASS-S & CI-H | A. Campbell
- 17.41 Introduction to International Relations; HASS-S & CI-H; R. Nielsen
- 17.50 Intro to Comparative Politics; HASS-S & CI-H | C. Lawson
Russian and Eurasian Studies
- 21H.244[J]/21G.085[J] Imperial and Revolutionary Russia: Culture and Politics, 1700-1917; HASS-H | E. Wood
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
- STS.002 Finance and Society; HASS-S & CI-H | W. Deringer
- STS.008 Technology and Experience; HASS-S | I. Saraf
- STS.012J Science in Action: Technologies and Controversies in Everyday Life; HASS-S | D. Banerjee
- STS.089 Spirit, Power, Intelligence: The Epic History of Electricity and Electronics; HASS-H | D. Mindell
Theater Arts
- 21T.204 Actors Lab: Embodying Characters & Scenes: HASS-A | Rubio
- 21T.210 Choreography: Making Dances; HASS-A | J. Clark
- 21T.231 Talking & Dancing; HASS-A, D. Irizarry
Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS)
- WGS.S10 Studying Women and Gender at MIT
- WGS.255 Gender, Myth, and Magic
- WGS.226 Science, Development, and Social Inequality in the Developing World
- WGS.118 Gender in the Visual Arts
- WGS.111 Gender and Media
- WGS.101 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
Writing
- 21W.015 Writing and Rhetoric: Writing about Sports; HASS-H & CI-HW | Karatsolis
- 21W.022 Writing and Experience: Reading and Writing Autobiography; HASS-H & CI-HW | Jackson, Beimford, Harrison-Lepera
- 21W.031 Science Writing and New Media: Explorations in Communicating about Science and Technology; HASS-H & CI-HW | Trice, Melvold
- 21W.735 Writing & Reading the Essay; HASS-H & CI-H | Walsh
- 21W.738[J]/21L.438[J]/WGS.238[J] Intersectional Feminist Memoir; HASS-H | Abbott
- 21W.742 Writing About Race; HASS-H & CI-H | Neutill
- 21W.747 Rhetoric; HASS-H & CI-H | Stickgold-Sarah
- 21W.752 Making Documentary; HASS-A | Levenson
- 21W.755 Writing and Reading Short Stories; HASS-A | Nathan, Barkan
- 21W.778 Science Journalism; HASS-H & CI-H | Levenson
Additional resources
For more information, view the online subject listing and is always available through the departments, programs, and sections. Students should always refer to the official subject listing for updated schedules and locations. This list may not be updated after the start of classes.