MIT SHASS Introductory-Level Subjects | Fall 2024
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.
The full list of course offerings is available through the online subject listing and more information 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.
Enjoy the exploration!
Fields of Study
African and African Diaspora Studies
American Studies
17.20 Introduction to the American Political Process; HASS-S & CI-H | C. Stewart
17.30 Making Public Policy; HASS-S & CI-H | A. Campbell
21H.107[J]/21G.043[J] Asian American History: 1865-1968; HASS-H | E. Teng
STS.001 Technology in American History; HASS-H | D. Mindell
Ancient and Medieval Studies
21L.001 Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante; HASS-H & CI-A | S. Frampton
21H.130 The Ancient World: Greece; HASS-H & CI-H | E. Driscoll
Anthropology
21A.01 How Culture Works, HASS-S | M. Buyandelger
21A.500[J] Technology and Culture; HASS-S | H. Beltrán
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 | E. Schiappa, C. Lee, A. Gibson
CMS.300 Introduction to Game Studies; HASS-H | M. Jakobsson
CMS.303 DJ History, Technique, and Technology; HASS-A | P. Tan
CMS.335[J]/21W.790[J] Short Attention Span Documentary; HASS-A | V. Bald
CMS.614[J]/21W.791[J] Critical Internet Studies; HASS-S | C. Lee
CMS.621 Fans and Fan Cultures; HASS-H | A. Schiappa
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.S81 Special Subject: Portuguese I; 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 provide subjects for complete beginners: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
History
21H.009 World History and its Fault Lines Since 1800; HASS-H, CI-H | S. Aiyar & H. Nagahara
21H.107[J]/21G.043[J] Asian American History: 1865-1968; HASS-H | E. Teng
21H.130 The Ancient World: Greece; HASS-H | E. Driscoll
21H.133 The Medieval World; HASS-H | E. Goldberg
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.151 Dynastic China; HASS-H | T. Brown
21H.165 A Survey of Modern African History; HASS-H | K. Mutongi
21H.170[J]/17.55[J]/21A.130[J]/21G.084[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies; HASS-S, CI-H | T. Padilla
21H.186 Nature and Environment in China; HASS-H | T. Brown
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 | D. Pesetsky
Literature
21L.003 Reading Fiction; HASS-H & CI-H | Kelley, Wyn
21L.010 Writing with Shakespeare; HASS-H & CI-HW | D. Henderson
21L.011 Introduction to Film Studies; HASS-H & CI-H | J. Ruffin new instructor
21L.000/21W041 Writing about Literature CI-HW HASS-H C. Doyle
21L.001 Foundations of Western Lit Homer to Dante HASS-H CI-H J. Buzard
21L.004 Reading Poetry HASS-H CI—H two sections one with A. Bahr, one with N. Jackson
21L.012 Forms of Western Narrative HASS CI-H J. Ruffin
21L.017 The Art of the Probable HASS CI-H S. Raman
21L.020/WGS145 HASS CI-H Globalization the good the Bad and the Inbetween M. Resnick
21L.021 Comedy HASS CI-H B. Mangrum
21L.024 Literature & Existentialism HASS CI-H E. Brinkema
21L.032/WGS130 HASS CI-H Afrofuturism, Magical Realism, and Other Otherwise Worlds J. Terrones
21L.040/21G.041 Foundations of East Asian Literature From Confucius to the Beats W. Dencke
21G.044/21L.494/WGS235 Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation W. Denecke
Music
21M.051 Fundamentals of Music; HASS-A | S. Iker, D. David
21M.150 Introductory Music Theory; HASS-A | G. Saraydarian
21M.223 Folk Music of the British Isles and North America; HASS-A & CI-H | J. Maurer
Philosophy
24.01 Classics of Western Philosophy; HASS-H & CI-H | B. Brasher
24.02 Moral Problems and the Good Life; HASS-H & CI-H | K. Setiya
24.06J/STS.006J Bioethics; HASS-H & CI-H | R. Scheffler, M. Masny
Political Science
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
21G.S01 Special Subject: Russian I; HASS-H | Sofia Verba
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
STS.001 Technology in American History; HASS-H | D. Mindell
STS.003 Ancient Greeks to Modern Geeks: A History of Science; HASS-H & CI-H | W. Deringer & E. Nelson
STS.006J Bioethics; HASS-H & CI-H; R. Scheffler, M. Masny
Theater Arts
21T.150[J]/21W.754[J] Playwriting Fundamentals; HASS-A | K. Tarker
21L.005[J]/21T.141[J] Introduction to Drama; HASS-A & CI-H | S. Alexandre
21T.210 Choreography: Making Dances; HASS-A | J. Clark
Women's and Gender Studies (WGS)
WGS.101 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies; HASS-H & CI-H | A. Walsh
WGS.160[J]/STS.021[J] Science Activism: Gender, Race, and Power; HASS-E | E. Bertschinger
WGS.228 The Psychology of Sex and Gender; HASS-S | C. Kapunga
WGS.225/21A.103/STS.046 The Science of Race, Sex, & Gender; HASS-S | A. Sur
Writing
21W.735 Writing & Reading the Essay; HASS-H & CI-H | K. Ragusa
21W.740 Writing Autobiography and Biography; HASS-A | K. Manning
21W.742 Writing About Race; HASS-H & CI-H | B. Williams
21W.747 Rhetoric; HASS-H & CI-H | A. Karatsolis
21W.755 Writing and Reading Short Stories; HASS-A | F. Abbas
21W.778 Science Journalism; HASS-H & CI-H | T. Levenson
