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
American Studies
- 17.20 Introduction to the American Political Process; HASS-S & CI-H | C. Stewart
Ancient and Medieval Studies
- 21L.001 Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante; HASS-H & CI-A | S. Frampton
- 21H.130 The Ancience 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 but ELS provide subjects for complete beginners: Arabic, Chinese, English Language Studies, 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.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-HAfrofuturism, 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
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
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.