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Divisional Studies

The Divisional Studies program is an alternative to the Core Curriculum for fulfilling the general education requirements. To develop a broad perspective that supports and strengthens studies in the major, the program requires students to select courses from a specified group in each of the principal divisions of the liberal arts: humanities, mathematics and computer science, natural sciences, and social sciences. Divisional Studies courses are suitable for nonmajors as an introduction to a discipline’s area of study and the tools by which new knowledge is gathered. Whenever possible, Divisional Studies courses include direct experience in basic methods such as laboratory and fieldwork.

The Divisional Studies program requires six one-semester Divisional Studies courses, two in each of the three divisions outside the division of the major. At least one divisional course completed in the division of natural sciences must be designated as including a laboratory component.

For purposes of interpreting the Divisional Studies requirement for any student, departmental majors and other degree programs are assigned to divisions as indicated on this site. However, several departments offer individual courses that may be taken toward the Divisional Studies requirement in a division other than that of the departmental major; for example, the Department of Geography & Environment offers both social science and natural science divisional courses. To ensure that a sufficient range of disciplines is discovered and explored, students may not apply courses from a single department toward fulfillment of the Divisional Studies requirement in more than one division; and courses offered by the department in which a student is pursuing a major do not count toward the Divisional Studies requirement for that major. Multiple majors, minors, or additional majors completed in divisions other than that of the primary major may be used to fulfill the Divisional Studies requirement in those divisions. For example, students majoring in English (humanities) may elect to fulfill their natural sciences divisional requirement with a minor or second major in physics.

Divisional Studies Courses

Students not in the Core Curriculum will satisfy the general education requirements with courses taken from the following list. Each course below is labeled to indicate the division to which it corresponds: HU, humanities; MCS, mathematics and computer science; NS, natural sciences; and SS, social sciences. Courses that satisfy the one-course laboratory requirement in natural sciences are so designated.

Note: All courses short-listed below are offered frequently and, except in the case of some two-semester sequences, are accessible without prerequisites. Some College of Arts & Sciences departments have developed expanded lists of courses that, although more advanced or less frequently offered, may also be taken toward fulfillment of the Divisional Studies requirement, provided that the student has completed all prerequisites and consulted with his or her advisor before taking the course.

Expanded lists of Divisional Studies courses are available only as indicated below, and Divisional Studies credit is automatically awarded for courses on the expanded list only if they are taken within the CAS host department. Questions about Divisional Studies short lists and expanded lists should be addressed to the department’s director of undergraduate studies or to an advisor in CAS Room 105.

Anthropology (SS, except as noted)

  • CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • CAS AN 102 Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution (NS) (lab)
  • CAS AN 240 Legal Anthropology
  • CAS AN 252 Ethnicity and Identity
  • CAS AN 260 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective
  • CAS AN 263 The Behavioral Biology of Women (NS)
  • CAS AN 290 Children and Culture
  • CAS AN 351 Language, Culture, and Society
Expanded list

The following carry social science divisional credit: CAS AN 210, 220, 243, 250, 280, 285; courses numbered AN 305-326; AN 337; courses numbered AN 340-350, 352-397. The following carry natural science divisional credit without lab: CAS AN 331, 333, 334, 335, 336, 338.


Archaeology (as noted)

  • CAS AR 100 Great Discoveries in Archaeology (HU)
  • CAS AR 101 Introduction to Archaeology (SS)
  • CAS AR 205 Origins of Civilization (SS)
  • CAS AR 230 Archaeology of Classical Civilizations (HU)
  • CAS AR 232 Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (HU)


Astronomy (NS)

  • CAS AS 100 Cosmic Controversies
  • CAS AS 101 The Solar System (lab)
  • CAS AS 102 The Astronomical Universe (lab)
  • CAS AS 105 Alien Worlds
  • CAS AS 109 Cosmology
  • CAS AS 117 Cosmic Evolution
  • CAS AS 202 Principles of Astronomy I (lab)
  • CAS AS 203 Principles of Astronomy II (lab)


Biology (NS)

  • CAS BI 105 Introductory Biology for Health Sciences (lab)
  • CAS BI 106 Human Anatomy (lab)
  • CAS BI 107 Biology I (lab)
  • CAS BI 108 Biology II (lab)
  • CAS BI 111 Brain, Hormones, and Behavior
  • CAS BI 114 Human Infectious Disease: AIDS to Tuberculosis (lab)
  • CAS BI 117 Global Ecology
  • CAS BI 118 Biology II (Honors) (lab)
  • CAS BI 119 Sociobiology


Chemistry (NS)

  • CAS CH 101 General Chemistry I (lab)
  • CAS CH 102 General Chemistry II (lab)
  • CAS CH 109 General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry I (lab)
  • CAS CH 110 General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry II (lab)
  • CAS CH 111 Intensive General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry I (lab)
  • CAS CH 112 Intensive General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry II (lab)
  • CAS CH 131 General Chemistry for Engineering Sciences (lab)
  • CAS CH 171 Principles of General Chemistry (lab)
  • CAS CH 172 Principles of Organic Chemistry (lab)

Note: only one of CAS CH 101, CH 109, CH 111, CH 131, and CH 171 may be taken for credit.


Classical Studies (HU)

  • CAS CL 101 The World of Greece
  • CAS CL 102 The World of Rome
  • CAS CL 202 Warfare in Antiquity
  • CAS CL 206 Women in Antiquity
  • CAS CL 213 Greek and Roman Mythology
  • CAS CL 216 Greek and Roman Religion
  • CAS CL 221 Greek History (formerly CAS CL 321)
  • CAS CL 222 Roman History (formerly CAS CL 322)
  • CAS CL 224 Greek Drama in Translation (formerly CAS CL 324)
  • CAS CL 325 Greek Tragedy and Film
Expanded list

With advisor’s approval and with the exception of Directed Studies, any CAS CL or CG course may be taken for Divisional Studies credit except CL 111, 112, 161, 162, 211, 212, 261, 262, and CG 111, 112, 211, and 212.


Computer Science (MCS)

  • CAS CS 101 Introduction to Computers
  • CAS CS 103 Introduction to Internet Technologies and Web Programming
  • CAS CS 105 Introduction to Databases and Data Analysis
  • CAS CS 107 Computing in Machines and Nature
  • CAS CS 108 Introduction to Applications Programming
  • CAS CS 109 The Art and Science of Quantitative Reasoning
  • CAS CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science I
  • CAS CS 112 Introduction to Computer Science II
Expanded list

Any CAS CS courses numbered 100–599, except CS 401/402 and CS 491/492.


Earth Sciences (NS)

  • CAS ES 101 The Dynamic Earth (lab)
  • CAS ES 105 Environmental Earth Sciences (lab)
  • CAS ES 140 Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Other Natural Disasters
  • CAS ES 142 Introduction to Beach and Shoreline Processes
  • CAS ES 144 Oceanography
Expanded list

Students with a relevant CAS ES 100-level prerequisite may take CAS ES 351 for natural science divisional credit without lab, and any of the following for natural science divisional credit with lab: CAS ES 222, 302, 317, 331, 333.

Note: only one of CAS ES 101, CAS ES 105, and CAS GE 104 may be taken for Divisional Studies credit.


Economics (SS)

  • CAS EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
  • CAS EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis
  • CAS EC 111 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis—Special Achievement
  • CAS EC 112 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis—Special Achievement
  • CAS EC 171 Personal Lifestyle Economics

Note: only one of CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 111 may be taken for credit; likewise, credit will be granted for only one of CAS EC 102 and CAS EC 112.


English (HU)

  • CAS EN 121 Readings in World Literature
  • CAS EN 125 Readings in Modern Literature
  • CAS EN 127 Readings in American Literature
  • CAS EN 128 Representing Boston
  • CAS EN 130 Literature and Science
  • CAS EN 141 Literary Types: Fiction
  • CAS EN 142 Literary Types: Poetry
  • CAS EN 143 Literary Types: Drama
  • CAS EN 163 Readings in Shakespeare
  • CAS EN 164 Readings in Shakespeare
  • CAS EN 175 Literature and the Art of Film


Geography & Environment (as noted)

  • CAS GE 100 Introduction to Environmental Science (SS)
  • CAS GE 101 Natural Environments: The Atmosphere (NS) (lab)
  • CAS GE 103 Economic Geography (SS)
  • CAS GE 104 Natural Environments: The Physical Landscape (NS) (lab)
  • CAS GE 110 Our Changing Planet: The Perspective from Space (NS) (lab)
  • CAS GE 150 Sustainable Energy: Technology, Resources, Society, and Environment (SS)
  • CAS GE 201 World Regional Geography I (SS)
  • CAS GE 250 The Fate of Nations: Climate, Resources, and Institutions (SS)

Note: only one of CAS GE 104, CAS ES 101, and CAS ES 105 may be taken for Divisional Studies credit.


History (SS)

  • CAS HI 101 The Dawn of Europe: Antiquity to the Renaissance
  • CAS HI 102 The Emergence of Modern Europe: Renaissance to the Present
  • CAS HI 151 The Emerging United States to 1865
  • CAS HI 152 The United States Since 1865
  • CAS HI 176 World History II: 1500 to the Present
  • CAS HI 341 Political and Cultural Revolution (taken Fall 2011 or after)
  • CAS HI 347 Reconstructing the African Past (taken Fall 2011 or after)


History of Art & Architecture (HU)

  • CAS AH 111 Introduction to Art History I: Antiquity to the Middle Ages
  • CAS AH 112 Introduction to Art History II: Renaissance to Today
  • CAS AH 205 Architecture: An Introduction
  • CAS AH 215 The Arts of Africa
  • CAS AH 220 Islamic Art and Architecture
  • CAS AH 225 The Arts of Asia
  • CAS AH 284 Arts in America
Expanded List

All 100-, 200-, and 300-level CAS AH lecture courses offered in the History of Art & Architecture Department


International Relations (SS)

  • CAS IR 230 Fundamentals of International Politics
  • CAS IR 242 Globalization and World Poverty
  • CAS IR 271 Introduction to International Relations
  • CAS IR 374 Introduction to Security Studies


Linguistics (HU)

  • (See CAS LX courses in Romance Studies list.)


Mathematics & Statistics (MCS)

  • CAS MA 109 The Art and Science of Quantitative Reasoning
  • CAS MA 113 Elementary Statistics
  • CAS MA 115 Statistics I
  • CAS MA 116 Statistics II
  • CAS MA 120 Applied Mathematics for Social and Management Sciences
  • CAS MA 121 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences I
  • CAS MA 122 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences II
  • CAS MA 123 Calculus I
  • CAS MA 124 Calculus II
  • CAS MA 127 Calculus: A Review
  • CAS MA 129 Honors Calculus
  • CAS MA 213 Basic Statistics and Probability
  • CAS MA 214 Applied Statistics

Note: students may receive credit for only one of CAS MA 113, MA 115, and MA 213; only one of CAS MA 116 and MA 214; only one of MA 121 and MA 123; and only one of MA 122, 124, 127, and 129. However, MA 129 may be taken for credit by students with AP credit for CAS MA 124.


Modern Languages & Comparative Literature (HU)

  • CAS XL 222 Introduction to Comparative Literature: Western Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS XL 223 Introduction to Comparative Literature: Middle Eastern Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS XL 224 Introduction to Comparative Literature: East Asian Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS XL 225 Introduction to Comparative Literature: South Asian Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 250 Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 251 Masterpieces of Modern Chinese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 285 Topics in Chinese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LG 250 Masterpieces of German Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LG 280 Topics in German Culture (in English translation)
  • CAS LG 282 Marx, Nietzsche, Freud (in English translation)
  • CAS LG 283 The Faust Tradition
  • CAS LG 287 German Cinema (in English translation)
  • CAS LH 250 Masterpieces of Modern Hebrew Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LH 282 Agnon and Oz: In Search of Modernity (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 250 Masterpieces of Japanese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 251 Modern Japanese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LK 283 Modern Korean Culture Through Cinema (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 250 Classics of Russian Prose (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 280 Dostoyevsky (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 281 Tolstoy (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 282 Russian Prose Classics of the Twentieth Century (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 285 Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky (in English translation)
  • CAS LT 281 Istanbul at the Crossroads (in English translation)
  • CAS LY 284 Arabs Write War: Poetry, Prose, and Drama Since 1948 (in English translation)
  • CAS LZ 280 Persian Epic and Romance (in English translation)
  • CAS LZ 281 Rumi and Persian Sufi Poetry (in English translation)
Expanded List

‡ indicates “proficiency required in target language”

  • Comparative Literature: CAS XL 254, 281, 285, 315, 320, 351, 356, 381, 382, 383, 430, 441, 470, 520, 540, 550
  • Chinese: CAS LC 281, 282, 283, 284, 286, 287, 450, 470
  • German: all ‡: CAS LG 350, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 461, 463, 464, 470
  • Hebrew: CAS LH 280, 283, 284; (all ‡: LH 350, 351, 453)
  • Japanese: LJ 283, 451, 480, 481; LJ 350‡
  • Russian: all ‡: LR 350, 351, 451, 455, 456, 458
  • Arabic: LY 281, 282, 283, 441, 470; LY 350‡


Music (HU)

  • CAS MU 117 Music Appreciation I
  • CAS MU 118 Music Appreciation II
  • CAS MU 229 Masterpieces of Opera
  • CAS MU 242 Music and Society


Philosophy (HU)

  • CAS PH 100 Introduction to Philosophy
  • CAS PH 110 Great Philosophers
  • CAS PH 150 Introduction to Ethics
  • CAS PH 155 Politics and Philosophy
  • CAS PH 159 Philosophy and Film
  • CAS PH 160 Reasoning and Argumentation
Expanded List

All 100- and 200-level CAS PH courses offered in the Philosophy Department.


Physics (NS)

  • CAS PY 100 Physics of the Twentieth Century and Beyond
  • CAS PY 103 Cinema Physica (lab)
  • CAS PY 105 Elementary Physics I (lab)
  • CAS PY 106 Elementary Physics II (lab)
  • CAS PY 211 General Physics I (lab)
  • CAS PY 212 General Physics II (lab)
  • CAS PY 231 The Physics in Music (lab)
  • CAS PY 241 Principles of General Physics I (lab)
  • CAS PY 242 Principles of General Physics II (lab)
  • CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics I (lab)
  • CAS PY 252 Principles of Physics II (lab)


Political Science (SS)

  • CAS PO 211 Introduction to American Politics
  • CAS PO 241 Introduction to Public Policy
  • CAS PO 251 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • CAS PO 271 Introduction to International Relations
  • CAS PO 291 Introduction to Political Theory


Psychology (SS)

  • CAS PS 101 General Psychology
  • CAS PS 222 Perception and Behavior
  • CAS PS 231 Physiological Psychology
  • CAS PS 234 Psychology of Learning
  • CAS PS 241 Developmental Psychology
  • CAS PS 251 Psychology of Personality: Theories and Application
  • CAS PS 261 Social Psychology


Religion (HU)

  • CAS RN 100 Introduction to Religion
  • CAS RN 101 The Bible
  • CAS RN 102 Sacred Journeys
  • CAS RN 103 Religions of the World: Eastern
  • CAS RN 104 Religions of the World: Western
  • CAS RN 201 The Hebrew Bible
  • CAS RN 202 Jesus to Christ: The Origins of Christianity
  • CAS RN 206 Sacred Texts in World Religions
Expanded list
  • All 100- and 200-level CAS RN courses offered in the Religion Department
  • CAS RN 301 Varieties of Early Christianity
  • CAS RN 307 Medieval Christianity
  • CAS RN 323 Classical Jewish Thought
  • CAS RN 340 The Qur’an
  • CAS RN 341 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism
  • CAS RN 384 The Holocaust
  • CAS RN 396 Philosophy of Religion
  • CAS RN 429 Religion and Politics in South Asia


Romance Studies (HU)

  • CAS LX 240 Great Linguists
  • CAS LX 245 Language and Mind
  • CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
  • CAS LX 340 Language Myths
  • CAS LF 350 Introduction to Analysis of French Texts
  • CAS LF 351 Introduction to the French Novel
  • CAS LI 250 Masterpieces of Modern Italian Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LI 350 Italian Literature I: Medieval
  • CAS LI 351 Italian Literature II: Renaissance and Baroque
  • CAS LI 352 Italian Literature III: Modern Period
  • CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts
Expanded list

With advisor’s approval and appropriate prerequisites, students may take any of the following literature and linguistics courses, when offered, for humanities divisional credit:

  • French: CAS LF 250, 286, 356, 451-453, 455-457, 460
  • Italian: LI 283, 450, 452, 453, 473
  • Linguistics: LX 235, 502, 510, 521, 522, 535 (Any of these 5xx courses can be taken after LX 250 as a second course in linguistics.)
  • Portuguese: LP 310
  • Spanish: LS 250, 452, 454-457


Sociology (SS)

  • CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology
  • CAS SO 205 The American Family
  • CAS SO 207 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
  • CAS SO 215 Sociology of Health Care
  • CAS SO 225 Law and Society
  • CAS SO 242 Globalization and World Poverty
  • CAS SO 244 Urban Sociology


Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (as noted)

  • CAS WS 101/102 Gender and Sexuality: An Interdisciplinary Introduction [Students who complete both halves of the two-semester sequence WS 101/102 receive Divisional Studies credit for two courses, from two different divisions: Natural Science (without lab), Social Science, and/or Humanities. Neither WS 101 nor WS 102 alone carries Divisional Studies credit.]
  • CAS WS 113 Women, Society, and Culture: Social Sciences (SS)
  • CAS WS 114 Women, Society, and Culture: Humanities (HU)

Summary of “Short-List” Divisional Studies Courses

(For expanded list, see individual department listings directly above.)

Humanities Division

  • Archaeology (CAS AR 100, 230, 232)
  • Classical Studies (CAS CL 101, 102, 202, 206, 213, 216, 221, 222, 224, 325)
  • English (CAS EN 121, 125, 127, 128, 130,141, 142, 143, 163, 164, 175)
  • History of Art & Architecture (CAS AH 111, 112, 205, 215, 220, 225, 284)
  • Linguistics (see LX courses in Romance Studies list)
  • Modern Languages & Comparative Literature (CAS XL 222, 223, 224, 225; LC 250, 251, 285; LG 250, 280, 282, 283, 287; LH 250, 282; LJ 250, 251; LK 283; LR 250, 280, 281, 282, 285; LT 281; LY 284; LZ 280, 281)
  • Music (CAS MU 117, 118, 229, 242)
  • Philosophy (CAS PH 100, 110, 150, 155, 159, 160)
  • Religion (CAS RN 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 202, 206)
  • Romance Studies (CAS LX 240, 245, 250, 340; all 350 courses; LF 351; LI 250, 350, 351, 352)
  • Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (CAS WS 101/102 together, 114) Students who complete both halves of the two-semester sequence WS 101/102 receive Divisional Studies credit for two courses, from two different divisions: Natural Science (without lab), Social Science, and/or Humanities. Neither WS 101 nor WS 102 alone carries Divisional Studies credit.

Mathematics & Computer Science Division

  • Computer Science (CAS CS 101, 103, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112)
  • Mathematics & Statistics (CAS MA 109, 113, 115, 116, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 127, 129, 213, 214)

Natural Sciences Division (* indicates laboratory component)

  • Anthropology (CAS AN 102*, 263)
  • Astronomy (CAS AS 100, 101*, 102*, 105, 109, 117, 202*, 203*)
  • Biology (CAS BI 105*, 106*, 107*, 108*, 111, 114*, 117, 118*, 119)
  • Chemistry (CAS CH 101*, 102*, 109*, 110*, 111*, 112*, 131*, 171*, 172*)
  • Earth Sciences (CAS ES 101*, 105*, 140, 142, 144)
  • Geography & Environment (CAS GE 101*, 104*, 110*)
  • Physics (CAS PY 100*, 103*, 105*, 106*, 211*, 212*, 231*, 241*, 242*, 251*, 252*)

Social Sciences Division

  • Anthropology (CAS AN 101, 240, 252, 260, 290, 351)
  • Archaeology (CAS AR 101, 205)
  • Economics (CAS EC 101, 102, 111, 112, 171)
  • Geography & Environment (CAS GE 100, 103, 150, 201, 226, 250)
  • History (CAS HI 101, 102, 151, 152, 176, 341, 347)
  • International Relations (CAS IR 230, 242, 271, 374)
  • Political Science (CAS PO 211, 241, 251, 271, 291)
  • Psychology (CAS PS 101, 222, 231, 234, 241, 251, 261)
  • Sociology (CAS SO 100, 205, 207, 215, 225, 242, 244)
  • Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (CAS WS 101/102 together, 113) Students who complete both halves of the two-semester sequence WS 101/102 receive Divisional Studies credit for two courses, from two different divisions: Natural Science (without lab), Social Science, and/or Humanities. Neither WS 101 nor WS 102 alone carries Divisional Studies credit.

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