Divisional Studies

The Divisional Studies Program is an alternative to the Core Curriculum for fulfilling the General Education Requirement. 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 nonconcentrators 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 6 one-semester divisional studies courses, two in each of the three divisions outside the division of 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, a social science department, 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. In the case of multiple majors, minor 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

All Honors courses offered as part of the College Honors Program carry Divisional Studies credit in the appropriate division for students in the program. In all other cases, students not in the Core Curriculum will satisfy the general education requirements with courses taken from the following list only. Each course below is labelled 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 science are so designated.

Anthropology (SS, except as noted)

  • CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • CAS AN 102 Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution (NS)
  • CAS AN 240 Legal Anthropology
  • CAS AN 252 Ethnicity and Identity
  • CAS AN 260 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective

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)

Art History (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

Astronomy (NS)

  • CAS AS 100 Cosmic Controversies
  • CAS AS 101 The Solar System (lab)
  • CAS AS 102 The Astronomical Universe (lab)
  • 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 112 Sex and Reproduction
  • 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 213 Greek and Roman Mythology
  • 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)

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

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

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 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

Geography & Environment (as noted)

  • CAS GE 100 Introduction to Environmental Science (SS)
  • CAS GE 101 Natural Environments: The Atmosphere (lab) (NS)
  • CAS GE 102 The Cultural Landscape (SS)
  • CAS GE 103 Economic Geography (SS)
  • CAS GE 104 Natural Environments: The Physical Landscape (lab) (NS)
  • CAS GE 110 Our Changing Planet: The Perspective from Space (lab) (NS)
  • CAS GE 150 Sustainable Energy: Technology, Resources, Society, and Environment (SS)
  • CAS GE 201 World Regional Geography I (SS)
  • CAS GE 226 Geography of the Boston Region (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 215 Political and Cultural Revolution
  • CAS HI 291 Reconstructing the African Past

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

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 LC 250 Masterpieces of Chinese Fiction (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 350 Introduction to Chinese Literature
  • CAS LG 250 Masterpieces of German Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LG 350 Introduction to German Literature
  • CAS LH 250 Masterpieces of Modern Hebrew Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LH 350 Hebrew Narrative: Biblical and Modern
  • CAS LJ 250 Masterpieces of Japanese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 350 Self and Society in Modern Japanese Literature
  • CAS LR 250 Classics of Russian Prose (in English translation)
  • CAS LR 350 Introduction to Analysis of Russian Prose Texts
  • CAS LY 350 Introduction to Arabic Literature

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 160 Reasoning and Argumentation

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
  • 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 101 Introduction to Political Science
  • 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 of World Religions

Romance Studies (HU)

  • CAS LX 240 Great Linguists
  • CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
  • CAS LF 250 Masterpieces of the French Novel (in English translation)
  • CAS LF 350 Introduction to Analysis of French Texts
  • CAS LI 250 Masterpieces of Modern Italian Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LI 350 Italian Literature I: Medieval
  • CAS LS 250 The Novelistic Tradition in the Hispanic World (in English translation)
  • CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts

Sociology (SS)

  • CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology
  • CAS SO 104 Introduction to Sociology: Health and Illness
  • CAS SO 108 Introduction to Sociology: Community
  • CAS SO 205 The American Family
  • CAS SO 225 Law and Society
  • CAS SO 242 Globalization and World Poverty

Women’s Studies (as noted)

  • CAS WS 113 Women, Society, and Culture: Social Sciences (SS)
  • CAS WS 114 Women, Society, and Culture: Humanities (HU)

Summary of Divisional Studies Courses

Humanities Division

  • Archaeology (CAS AR 100, 230, 232)
  • Art History (CAS AH 111, 112, 205, 215, 220, 225, 284)
  • Classical Studies (CAS CL 101, 102, 213, 221, 222, 224)
  • English (CAS EN 121, 125, 127, 128, 141, 142, 143, 163, 164)
  • Modern Languages & Comparative Literature (CAS XL 222, 223, 224; all 250 courses; all 350 courses)
  • Music (CAS MU 117, 118, 229, 242)
  • Philosophy (CAS PH 100, 110, 150, 155, 160)
  • Religion (CAS RN 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 202, 206)
  • Romance Studies (CAS LX 240; all 250 courses; all 350 courses)
  • Women’s Studies (CAS WS 114 only)

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

  • Anthropology (CAS AN 102 only)
  • Astronomy (CAS AS 100, 101, 102, 109, 117, 202, 203)
  • Biology (CAS BI 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 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)
  • Archaeology (CAS AR 101, 205)
  • Economics (CAS EC 101, 102, 111, 112, 171)
  • Geography & Environment (CAS GE 100, 102, 103, 150, 201, 226, 250)
  • History (CAS HI 101, 102, 151, 152, 176, 215, 291)
  • International Relations (CAS IR 230, 242, 271, 374)
  • Political Science (CAS PO 101, 211, 241, 251, 271, 291)
  • Psychology (CAS PS 101, 222, 231, 234, 241, 251, 261)
  • Sociology (CAS SO 100, 104, 108, 205, 225, 242)
  • Women’s Studies (CAS WS 113 only)