HASS Core Overview
School of Science undergraduates must successfully complete 24 credits of HASS courses.
Humanities and Social Sciences course areas include the following:
Humanities:
- Arts (ARTS)
- Communication (COMM)
- Languages (LANG)
- Literature (LITR)
- Games and Simulation Arts & Sciences (GSAS)
- HASS Inquiry (INQR)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (IHSS)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Science, Technology, and Society (STSO)
- Writing (WRIT)
Social Sciences:
- Cognitive Science (COGS)
- Economics (ECON)
- Games and Simulation Arts & Sciences (GSAS)
- HASS Inquiry (INQR)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (IHSS)
- Psychology (PSYC)
- Science, Technology, and Society (STSO)
HASS Core for Incoming Freshmen: Fall 2023 Onwards:
The following guide may be of use to you as you plan out your HASS Core: The HASS Core Requirements for the School of Science - Fall 23 Onwards.
- Integrative Pathway – 12 credit HASS integrative pathway
- An Integrative Pathway (IP) is a themed set of courses that allows students to explore a designated topic area in greater breadth & depth. Students may choose from the list of over 20 topic areas to explore. . Many of the IPs can also lead to minors.
- Courses counting toward the integrative pathway may not be designated as P/NC.
- 1 4000-level course*
- This must be a 4 credit course.
- 1 communication intensive course in first 3 semesters*
- P/NC designation may not be used.
- 1 HASS inquiry (INQR) course in first 2 semesters*
- 24 credits total
- A maximum of 12 credits at the 1000-level can be counted toward the HASS core.
- A maximum of 8 AP or transfer credits can be counted toward the HASS core.
- A maximum of 8 credits can be designated as P/NC.
*these courses may be included in the Integrative Pathway
HASS Core Requirements: Fall 2019 - Fall 2022
The following guide may be of use to you as you plan out your HASS Core: The HASS Core Requirements for the School of Science.
- Integrative Pathway – 12 credit HASS integrative pathway
- An Integrative Pathway (IP) is a themed set of courses that allows students to explore a designated topic area in greater breadth & depth. Students may choose from the list of over 40 topic areas to explore. Please visit this site for approved pathways: https://hass.rpi.edu/advising/hass-integrative-pathways. This list also includes required courses for each pathway and other FAQs regarding the IP requirement. Many of the IPs can also lead to minors.
- Courses counting toward the integrative pathway may not be designated as P/NC.
- 1 4000-level course*
- This must be a 4 credit course.
- 1 communication intensive course in first 3 semesters*
- P/NC designation may not be used.
- 1 HASS inquiry (IHSS) course in first 2 semesters*
- 24 credits total
- A maximum of 12 credits at the 1000-level can be counted toward the HASS core.
- A maximum of 8 AP or transfer credits can be counted toward the HASS core.
- A maximum of 8 credits can be designated as P/NC.
*these courses may be included in the Integrative Pathway
HASS Core for Transfer Students:
- 24 credits
- A maximum of 12 credits at the 1000-level can be counted toward the HASS core.
- A maximum of 8 credits can be designated as P/NC.
- Integrative Pathway – 12 credit HASS integrative pathway
- Please visit this site for approved pathways (https://info.rpi.edu/pathways)
- Courses counting toward the integrative pathway may not be designated as P/NC.
- 1 4000-level course
- This may be a 3 credit course.
- 1 communication intensive course
- P/NC designation may not be used.
- At least 1 Humanities/Arts course, at least 1 Social Science course
- Humanities/Arts prefixes: ARTS, COMM, LANG, LITR, PHIL, STSH, WRIT, GSAS, IHSS, INQR
- Social Science prefixes: COGS, ECON, PSYS, STSS, GSAS, IHSS, INQR
Students with dual majors in the School of Engineering and the School of Architecture have slightly different requirements. They should consult their advisor in that school.