HASS Core Overview

School of Science undergraduates must successfully complete 24 credits of HASS courses. If you are a School of Science Major, the Science Hub can help you plan your HASS Core! 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)

Regardless of the year you started at RPI, you can check the Academic Catalog for a list of the available Integrative Pathways and their requirements. Important: Be sure the Catalog Year (upper right hand corner of the screen) is the year you started at RPI!

 

HASS Core for Incoming Freshmen who started after Fall 2023

The following guide may be of use to you as you plan out your HASS Core: HASS Core Requirements for the School of Science - Fall 23 Onwards.

  • 1 HASS inquiry (INQR) Course*
    • Must be taken in first 2 semesters
  • 1 HASS Communication Intensive Course
    • Recommended to be taken in first 3 semesters. 
    • P/NC designation may not be used.
  • 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.
  • 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 (but do not have to be). 

 

HASS Core Requirements: For students who started between Fall 2019 to Fall 2022

The following guide may be of use to you as you plan out your HASS Core: HASS Core Requirements for the School of Science - Fall '19 to Fall '22.

  • 1 HASS inquiry (IHSS or INQR) Course*  
    • Must be taken in first 2 semesters
  • 1 HASS Communication Intensive Course
    • Reccomended to be taken in first 3 semesters. 
    • P/NC designation may not be used.
  • 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.
  • 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 (but do not have to be). 

HASS Core for Transfer Students

  • 1 HASS Communication Intensive Course
    • P/NC designation may not be used.
  • 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.
  • At Least 1 Humanities/Arts Course and 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
  • 24 credits Total
    • 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.

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.