The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a broad education in the liberal arts. It provides a wide range of introductory and advanced courses in traditional disciplines — literature, history, philosophy, the social sciences and the arts. Study of the humanities and social sciences is aimed at the development of an open and inquiring mind. This requires cultural and historical literacy, a knowledge and appreciation of the rich intellectual, social and artistic heritage of humanity, and a thoughtful examination of its ethical and aesthetic values. Such a liberal education also demands the ability to reason clearly and analytically, and to write effectively. Therefore, the program emphasizes the practical exercise and development of these logical and communication skills. Reflecting the traditional values of the liberal arts, it is fully committed to the principle of free and unfettered intellectual inquiry.

    Besides courses for business, computer science, engineering, management and science students, the department offers three special programs: a single B.A. degree, a double B.A. degree, and a minor.

The Core Program for the B.E. and B.S. degrees

Requirements for Engineering and Science Students
    If you are enrolled in either the engineering or science program, the required core consists of eight courses: four 100-level courses during the freshman and sophomore years and four 300/400-level courses during the junior and senior years. Of the four 100-level courses, two must be in Group A (literature or philosophy) and two in Group B (history or social science).

Requirements for Computer Science Students
    If you are enrolled in the computer science program, you must satisfy the requirements for engineering and science degree students (see above) and take one additional 300/400-level course, for a total of nine courses in humanities or social sciences. You are also encouraged to join the minor program in humanities or social sciences (see below) and among the nine basic courses you must take HSS 371.

Requirements for Business and Technology Students
    Since you are enrolled in a lock-step program, you must adhere to the required sequence of courses (see "Department of Business and Technology" in this catalog) which includes two courses in Group A (literature or philosophy) and two in Group B (history or social science), as well as one humanities elective.

The Writing Program
    Proficiency in written English is a graduation requirement of all undergraduates. To achieve an acceptable level of proficiency, you may be required to take courses recommended by the Humanities Department. These courses include but are not limited to Hum 103/104, Freshman Writing and Humanities. If you experience writing skills difficulties while enrolled in any Humanities courses, you may be referred for free tutoring. All students must pass the Stevens English Competence Exam (SECE) in order to graduate. Upper division students may be allowed to submit a writing portfolio for evaluation instead.

Cross Registration with New York University
    You may take courses in the College of Arts and Sciences at New York University through a special cross-registration program at no charge. To have the course count towards a Stevens degree, you must be enrolled full-time in a regular Stevens degree program. Please direct any questions to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academics at Stevens, (201) 216-5228.

    During the first and second years you complete eight courses, four each in Groups A and B, including two courses in the major field of concentration. During the last two years you complete eight 300/400-level courses in the major field and a Senior Thesis. This amounts to a total of ten courses in the major field. There are varying distribution requirements for these ten, depending on the field of concentration. They are as follows:

• English and American Literature. Required: two courses in pre-1798 English literature, one must be an intensive introduction to Chaucer or Shakespeare; two courses in post-1798 English literature; two courses in American literature and Senior Thesis (498). The other three courses are 300/400-level literature courses and are selected in consultation with your advisor. Recommended: a genre course; a course in literary or linguistic theory; a foreign language course (especially for future graduate work); and courses in fields related to the major, including philosophy, history, art and music.

• History. Required: one year of a freshman/sophomore history sequence: History of European Society and Culture I & II (123, 124), or United States Social and Economic History I & II (125, 126) or History of Science I & II (129, 130); at least one course in American, European or History of Science; Seminar in Writing and Research Methods (301); Senior Thesis (498) and electives from among the history concentration (American, European, History of Science, World), selected in consultation with your faculty advisor.

• Philosophy. Required: Philosophy I: Ethics and Political Philosophy (111), and Philosophy II: Logic, Knowledge and Reality (112); Ethics (339), Social and Political Philosophy (340) or Aesthetics (348); Philosophy of Science (368) or Logic (442); Theories of Knowledge and Reality (347), Philosophy of Language (443) or Philosophy of Mind (444); and Senior Thesis (498). The other four are 300/400-level philosophy courses selected in consultation with your advisor.

• Science and Technology Studies. Please consult with your advisor.

• Individualized Major. Programs include Art & Technology; Music & Technology; American Studies; and Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian Studies. Please consult with your advisor.

Additional Requirements:
    You are required to take a variety of other courses, including two in mathematics, two in science (non-laboratories), one in psychology or economics, one in Writing and Research Methods (Hum 301), five courses as a secondary concentration and ten courses at any level and in any field.
    The formal requirements for the humanities program are listed in the following semester-by-semester schedule, including the Notes.