Committee on Degrees in Social Studies

Committee on Degrees in Social Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate honors program at Harvard University. Founded in 1960, it is one of the university's oldest and most prestigious concentrations, focusing on the integrated study of social theory, history, and political economy. The program emphasizes a Great Books curriculum and a senior thesis requirement, preparing students for careers in law, academia, public policy, and other fields. It operates under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and is housed in the Harvard College curriculum.

History

The program was established in 1960 by a group of faculty including the political theorist Judith Shklar and the sociologist David Riesman, who sought to create a rigorous alternative to traditional departmental majors. Its intellectual foundations were heavily influenced by the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought and the Frankfurt School's critical theory, aiming to synthesize insights from Marxism, liberalism, and conservatism. Key figures in its early development included philosophers John Rawls and Robert Nozick, who helped shape its core curriculum in moral philosophy and political theory. The program has maintained its commitment to interdisciplinary study through evolving political climates, from the Cold War to the post-September 11 attacks era, continually engaging with thinkers like Max Weber, Hannah Arendt, and Michel Foucault.

Curriculum

The curriculum is built around a sequenced tutorial system and a set of foundational courses known as the Social Studies 10 lecture series, which traces the development of modern social thought from the Enlightenment through the Industrial Revolution to contemporary global issues. All students must complete a year-long sophomore tutorial focusing on classic texts by authors such as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber. Junior year involves specialized tutorials in areas like comparative politics, economic history, or social movements, often taught by faculty from departments like Government, History, and Economics. The capstone is a senior thesis, an original research project requiring defense before a faculty committee, which has covered topics from the Russian Revolution to the War on Drugs.

Faculty and governance

The program is directed by a standing committee of senior faculty from across Harvard University, historically including notable scholars like the sociologist Orlando Patterson, the political philosopher Michael Sandel, and the historian Charles S. Maier. Day-to-day administration is managed by a Head Tutor and a team of tutors, many of whom are PhD candidates or postdoctoral fellows in fields like political science, sociology, and history. The committee collaborates closely with other interdisciplinary entities at Harvard, such as the Department of African and African American Studies and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, to sponsor lectures and conferences. Governance follows the model of a tutorial system akin to those at Oxford and Cambridge, emphasizing close mentorship.

Notable alumni

Graduates have pursued distinguished careers in diverse sectors. In law and politics, alumni include former U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and former U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. In academia and writing, notable figures are historian Niall Ferguson, journalist Ron Suskind, and author Al Franken. Other prominent alumni in public service and business include former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Many have also been recipients of prestigious fellowships like the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship.

See also

* Harvard College * Committee on Social Thought * Great Books * Political theory * Senior thesis * Tutorial system

Category:Harvard University Category:Undergraduate education in the United States Category:Social science education