Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University

Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University
Name	Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Established	1872
Dean	Hopi Hoekstra
Parent	Harvard University
Website	https://fas.harvard.edu/

Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the largest academic division within Harvard University, responsible for undergraduate education in Harvard College and graduate programs in the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. It encompasses a vast array of departments, from the Humanities and Social Sciences to the Natural Sciences, fostering interdisciplinary research at centers like the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Institute for Quantitative Social Science. Led by Dean Hopi Hoekstra, the FAS is central to Harvard's mission, shaping the intellectual life of the university through its renowned faculty, groundbreaking scholarship, and commitment to liberal arts education.

History

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences was formally established in 1872 under President Charles William Eliot, as part of his transformative reforms that introduced the elective system and modernized the American university model. This reorganization consolidated instruction for Harvard College and nascent graduate studies, distinct from the professional schools like Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School. Key developments included the 1890 founding of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the 1905 creation of the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, precursor to the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The 20th century saw expansion into new fields, including the establishment of the Society of Fellows by Lawrence Joseph Henderson and the growth of research laboratories during the tenure of President James Bryant Conant. The later incorporation of Radcliffe College's academic programs further integrated women's education into the FAS.

Organization and structure

The FAS is led by a Dean, currently evolutionary biologist Hopi Hoekstra, who reports to the President of Harvard University and the Harvard Corporation. Its academic structure is divided into four primary divisions: the Humanities Division, the Social Science Division, the Science Division, and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Administrative and student life functions are managed by units such as the Harvard College Dean's Office, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Harvard Summer School. Governance involves faculty votes in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Harvard) meetings and committees like the Educational Policy Committee, while resources are overseen by the FAS Dean's Office and the Harvard Library.

Academic programs

The FAS administers the undergraduate curriculum for Harvard College, centered on the Program in General Education and concentration requirements across over 50 fields, from Physics and Molecular and Cellular Biology to History and Economics. Graduate education is managed by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, offering Ph.D. and master's degrees in disciplines like Astronomy, Government, and Comparative Literature. Interdisciplinary programs are a hallmark, including History and Literature, Social Studies, and the Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative. The division also runs the Harvard Summer School and Harvard Extension School, providing continuing education opportunities.

Faculty and research

The FAS faculty includes Nobel laureates such as Oliver Hart, Martin Karplus, and Claudia Goldin, alongside Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the National Academy of Sciences. Research is conducted within academic departments and a network of interdisciplinary institutes, including the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Center for European Studies. Major initiatives are supported by centers like the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, and the Harvard University Center for the Environment. Faculty scholarship frequently receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and private endowments.

Notable alumni and faculty

Distinguished alumni from the college and graduate school include U.S. Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy, as well as figures like Henry David Thoreau, Helen Keller, and Natalie Portman. Influential faculty have spanned eras, from philosophers William James and George Santayana to scientists E. O. Wilson and Stephen Jay Gould. More recent notable scholars include literary critic Helen Vendler, physicist Lisa Randall, and economist Amartya Sen. The faculty's impact is also seen through former deans like Henry Rosovsky and Jeremy R. Knowles.

Campus and facilities

The FAS is primarily housed in Harvard's Cambridge, Massachusetts campus, with key instructional and residential buildings including University Hall, Memorial Hall, and the Harvard Yard dormitories. Major science facilities are located in the Northwest Science Building, the Harvard Science Center, and the Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering. Libraries such as the Widener Library, the Houghton Library, and the Cabot Science Library serve as crucial research hubs. The division also utilizes specialized sites like the Harvard Forest for environmental research and the Harvard College Observatory for astronomical studies.

Category:Harvard University Category:Arts and sciences colleges in the United States