Regional Studies

Since the establishment of the Regional Studies Program at Harvard in 1946, the concept of a geographically defined academic discipline has become increasingly well received. The value of utilizing many fields of study to examine a large-scale culture seems to have much merit to those for whom the program is designed: people entering public service, business, journalism, and the teaching profession.

The success of the Regional Studies Program at the graduate level elicits an almost automatic question: Why shouldn't undergraduates be allowed to concentrate in Regional Studies? Many of the people most able to benefit from such a program, those who are entering public service, business, and journalism, often do not wish to take graduate training. A Ph.D. is not necessary for a career in journalism; often the public service career men enter government service directly, and those wishing to enter business usually prefer to go to business school, if they wish any graduate training at all. It would seem that undergraduate concentration in Regional Studies would be more valuable to most people than graduate work in the field.

Even those wishing to take the graduate Program would find undergraduate training in the field quite helpful. Even now, the Regional Studies people advise undergraduates to plan their programs to prepare fully for their graduate work. The most logical preparation would be concentration in the field.

The concept of a Regional Studies concentration is an intellectually justifiable one, even for the undergraduate. A comprehensive study of one culture is certainly as demanding as any traditional academic discipline. Regional Studies is closely akin to cultural geography, a subject that is becoming increasingly appreciated in America. At present, the closest an undergraduate can come to a Regional Studies concentration is that of History and Literature. This program has at least two disadvantages for the person primarily interested in one region: first, the Department stresses history and literature in contrast to the more eclectic approach of Regional Studies, and second, History and Literature offers concentration only in the countries of Western Civilization.

The present graduate Regional Studies Program has three fields: Russia, the Far East, and the Middle East. Study of the selected culture is pursued through courses in Regional Studies, History, Government, Economics, Social Relations, Anthropology, Linguistics and through courses in the language and literature of the region. Those studying Russia have the added advantage of having the facilities of the Russian Research Center to supplement their academic work.

The present three fields should be retained if an undergraduate program were instituted. The study of America should probably be added to these three. On the graduate level, America is comprehensively studied in the American Civilization Program. Other areas could be added to the undergraduate program if interest warranted.

It could be expected that those choosing concentration in regional studies would be a relatively small, above average group. The average student usually does not decide that he is primarily interested in one area and culture while an undergraduate. The Program's selectivity could be further insured by making it an honors field, choosing only sufficiently qualified applicants.

In a college with as much academic proficiency as Harvard, the establishment of a Committee on Regional Studies for the College is certainly justified. The graduate Regional Studies Program and the Russian Research Center provide an admirable base upon which to build. The program would provide a more vital, useful education for a small, interested group of students, many of whom could be of great service to the United States.