Social Studies
Robert Wolff ’53-’54, Social Studies’ Last Founding Father, Remembered as a Public-Spirited Philosopher
Robert P. Wolff ’53-’54, a political philosopher and activist who was the last surviving co-founder of Harvard’s Social Studies concentration, died in January at 91.
Students, Faculty Call for Urban Studies Secondary Field at Harvard
A group of undergraduates and faculty are calling on Harvard to establish a secondary field in urban studies, citing widespread interest in the field among students.
Longtime Harvard Social Studies Director Anya Bassett Remembered As ‘Greatest Mentor’
Anya E. B. Bassett, Harvard’s longtime director of undergraduate studies for Social Studies, died suddenly on Aug. 13. She was 56.
Filipino Languages Preceptor Position Endowed by Nephew of Former Dictator Ferdinand Marcos
Martin G. Romualdez, the speaker of the Filipino House of Representatives and a nephew of the former Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has committed $2 million to endow the Filipino (Tagalog) preceptor position at Harvard, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Ruth Okediji Named Faculty Director of the Center for African Studies
Harvard Law School professor Ruth L. Okediji will serve as the faculty director of the University’s Center for African Studies, the center announced earlier this month.
Kenzie Bok ’11 Talks Path from Harvard Student and Teacher to City Councilor
In an interview with The Crimson, Kenzie Bok ’11 described the formative influence of her time at Harvard — both as a student and lecturer — on her career, including both her policy and her political philosophy.
Experts Discusses Poland and Germany’s Response to Ukrainian Refugees at Harvard Davis Center Panel
Sociologists and other experts discussed how Ukrainian refugees have been received by neighboring European countries in a panel hosted by Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies on Monday.
‘Steering Your Own Ship’: Committee Concentrations Forge Unique Paths for Students and Faculty
In addition to the full departments under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, 10 nondepartmental degree programs overseen by Standing Committees of the FAS offer undergraduate concentrations. Both faculty on these committees and students under these concentrations acknowledge the unique characteristics of pursuing one’s studies under such an administration.
Some Departments Delay Senior Thesis Deadlines Due to Covid-19 Disruptions
In light of challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, some academic departments extended deadlines for College seniors to submit their theses this spring.
Economics Remains Most Popular Concentration for Class of 2023
Economics remained the most popular concentration for the Class of 2023, with 186 declared sophomores. Computer Science and Government also retained the second and third spots, with 120 and 111 declared sophomore concentrators, respectively.
President-elect Joe Biden Nominates Harvard Affiliates to Top Executive Positions
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has appointed several Harvard affiliates to serve on his cabinet, including former assistant professor Janet L. Yellen, Harvard College alumni Antony J. Blinken ’84, Vivek H. Murthy ’98, and Medical School professor Rochelle P. Walensky.
Harvard Government Professor Carpenter Calls for Federal Job Guarantee in White Paper
Government professor Daniel P. Carpenter called for a "new New Deal" to jumpstart the American economy in a white paper published in late April.
Why I Declared 2019: Social Sciences
To get some perspective on concentration declaration, we asked Flyby sophomores studying the social sciences why they declared.
Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer Discusses Award-Winning Work with Harvard Students
Economics Professor and 2019 Nobel Laureate Michael R. Kremer ’85 shared insights into his personal journey as an economist with Harvard students during an event Tuesday afternoon at the Smith Campus Center.
Gov. Students Discuss Recent Survey, How to Move Forward at Post-Dominguez Town Halls
Government students discussed department culture, course offerings, and responses to allegations of sexual misconduct against Government Professor Emeritus Jorge I. Dominguez at consecutive town halls Friday.
A Third of Female Harvard Gov Students Report Limitations Due to Gender
Roughly a third of female respondents to a Government Department climate survey reported that their work or study within the department was “limited” by their gender, according to a report released Wednesday.
Winthrop Dean Sullivan Defends Fryer, Criticizes Harvard Investigation
Winthrop House Faculty Dean Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr. sharply criticized Harvard’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against Economics Professor Roland G. Fryer, Jr. in a Jan. 29 RealClearInvestigations article that identifies him multiple times as Fryer’s lawyer.
Devah Pager, Harvard Sociology Professor and Pioneer, Dies at 46
Harvard Sociology Professor Devah I. Pager, a groundbreaking researcher, advisor, teacher, and mother beloved by her students and family, died on Nov. 2. She was 46 years old.
‘A Leader of Growing Stature in the Art World’: Sarah Lewis Makes Her Mark
Lewis holds a joint assistant professorship in the Department of History of Art and Architecture and the Department of African and African American Studies.
As Social Studies Juniors Begin Thesis Process, Some Have Second Thoughts
Faculty and staff say that the Social Studies’ mandatory thesis is an intense project that likely requires summer research, though some upperclassmen worry about lost opportunities during their junior summer.
Symposium Brings Together Experts on Inequality
Professors and researchers from across the country delivered interdisciplinary talks on problems of inequality at the first-ever Inequality in America Symposium, held at Loeb House on Friday.
More than 100 Harvard Faculty Signed Petition to Support Strike
Over the past several weeks, Harvard faculty have shown their support for striking dining hall workers, bringing their classes to the picket lines and signing a petition calling on Harvard to reach an agreement with its employees.
Advising Fortnight
Kate Brady ’19 makes conversation with a Social Studies concentration adviser at the Social Studies Ice Cream Social Tuesday afternoon. The event was one of the many events being hosted by all 49 concentrations as part of Advising Fortnight, a two-week period of events, panels, and office hours intended to help freshmen discover more about their possible future concentrations.
William James Hall
The social studies department, located in William James Hall, has been criticized by those looking to study non-Western perspectives.
Dominance of Western Perspectives Troubles the Social Sciences
American and Western European foci and schools of thought continue to dominate social science fields at Harvard, frustrating some students and faculty even as other perspectives and methods grow.
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