Constellation Similarity Assertions

The Department of General Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) did not officially exist until 1882. Courses in general studies were offered as early as 1865, when the MIT Catalog offered a curriculum option called the Course in Science and Literature. At that time, all regular MIT students were required to take “general studies” classes from the Course in Science and Literature, in addition to English, history, and modern languages. In 1882 the Course in Science and Literature became the Course in General Studies (designated as Course IX) and expanded its offerings in history, economics, language, and literature. The department was initially led by MIT president Francis A. Walker and later by faculty member Davis R. Dewey.

In 1904 Course IX was discontinued; however, in 1905 courses in general studies were reintroduced in the form of electives open primarily to students in their third and fourth years. In 1932 President Karl Compton set up a Division of Humanities with three departments: economics and social science, English and history, and modern languages, expanded to a School of Humanities and Social Studies in 1950.

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