<p>While I realize that MIT is well-respected outside of science and engineering (i.e. business, etc), I was wondering how engineering, science, or architecture majors felt about courses that fall outside of their regular curriculum. I have heard that some tech schools merely offer "English for Engineers." I liked MIT when I visited, but I want to make sure I can still get a broad-based education there outside of what will probably be a science major. How are the humanities, social sciences, and history classes that are offered that science majors take to fulfill the core?</p>
<p>I took several good humanities classes that fulfilled my institute requirements (it was several years ago, so my recollection of the names is a bit iffy) </p>
<p>"Great Books"
"Social Psychology"
"Japanese History"
"Creative Writing"</p>
<p>I also took a few at Harvard (free cross registration and only a few minutes away by bus, subway or bike)</p>
<p>"Renaissance Art"
"Chinese Language 2,3,4"</p>
<p>Between MIT and Harvard, the entire spectrum of humanities classes is there for you. All of the humanities classes I took were small group classes led by a professor with lots of interaction and discussion.</p>
<p>You know, there aren't really very many (if any) classes in most of the humanities, arts, and social sciences departments that are taken only by majors in the departments -- that is to say, there's not an easier track for engineers and scientists and a more serious track for people who want to major or minor. I concentrated in anthropology, and I was in class with two anthropology majors (one of whom was the only anthropology major my year!).</p>
<p>Different people have different attitudes about humanities classes. Some are really just scientists and engineers grinding through the easiest humanities classes they can find to fulfill the requirement. Others enjoy the classes, and some enjoy the classes so much they pick up a second major or a minor in a humanities field. </p>
<p>Personally, I enjoyed my humanities classes, and took class selection very seriously. (My fiance was in the "which class has the least homework -- that's my pick" camp.) I took a variety of really interesting classes, and probably most importantly, was helped to improve my writing quite a bit.</p>