School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

MIT graduate programs earn top marks from US News

Graduate engineering and economics programs are No. 1 in the nation; MIT Sloan is No. 4.

March 14, 2017

MIT professors Maria Yang (left), Caspar Hare (center), and Scott Hughes have been named 2017 MacVicar Fellows.

Three professors named 2017 MacVicar Fellows

Hare, Hughes, and Yang receive the Institute’s highest undergraduate teaching award.

March 13, 2017

$“We have a fractured society,” says MIT professor Peter Temin. “The middle class is vanishing.” His new book, “The Vanishing Middle Class: Prejudice and Power in a Dual Economy,” is being published this month by MIT Press.$

America’s two-track economy

Economist’s new book examines decline of the nation’s middle class.

March 13, 2017

"Over the last 15 years, Muslim and South Asian Americans have been told that they are outsiders and newcomers to the United States," says MIT Associate Professor Vivek Bald, winner of the 2017 Levitan Prize. "One of the central goals of the Bengali Harlem project from the beginning — and this has become more important over time — is to demonstrate the longstanding presence of Muslims in the U...

Vivek Bald awarded Levitan Prize in the Humanities, named Whiting Public Engagement Fellow

Both awards support Bald's research-based media projects on South Asian American communities.

March 10, 2017

MIT professor Shigeru Miyagawa’s new book — “Agreement Beyond Phi,” out today from the MIT Press — explores the unexpected structural similarities among languages.

Global agreements

In new book, MIT linguist expands the horizons of language analysis.

March 10, 2017

“I’m really loving MIT so far,” MIT philosophy Associate Professor Tamar Schapiro says. “The philosophy department here has a reputation as being the friendliest in the country, and it’s really true. People enjoy it, and that creates a virtuous cycle.”

“What we’re doing when we try to live our lives well”

Philosopher Tamar Schapiro studies how we blend reason and emotion while refining our adult selves.

March 9, 2017

Eran Ben-Joseph is the new faculty advisor of the MIT-Israel Program.

MIT-Israel welcomes new faculty advisor

Professor Eran Ben-Joseph joins Christine Ortiz as co-director of MISTI’s Israel program.

March 8, 2017

MIT rates No. 1 in 12 subjects in 2017 QS World University Rankings

MIT ranked within the top 5 for 19 of 46 subject areas.

March 8, 2017

Planned in secret over a year and a half to mark David Pesetsky's 60th birthday, a surprise celebration featured panel discussions on two linguistics topics of keen interest to Pesetsky — case and wh-questions — and was rounded out with poster sessions and a celebratory dinner.

David Pesetsky honored by MIT Linguistics colleagues and alumni

Surprise gathering and "Festschrift" salute Pesetsky's research, influence, and teaching in linguistics.

March 6, 2017

"This initiative is something that is right at the heart of what MIT stands for," said Professor Thomas Kochan, moderator for the launch event of a new project known as Mens et Manus America. "We believe in solving important problems, contributing collectively wherever we can."

Mens et Manus America initiative launches with documentary event

Over 200 students and faculty attend kickoff as SHASS and Sloan begin an exploration of current U.S. social, political, economic challenges.

March 3, 2017

The power of perceptions

Study shows how information sources affect voters.

February 28, 2017

"One of the principal ways historians contribute to problem-solving work at MIT and elsewhere is by helping to identify what the real problem is in the first place," says Malick Ghachem, an MIT professor of history. "When we understand and articulate the roots and sources of a problem, we have a much better chance of actually solving it."

3 Questions: How history helps us solve today's issues

Professor Malick Ghachem discusses how historians contribute to problem-solving by identifying the roots and sources of a problem.

February 28, 2017

“I fell in love with physics,” says senior Zachary Hulcher. “I appreciate light bouncing off a mirror, and smoke billowing up, and light going through it in a different way. … The small things I took for granted when I didn’t understand them, I appreciate now. Everything is just a little prettier.”

From football to physics

Zachary Hulcher, Marshall Scholar and offensive lineman, will study high-energy physics in the U.K.

February 27, 2017

“The best part of being on the show has definitely been the great outpouring of support the MIT community has given me,” says senior Lilly Chin, the newly crowned “Jeopardy!” College Champion.

MIT senior Lilly Chin wins “Jeopardy!” College Championship

Chin takes the $100,000 grand prize, surpassing 14 on-air contestants and thousands of applicants from colleges around the U.S.

February 24, 2017

Jacob Collier performed "Imagination Off the Charts" at MIT's Kresge Auditorium.

Jacob Collier harmonizes with MIT

For his MIT residency, the Grammy-winning artist collaborates with over 150 student musicians to stage the monumental concert, "Imagination Off the Charts."