Focus Field Guidelines

What is a Focus Field? 

A Focus Field is a collection of four to six courses that gives shape to your work in Social Studies. The courses are usually taken in at least two of Social Studies’ constituent departments (History, Economics, Government, Anthropology, and Sociology) or allied programs (e.g., AAAS, EMR, GHHP, WGS) and should be grouped around a set of questions, shared theme, common region, and defined period. Through these courses, you deepen your understanding of social problems and issues in preparation for writing your thesis. It is important that the courses form a coherent whole. Past Focus Field titles and course-lists can be found on the Social Studies website. Examples include: “Migration and Transnationalism in Asian America,” “Technology and the Future of Work,” “State Violence and Identity in Latin America,” and “Race and Criminalization in American Education.” 
 

What courses go in a Focus Field? 

The Focus Field must include at least four letter-graded courses but can include up to six. At least one course must be listed (or cross-listed) in the Department of History (HIST). History of Science (HIST-SCI) courses cannot always fulfill this History requirement, though they may certainly be included in the focus field’s other slots. No course in your Focus Field can count for another Social Studies requirement (e.g., the economics requirement). When developing the Focus Field (see below), it is possible to include courses that are projected to be taught in your senior year, and courses that you have already taken. 

What courses do not go in a Focus Field? 

Although students often take junior tutorials (Social Studies 98) that are closely aligned with their interests, the two required junior tutorials do not count for Focus Field credit. If you take a third junior tutorial, then one of your three junior tutorials may count in your Focus Field. Methods courses (e.g., Social Studies 50 and 60), introductory courses (e.g., Phil 10), ungraded courses (e.g., HLS courses, first-year seminars), and language-instruction courses (e.g., Arabic AA) cannot be counted in Focus Fields. Courses taken at professional schools (e.g., HKS, GSD) can only count as fifth and/or sixth Focus Field courses and must be taken for a letter grade, though they will not be reflected in your concentration or college GPA. Focus Fields should include no more than one GenEd course (and ideally none). 
 

What about courses outside of Social Studies’ constituent departments and allied programs? 

Often, students will wish to count courses taken in other social-science or humanities departments. For instance, there are many courses in the Department of Philosophy or in History and Literature that could be part of a Focus Field. Work with your advisor to determine whether or not such courses should be included in the Focus Field, and if they are sufficiently (50% or greater) based on social science or social theory. It may be necessary to include a syllabus with your Focus Field form to determine if a course will count. But you do not need to submit a syllabus for any course taught in our five overlapping disciplines (anthropology, economics, government, history, or sociology). 
 

How does a Focus Field relate to the thesis? 

The relation between a Focus Field and the thesis takes the shape of a funnel: the Focus Field is the wide part of the funnel while the thesis is the narrow part. In other words, the thesis represents a deeper dive into one aspect of the Focus Field.  
 

How do I develop my Focus Field? 

Beginning in October, you will meet with your academic advisor to discuss your Focus Field and course planning for next semester. You will build a Focus Field based on courses you have already taken and plan to take. It is important to give your Focus Field a meaningful name that reflects the coherence and scope of your interests. You will also write a descriptive paragraph that summarizes the themes, topics, and questions that interest you. After obtaining your academic advisor’s signature, you will submit your Focus Field via the junior-year Canvas website by October 17. After a review process, the Social Studies Board of Instruction will either approve your Focus Field or request revisions to your title, descriptive paragraph, or course selection. Your junior-year Focus Field is provisional, and you will revise it during your senior-year fall.  
 

What if I study abroad? 

Great! You can count up to two courses taken abroad towards your Focus Field. When meeting with the ADUS to discuss study abroad, you should discuss what courses you hope to count for Focus Field credit. You may need to include syllabi for courses taken abroad that are not in social science departments.  
 

What if my interests change between junior and senior year? 

This is perfectly normal—and it is why we ask students to submit a final, revised Focus Field form in the senior year. Whether your interests change in small or big ways between junior and senior year, you can update your Focus Field title, paragraph, and course list up until that final version is submitted. When revising your Focus Field, keep the relation between it and your thesis in mind.