Humanities course emerges as most popular elective at Harvard
A rigorous, traditional humanities course has become Harvard’s most in-demand class, signaling a shift in student interest toward deep-focus study.
Harvard University’s introductory humanities course, Hum 10, has become the most sought-after class among incoming freshmen this semester. Despite a curriculum rooted in classic Western literature and a reputation for an unforgiving workload, demand for the course has surged, with applications increasing by 40 percent this fall.
The course requires students to read one substantial text weekly, submit regular essays, and refrain from using digital assistance during lectures. With only 90 spots available for 180 applicants, the intense competition highlights a departure from the typical focus on technology and professional specialization that dominates much of higher education.
Faculty and observers attribute the rising interest to a student desire for rigorous academic challenge and a deliberate effort to combat the fragmented attention spans associated with digital media. By opting for a traditional, high-effort humanities curriculum, students appear to be seeking an intellectual anchor against current technological and societal volatility.