AHSE! Coursework

All Olin students must complete a minimum of 28 credits of AHS and E! coursework. This total includes the four-credit AHS Foundation, four-credit E! Foundation, and twelve (or more) credits of AHS or E! Concentration coursework, which might include an AHS or E! Capstone. Students have many choices in how to complete all of their AHS and E! coursework, as shown through examples in the following table: (NOTE: please confirm your E! plan with Steve Gold)

Four (Non-exhaustive!) Options for Completing AHSE! Coursework
Foundation Student A: Large AHS Concentration and AHS Capstone Student B: Small AHS Concentration and no AHS Capstone Student C: Small AHS Concentration and AHS Capstone with some E! Student D: E! Concentration
AHS Foundation4 credits4 credits4 credits4 credits
E! Foundation4444
AHS Concentration Courses161280
E! Concentration0008
Other AHS Credits (Courses, IS, OSS...)08*4*8†
Other E! Credits004‡0
AHS Prepstone 1 0 1 0
AHS Capstone4 040
E! Capstone0004
Total AHSE 2928 2928
Total AHS (12 credits minimum)24242012
Total E!44816

Students have great flexibility in charting their AHS curriculum. AHS coursework can be used to explore other areas of interest, or can offer additional perspective upon a student’s concentration area.

Which Courses Count as AHS?

Refer to ARB for a list of the subjects and individual courses that count as AHS. Courses taken at the BBW partner schools or for transfer credit will count towards your AHS requirement so long as they are certified as AHS.

AHS Credit for Independent Studies, Research, or Olin Self-Study

Some students may choose to receive AHS credit for IS/R/OSS activities. In order to receive AHS credit, an IS/R/OSS must be supervised by an Olin AHS faculty member with relevant expertise. The process for approval of these activities for AHS credit is as follows:

  1. Forms must be submitted to the AHS chair for the “disciplinary approval” signature. They will be discussed by the entire committee.
  2. If forms arrive in the semester prior to the proposed activity, they will be discussed at the next AHS meeting after the application is received.
  3. The process is as follows for applications that arrive in the concurrent semester:
    1. All IS/OSS/Research forms must arrive to the AHS Chair by noon on the third day prior to the end of the Add period.
    2. The committee will meet that day or the next to discuss the forms, and a decision will be given to students at least two days prior to the end of the Add period.

Taking AHS Courses for Pass/No Credit (P/NC)

On occasion a student may take courses that receive Pass/No credit grades. Courses in the AHS Concentration must be taken for a grade, unless they are courses transferred in to Olin from an Away semester. AHS coursework not needed for the AHS Concentration can be taken pass/No credit.

Note about taking courses at Babson, Wellesley, and Brandeis for P/NC: Olin students must declare their intentions to take the course for P/NC per the policy at those partner schools (make sure to meet their deadlines, which may be much earlier than Olin’s deadlines).