Social Studies at 50
In the spring of 1968, Amy Gutmann ’71, Ph.D. ’76, changed her college major, in what proved to be a “life-changing decision.” “Majoring in math had lost its luster for me. It was just too otherworldly,” she told an audience gathered in Science Center B on Saturday (Sept. 25). After some deliberation, she applied to enter Harvard’s newest and “consummately worldly” concentration: social studies. Now president of the University of Pennsylvania and Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Gutmann delivered the annual Navin Narayan Memorial Lecture at Harvard Committee on Degrees in Social Studies’ 50th anniversary celebration. Introduced by Harvard President Drew Faust, Gutmann spoke about the lasting impact of her undergraduate education. “Over the course of my career, I’ve taken what is unique about social studies to heart. Uniting political theory, empirical evidence, and history, this interdisciplinary perspective has influenced my teaching, … my scholarship, and my leadership,” she said. In fact, Gutmann...