Concentration Requirements
Social Studies 10
Social Studies 98
Thematic Courses
Social Studies 99
Economics
Statistics & Quantitative Reasoning
Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Related Courses
Senior Oral Examinations
Courses that Automatically Count in Social Studies
ADMISSIONS AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Sophomore admissions to Social Studies takes place during the fall semester. Sophomores who are considering applying to Social Studies must be enrolled in Social Studies 10a, as enrollment in that course is a prerequisite to applying for the concentration. In 2009-2010, applications will be due on October 23rd by 5pm.
Students applying to Social Studies will be asked to list the courses they have taken and the grades they have received thus far at Harvard, and to write a one-page statement describing an interdisciplinary focus field that they may want to pursue in Social Studies. Applicants will also be asked to turn in a 5-10 page writing sample from a social science, history, or philosophy course other than Social Studies 10.
Social Studies will also accept applications from second semester sophomores, including new transfer students, at the beginning of the spring term, for immediate admission. Students who are admitted in the spring term will take Social Studies 10 and 98 concurrently during their junior year.
Finally, Social Studies will accept applications from first semester juniors at the beginning of the fall term, for immediate admission. Juniors who are admitted in the fall term will also take Social Studies 10 and 98 concurrently.
Students must spend a minimum of four terms in residence in Social Studies. Students who enter Social Studies in their junior year may not study abroad, as they will need to take both Social Studies 10 and 98 during that year. Students also may not study abroad during their sophomore year when they are taking Social Studies 10 or during their senior year when they are writing their senior theses. We do, however, encourage study abroad for one term during the junior year, as long as the student has completed Social Studies 10.
Application forms are available on the Social Studies website, www.socialstudies.fas.harvard.edu. Completed applications must be turned into the Social Studies office; we do not accept emailed applications.