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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Social Studies students study abroad?

Yes, Social Studies strongly encourages study abroad. Many Social Studies juniors use a term abroad to find a thesis topic and even to conduct preliminary research. However, Social Studies concentrators can generally only study abroad for one term during their junior year, as they will need their other term to prepare for their senior thesis while in residence at Harvard. Social Studies students cannot go abroad during their sophomore year (when they are...

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If I decide that I do not want to write a senior thesis, what are my options?

To receive a degree recommendation from Social Studies, a student must write an acceptable senior thesis (one that receives a passing grade as the average of its two evaluations) and take the oral thesis defense and general examinations that follow.

If you have any doubts about your desire or ability to write a senior thesis, please speak to your advisor and the Director of Studies. If you decide not to write a thesis, you must transfer to another concentration and fulfill its requirements in order to graduate.

How will Social Studies calculate and decide upon my honors recommendation?

A student’s class rank is based on a calculation weighted as follows: the grade average in all concentration courses (all Social Studies requirements, all courses in the social sciences or history, and all courses in the student’s plan of study) x 50; the senior thesis x 35; the oral defense of the senior thesis x 5; and the oral general examination x 10. The total is then divided by 100 to determine the final average.

Honors recommendations are based on an overall score as well as scores in each of the three areas (courses, thesis grades, and oral examinations) that factor...

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Is Social Studies able to count final term grades in the calculation of honors?

Final term course grades are not available in time to be considered by Social Studies in honors calculations. The Committee votes on a recommendation for each student based on seven semesters of grades and then forwards its recommendation to the College. By the time that the College votes on these recommendations, the final term course grades are available.

Will my honors recommendation from Social Studies be accepted by Harvard College?

The Faculty of Harvard College cannot raise a student’s recommendation above that which is determined by the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies, but it can lower the recommendation when the student fails to meet college-wide cut-offs set by the Faculty. Harvard College limits the number of students graduating summa cum laude to 5% of the class, magna cum laude to 15% of the class, and cum laude to 30% of the class.