Joint, Double, and Secondary Concentrations

Joint Concentrations

Social Studies may support joint concentrations with a range of other concentrations. However, because Social Studies is already interdisciplinary and allows a high degree of personal choice in coursework, it is highly likely that you will be able to craft a Focus Field that satisfies your interests and you may find that a Joint Concentration is unnecessary. Regardless, to pursue a Joint Concentration, you must first reach out to the Social Studies Director of Studies (DUS), Chris Rominger, to discuss your options. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We do not allow joint concentrations with the following social science departments: Anthropology, Economics, Government, History, or Sociology. 

For approved joint concentrations, Social Studies requires that we be the “primary” concentration and that the other concentration be the “allied” concentration, which means that we (Social Studies) organize the joint senior thesis process, and that joint concentrators register for Social Studies 99a and 99b their senior year instead of a 99 in their allied concentration. Joint concentrations also require that students write one thesis that fulfills the requirements of both programs – this must be worked out in agreement with the DUS (or equivalent) of both concentrations.

Joint concentrators must complete all Social Studies requirements. However, joint concentrators in Social Studies have the option of taking two Social Studies 98s (junior tutorials) or one Social Studies 98 and one 98 in their joint concentration.  

Double Concentrations

Double concentrations differ in important ways from joint concentrations. Whereas joint concentrations are aimed at facilitating the integration of a student’s academic work across two different departments, double concentrations are necessary when a student is pursuing substantially different academic work in two different departments. Joint concentrators can fulfill requirements in both departments with overlapping classes, but students pursuing a double concentration must complete the full requirements for each concentration separately with no more than two overlapping courses. Joint concentrators write one honors thesis that satisfies the requirements of both concentrations. However, double concentrators must choose to designate only one of their two concentrations as their honors concentration. Students who are Social Studies double concentrators must write a Social Studies thesis as a requirement for graduation, whether or not they designate Social Studies as their honors concentration. 

Social Studies welcomes students who are pursuing double concentrations with departments in the sciences, humanities, and Economics. However, it is not currently possible for students to pursue double concentrations with other departments with whom we share overlapping social science faculty: Anthropology, Government, History, and Sociology. In cases in which a student’s double concentration might have the potential to overlap with their Social Studies requirements, they should consider declaring a joint concentration instead. 

If you have questions about being a double concentrator with Social Studies and another department, please schedule a meeting with the Director of Studies to talk through your proposed plan of study. Our pre-concentration advisors can also answer your questions about double concentrations that include Social Studies. You can find more information about declaring a double concentration on the FAS Registrar's page on academic programs, as well as in the Student Handbook. 

Secondary Fields

Social Studies is a primary concentration only. There is no secondary field in Social Studies.

Approximately half of Social Studies concentrators declare secondary fields. Harvard College requires that your concentration and your secondary field be academically distinct. This means that only one course can be used to fulfill the requirements for both.