Harvard is hard to get into. More like HARDvard, am I right?? Sorry. Anyways, you’re thinking about applying to Harvard and you want to find anywhere and everywhere you can to get ahead on your application. One of the ways you can do this is by familiarizing yourself with programs, labs, and research opportunities that fit into your personal niche. We’ve rounded up some of the most interesting majors and minors… uh… we mean “concentrations” and “secondary fields,” at Harvard to help you along with your research and eventual essay prep. Anyways, here’s a list of some of the coolest concentrations (sigh), secondary fields (eye roll), and other programs at Harvard
Folklore & Mythology
Offered as both a concentration and a secondary field (ugh, you know how we feel about that), Folklore & Mythology dives into the deep tradition of storytelling and sharing of cultures. It was founded in 1967 and according to them, is the oldest degree of its kind on the topic. They also claim “most graduates of the program go on to successful careers in medicine, law, business, journalism,” etc. Class topics range from modern to ancient, niche to theoretical. They even have a class on tattoos!
Educational Studies
A lot of Ivies don’t offer degrees in Education, and Harvard is no exception. This is a secondary field meant to add to your existing concentration to prepare you for a future as a K-12 educator. You can also focus on educational subtopics, like social stratification, literacy, childhood, and adolescence, or policy.
Dual Degree Music Programs
Okay, we think this is one of the coolest programs at Harvard, especially for musicians. The Dual Degree Music Program is 5 years long, and you get your B.A. from Harvard and a master’s degree from either New England Conservatory or Berklee. Sick. While doing academic work at Harvard, you head to either music school to take private lessons and hone your skill.
Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Located within the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, HDRB “educates students on how human beings develop from a fertilized egg, are maintained and repaired throughout adulthood, and age till life’s end.” Seems straightforward! What’s cool about this is Harvard’s stem cell and regenerative biology department is one of the best in the world, and as an undergraduate you’ll be able to work on research that is typically reserved for med school students.
Joint Concentrations
So you can’t double major at Harvard, because they don’t have “majors” and they also have to have everything be their own special thing. According to them, their totally unique joint concentrations are “a combined pursuit in which the student develops a program that integrates two fields in a coherent plan of study.” Sounds like a double major to me. But, snark aside, this would be really beneficial for students looking to add some oomph to their primary major or looking to add some more interdisciplinary action into the mix.
Mind, Brain, Behavior
MBB is another secondary field that encompasses both the socio-cultural and scientific sides of psychology into one program. MBB is added to concentrations by students from across the University, due to its super broad and multidisciplinary mission. You can take classes on everything from AI to political polarization to “Imagination, Pretense, and Make-Believe Worlds.” Incredibly cool.
Celtic Languages and Literature
Covering everything from modern Celtic culture to its roots in the Medieval era, this secondary field is allllll about the Celts. Focuses include Celtic cultures, mythology, languages, and literature of Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. Two of the required courses are called Songs of the Highlander and Irish Heroic Saga. Sounds pretty badass, tbh.
Harvard Forest
It’s literally a forest. Have you ever wanted to be a tiny frog under a giant mushroom top? Perhaps like this?
Well, you probably can’t do that at Harvard Forest because we just don’t have the technology yet. But you can study things like environmental justice and conservancy and bugs and trees and soil. In an actual forest! Harvard Forest!
There you have it – eight of the most unique and interesting programs Harvard has to offer. But remember, what’s interesting to us might not be interesting to you. If you’re trying to find things that fit into the niche you’ve carefully developed over high school, take a dive into Harvard’s website and see what sticks out to you. While Harvard doesn’t have a traditional “Why Harvard,” essay, it’s good to see if Harvard is the right fit for you academically and culturally.
If you’re thinking about applying to Harvard and are getting stuck or overwhelmed by the process, feel free to reach out to us today. Our counselors have helped countless students with Harvard applications and know the process inside and out.