A concentration within the College
Harvard says students choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Anthropology.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Anthropology: archaeology and social anthropology under one concentration
Harvard College admits students to the College, and Anthropology is one of the concentrations they can choose once enrolled. Harvard defines anthropology as the study of human diversity in the distant past and the present and lists gateway courses in both archaeology and social anthropology, including ethnographic research methods. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to Anthropology.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Anthropology
Taken from Harvard's Department of Anthropology undergraduate program page, Harvard College's Concentrations page and Application Requirements page, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Harvard's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Past and present human diversity
Harvard defines anthropology as the study of human diversity in the distant past and the present.
Two families of gateway courses
Harvard lists gateway courses under Archaeology and under Social Anthropology, including Anthro 1610, Ethnographic Research Methods.
Careers across many fields
The department says its alumni pursue careers in over 50 different fields.
Calculus is not an admission requirement
Harvard says it views math records holistically with no specific course required, and calculus is not required for admission.
The SAT or ACT is required
Harvard requires one of them; A-level and IB school reports carry predicted grades.
Official sources
- Harvard College: Concentrations (Liberal Arts & Sciences)college.harvard.edu
- Harvard Department of Anthropology: undergraduate programanthropology.fas.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Harvard's Department of Anthropology undergraduate program page, Harvard College's Concentrations page and Application Requirements page, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Harvard's course catalogue, the full requirement lists, fees, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The concentration
What the Anthropology concentration teaches
Harvard's concentrations page defines anthropology as the study of human diversity in the distant past and the present and says it prepares students to address global concerns through a contextualised study of society, culture and civilisation. It lists gateway courses under Archaeology and under Social Anthropology, from deep-history and archaeology courses to ethnographic research methods, and the department's pages cover concentration requirements, a joint concentration and secondary fields. The department says its alumni pursue careers in over 50 different fields.
Is it the right concentration?
Anthropology beside Social Studies and History and Literature
Harvard lists these as separate concentrations, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Anthropology fits if
you want to study societies and past peoples through archaeology or ethnography.
Social Studies fits if
you want social theory across disciplines. Avandy's Harvard Social Studies guide covers it.
History and Literature fits if
you want primary sources and tutorials across history and literature. Harvard lists it as a separate concentration.
Admission and testing
A College application, an SAT or ACT, and predicted grades
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and accepts other results such as the IB or A levels only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible. Schools on the IB or A-level curriculum are expected to send predicted grades. Harvard says calculus is not required for admission and no specific math course is required. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Harvard's.
Do you prefer excavation and material evidence or fieldwork among living communities?
Harvard lists gateway courses under both Archaeology and Social Anthropology.
Are you comfortable with methods courses?
Harvard lists Anthro 1610, Ethnographic Research Methods, among the Social Anthropology gateways.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Harvard requires one of them for first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Harvard's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Harvard's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Harvard has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Harvard for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Anthropology entry on Harvard's concentrations page and the department page, and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Harvard College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Harvard College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Harvard Anthropology?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once enrolled.
What does Harvard say anthropology studies?
Harvard defines anthropology as the study of human diversity in the distant past and the present.
What kinds of gateway courses does Harvard list?
Harvard lists gateway courses under Archaeology and Social Anthropology, including Anthro 1610, Ethnographic Research Methods.
Do I need calculus before applying?
Harvard says calculus is not a requirement for admission and that no specific math course is required.
Do I need the SAT or ACT with A levels or the IB?
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT; IB or A-level results meet the requirement only in exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Harvard's wording with no entry-year label. Check Harvard's pages again when Harvard publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Harvard Anthropology
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in archaeology, social anthropology and fieldwork, and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.