A concentration within the College
Harvard says students choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Philosophy.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Philosophy: rigorous argument, with no prior philosophy needed
Harvard College admits students to the College, and Philosophy is one of the concentrations they can choose once enrolled. Harvard describes a subject that reflects on fundamental questions in a systematic, explicit and rigorous way, and its department says most students have never taken a formal philosophy class before arriving. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to Philosophy.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Philosophy
Taken from Harvard's Department of Philosophy undergraduate welcome 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.
No prior philosophy expected
The department says most students in its classes have never taken a formal philosophy class before coming to Harvard.
Courses can be taken in any sensible order
Very few courses have explicit prerequisites, so students sequence them to their interests.
Writing and reading as skills
Introductory courses teach how to write philosophy papers and read philosophical texts, with feedback in intermediate courses.
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 Philosophy: welcome to undergraduatesphilosophy.fas.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Harvard's Department of Philosophy undergraduate welcome 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 Philosophy concentration teaches
Harvard's concentrations page says philosophy studies humanity's fundamental questions and seeks to reflect on them in a systematic, explicit and rigorous way, drawing on fields such as economics, literature, religion, law and mathematics. The department's page says introductory courses, numbered 1 to 90, teach both the topic and the skills of writing philosophy papers and reading philosophical texts, while intermediate courses, numbered 100 to 199, are more focused but usually presuppose no particular content knowledge. Proseminars are open to all undergraduates. This guide does not list the full requirements.
Is it the right concentration?
Philosophy beside Social Studies and Psychology
Harvard lists these as separate concentrations, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Philosophy fits if
you want to argue carefully about ethics, knowledge, language and mind, and write a lot about them.
Social Studies fits if
you want social theory across several disciplines. Avandy's Harvard Social Studies guide covers it.
Psychology fits if
you want empirical study of the mind. Avandy's Harvard Psychology guide covers it.
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 enjoy building and testing arguments?
The introductory courses focus on the skills of philosophical writing and reading.
Are you comfortable arriving without formal philosophy?
The department says most students do.
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 Philosophy 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 Philosophy?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once enrolled.
Do I need to have studied philosophy?
No. The department says most students in its classes have never taken a formal philosophy class before coming to Harvard.
Do courses have prerequisites?
The department says very few courses have explicit prerequisites.
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 Philosophy
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their essay-writing and mathematics subjects, their interest in argument and logic 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.