A concentration within the College
Harvard says students choose a concentration, its word for a major. The pages read describe no separate application to Social Studies.
Undergraduate · Harvard College
Harvard Social Studies: interdisciplinary social science with a senior thesis
Harvard College admits students to the College, and Social Studies is one of the concentrations they can choose once enrolled. Harvard describes an interdisciplinary concentration in the social sciences that begins with a social theory tutorial, lets students design their own focus field and ends with a senior thesis. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to Social Studies.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Harvard says about Harvard Social Studies
Taken from Harvard's Social Studies academics 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.
A social theory tutorial in the sophomore year
Students start with Social Studies 10, a year-long course in social theory.
A focus field you design
With an advisor, students create an individualised focus field drawing on courses across the social sciences.
A senior thesis
Harvard says students devote their senior year to a thesis that is a capstone and a major independent project.
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 Social Studies: academicssocialstudies.fas.harvard.edu
- Harvard College: Application Requirementscollege.harvard.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Harvard's Social Studies academics 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 Social Studies concentration teaches
Harvard says Social Studies was founded in 1960 on the belief that studying the social world needs history, political science, economics, sociology and anthropology integrated. Students begin with Social Studies 10, a year-long course in social theory serving as the sophomore tutorial, develop a background in economics, statistics and the philosophy and methods of the social sciences, and then create an individualised focus field with their advisor. The senior year is given to a thesis. This guide does not list the full requirements.
Is it the right concentration?
Social Studies beside Economics and Government
Harvard lists these as separate concentrations, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Social Studies fits if
you want social theory and a self-designed focus across several disciplines.
Economics fits if
you want one discipline in depth. Avandy's Harvard Economics guide covers it.
Government fits if
your interest is politics specifically. Avandy's Harvard Government 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 want to design your own focus field?
Social Studies asks students to create one with their advisor.
Are you ready for a senior-year thesis?
Harvard says it is the capstone.
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 Social Studies 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 Social Studies?
The pages read describe admission to Harvard College. Students choose a concentration, Harvard's word for a major, once enrolled.
Is there a thesis?
Yes. Harvard says Social Studies students devote their senior year to writing one.
Do I need economics before arriving?
No. Harvard says first-year students considering Social Studies may take Economics 10, 50 or an upper-level course, and that calculus is not required for admission.
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 Social Studies
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their essay-writing subjects, their interest in social theory 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.