Does Harvard have a dual degree international relations/business program, similar to the Huntsman program at Penn? I’m interested in politics and foreign policy, as well as investment banking, so are there any other degrees or programs at Harvard that suit these interests?
Thanks in advance.
Harvard doesn’t have an undergrad IR program. IR is a subfield in the Government Dept. Appropriate cognate courses for someone interested in IR are offered in several departments. Harvard also doesn’t offer an undergraduate business program. The extensive course offerings of the Economics Department include several that are relevant to finance.
So if I were interested in investment banking, would an Econ degree by my only option? What degree should someone with an IR interest get from the college?
Applied Math/Economics/Political Science: http://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-Ivy-League-schools-only-Cornell-and-Wharton-do-and-Stanford-not-have-an-undergraduate-business-major
“So if I were interested in investment banking, would an Econ degree by my only option? What degree should someone with an IR interest get from the college?”
OP, your question makes it sound as though the Harvard econ degree isn’t relevant to investment banking. Look at the economics course offerings—there are several that very relevant. Though many of Harvard’s many closet business admin majors do major in economics, others major in a variety of fields and still investment banks hire them. Many students who want to work in investment banking or other areas of business, pursue an MBA, but the better graduate business programs usually prefer applicants who have at least a couple years of relevant work experience. If you want an undergrad major specifically in finance, then you should apply to a school that offers it.
Most students with an IR probably will major in government, but some will choose economics. Still others will concentrate in history or a foreign language, especially if they have an interest in a particular country or region. Many students who plan an IR career will pursue a master’s degree at a professional school in the field.
A friend of my children went into investment banking from Harvard with a concentration in History and a secondary concentration in Fine Arts (painting). Excellent analytic and communication skills are essential for getting an investment banking job; a business major isn’t.
I read this article and thought it might be an interesting read for all those kids thinking of going into banking: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-06/for-harvard-mbas-congrats-on-a-bank-job-really-means-i-m-sorry-