<p>I'm a rising freshman and while I was doing some research on possible concentrations I realized that Harvard discourages joint concentrations. So much so that some departments (namely, the Econ department) basically do not permit joint concentrations. I would appreciate it if some current students could shed some light on possible joint concentrations and whether it is a good idea to try and pursue a joint concentration in Econ and Math.</p>
<p>Harvard doesn’t discourage joint concentrations, exactly; I know many students here with them. Honestly there just isn’t that much reason to pursue one, because every joint concentration requires a thesis and most classes aren’t limited just to concentrators in a particular field. You could concentrate in Econ and take a bunch of Math courses as electives, for instance. According to the Student Handbook ([Table</a> of Contents](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/]Table”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/)), it’s also not impossible to get a joint in Econ, just rare: as of December 2008, there were 742 Econ-only concentrators and 25 Econ-and-something-else concentrators. If you can give your advisor and the respective departments a particularly compelling reason why you should joint in Econ and Math, it’s probably doable. You might also be able to create a special concentration in Mathematical Economics or something. I’m not a math or econ person at all so I don’t know how picky the Econ department is about these things.</p>
<p>As for other possibilities, go to the link I provided and click on any department to see if they permit joint concentrations.</p>
<p>Wait, is joint concentration the same as a double major or are they different, because I’m planning on double majoring in economics and math, so is that discouraged/rare at Harvard?</p>
<p>There’s no opportunity to double major at Harvard, you just wouldn’t have enough time to do concentration requirements, gen ed requirements, freshman requirements and graduate in eight semesters. Joint concentrations are the way to go, and since ec doesn’t allow for joint concentrators, your best bet is concentrating in one and getting a secondary field (minor) in the other, or you could do applied mathematics which mimics pretty well what could come from a joint concentration in economics and math.</p>
<p>^Yes. Consider Applied Math with an Econ focus. The Applied Math concentration allows you to pick such a “focus.”</p>
<p>But if you have a joint concentration, would you get a degree in each one, such as a B.S. in Economics and B.S. in Math like at most universities, or would you get a single degree in Econ/Math?</p>
<p>You don’t get double degrees at most schools just for double majoring. You get one degree with two majors (unless, that is, you satisfy the requirements for different degrees, like a BA and a BS, or a BA and an MA, but that’s different from just double majoring). At Harvard, I think you get one degree for one concentration, but it’s a joint concentration.</p>
<p>As prosciutto points out, the Economics Department clearly permits joint concentrations, just not many of them. Ditto with the Math Department. The Applied Math Department does NOT permit joint concentrations, because of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of applied math, but there is a special joint advisory structure with the Econ Department for Applied Math concentrators who are focused on Economics.</p>
<p>You really, really don’t need to double-major, or even do a joint concentration.</p>
<p>Why don’t you exercise a little humility? Harvard is one of the greatest educational institutions in the world, and its graduates are respected everywhere. This is how it operates. Go with the flow, try to do ONE concentration really well, and – guess what? – you will be fine, and have lots and lots of options for employment and/or graduate study. You don’t need to glitz things up with a double concentration, a joint concentration, or even a secondary field (a minor, although that is easily available within the system).</p>
<p>By the way, another huge disappointment to many of you, I’m sure, is that Harvard does not award BS (or, as they put it, SB) degrees other than in engineering. So you can’t get a BS in Economics OR a BS in Math, much less both. If this is too much to bear, feel free to apply to other universities that better meet your academic goals.</p>
<p>My original post was not in any way an attempt to show any sort of lack of “humility” as JHS puts it. If, for some very mysterious reason, I offended anybody, I apologize.</p>
<p>I’m glad all of you posted, and now that I’ve done some more research and read what you have to say - things look much clearer. So, thank you.</p>
<p>I would never be satisfied with only one major or concentration. I will definitely be doing a joint concentration in economics and math because having them both shows that you have logical and analytical skills as well as quantitative skills that will eventually land me a job on Wall Street making 6 or 7 figures.</p>
<p>Also, is physics/math a common pairing at Harvard for joint concentrations? That’s one of the other options that I have considered taking. </p>
<p>Last, I don’t think it even matters whether a degree is a BS or BA, what matters would be the actual field of study. Why that would be “too much to bear” for anyone is beyond me.</p>
<p>I haven’t read the posts, but I am going to attempt transferring to Harvard for junior standing. Does anyone know if it is possible to concentrate in Econ-Urban Studies? I believe I could write a VERY compelling essay on why I want to do that.</p>
<p>What classes do you want to take that an Ec concentration wouldn’t let you do? It’s very possible to write an Ec thesis about urban issues.</p>
<p>I think so, too.</p>
<p>Then don’t worry about it. The name of the concentration is just a label – you can do your advanced work on anything you can get an advisor to sign on to. People with a burning drive to study X will find someone in the department to approve X, even if it’s arguably more related to a different field.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ha ha ha. So you’ve got it all figured out.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Is there any part of that sentence that doesn’t have something seriously wrong with it?</p>
<p>Is there any part of you that isn’t a complete ■■■■■■? I bet you’re black - or jewish.</p>
<p>I guess your sarcasm has no limits.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I heard anti-semitic comments get you really far on Wall Street.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Thank you, Hanna. I have a pretty good reason for doing what I want to do. I want to combine both because I was very undecided between Ibanking and Real Estate development. Admittedly, the former was for salary prospects and exit opps(although I do like the analytical work), and the latter is just something I can see myself genuinely enjoying. So I finally decided that I could combine both by perhaps working for a development company and spearheading joint ventures with investment banks or maybe even start/join a hedge fund that focuses primarily on Real Estate. But I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.</p>
<p>@kalanov: Your obscenities are not appreciated or welcome. </p>
<p>@JHS: I got the EXACT same impression when I read his moronic post.</p>