Advising Sheet for Joint Concentrators

What is a joint concentration?

A joint concentration integrates two undergraduate concentrations into a coherent field of study. Joint concentration students identify one concentration as “primary” and another as “allied,” and take the requisite courses in each.

A defining feature of a joint concentration is synthesis of the two fields in the required thesis. This looks different in every case. However, students who wish to pursue a joint concentration in Sociology are required to apply sociological theories and methods in their thesis. The Sociology Department therefore permits joint concentrations only with programs that can, in theory, accommodate a sociological approach (see below). It is the student’s responsibility to maintain communication with each department to ensure they are meeting the expectations of both.

Sociology permits joint concentrations with the following programs:

African and African American Studies
Computer Science
East Asian Studies
Environmental Science and Public Policy
History
History and Science
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Religion, Comparative Study of
South Asian Studies
Statistics
Women, Gender, Sexuality, Studies of

Joint concentrations with other fields are not permitted.

How to Apply

Please complete the Joint Concentration Statement of Intent and submit by email to Dr. Emily Fairchild (efairchild@fas.harvard.edu), the department's Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. You must also fill out our Joint Plan of Study form, save it, and upload to your Documents Center in my.harvard.

Primary and Allied Fields

If Sociology is the primary field, the student will follow the rules and guidelines for doing a thesis as established by the Department of Sociology. If Sociology is the allied field, the student will be bound by the thesis guidelines of both departments, and must submit the thesis by the Sociology deadline at the latest. In either case, one of the student’s thesis advisers must be a member of the Department of Sociology eligible to serve as an adviser.

Requirements

Notes:

• Both primary and allied field concentrators will need a Sociology advisor.
• Cross-listed courses in the joint field may not be counted toward Sociology requirements.
• Soc 99A meets regularly during the fall semester. Attendance is required for students with a Primary Field in Sociology.
• All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• Credit and guidance for thesis work will be obtained through the Primary Field. Allied students are welcome to attend Sociology’s 99 workshop.

Honors Information

• Sociology as the Primary Field: Sociology calculates honors on the basis of the final thesis grade and the best 6 of 9 required, letter-graded, sociology courses. Honors must be confirmed by the allied field.
• Sociology as the Allied Field: Honors calculated by the primary field and must be confirmed by Sociology.