Metadata
Title
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Category
undergraduate
UUID
e1a4d598624a40868158d02ddbb3a24a
Source URL
https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences
Parent URL
https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T04:36:08+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown
# Liberal Arts & Sciences

**Source**: https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences
**Parent**: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Video description:

back of male student shown wearing a backpack and walking into class, up close of students in class, female professor teaching, students in lab coats, side view of the classroom with a female professor

# Liberal Arts & Sciences

## Overview

Plan Your Academic Journey

The undergraduate degree is designed with flexibility in mind: you set your own academic goals, and we'll help you plan coursework to meet them—while also ensuring you receive a broad liberal arts and sciences education.

## Liberal Arts & Sciences Education

### Academic Exploration Across Disciplines

As former President Lawrence Bacow stated in his 2018 installation address, “Given the necessity today of thinking critically… a broad liberal arts education has never been more important.”

### FAQ

- #### What is a "liberal arts & sciences" education?

## Concentrations

You have many options when pursuing your Harvard degree. We offer more than 3,700 courses in 50 undergraduate fields of study, which we call concentrations. A number of our concentrations are interdisciplinary.

[View all Concentrations](https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences/concentrations)

### Concentrations

- #### Double Concentrations
- #### Joint Concentrations
- #### Special Concentrations

## Harvard College Curriculum

Approximately a third of courses towards your degree fulfill Harvard College requirements. This includes classes in the areas of General Education, Distribution, Quantitative Reasoning with Data, Expository Writing, and Language.

> “We want Gen Ed to be the kind of courses faculty have always dreamed of teaching — and the kind students never forget.”\*

For detailed explanations of academic requirements, consult the [Harvard College Curriculum](https://handbook.college.harvard.edu).

### Components of your degree

- #### General Education
- #### Divisional Distribution
- #### Quantitative Reasoning with Data
- #### Expository Writing
- #### Language

\*Quote by: Amanda Claybaugh, Dean of Undergraduate Education

## Study Spaces

Looking for comfortable furniture to study on? A room where you can meet with a group? A private desk in an open space? Or maybe just a printer near your next class?

[Find a library space for your needs](https://library.harvard.edu/spaces)

## Other Academic Opportunities

Harvard College offers several opportunities for you to pursue your academic goals.

### Other Academic Opportunities

- #### Secondary Fields
- #### Language Citation
- #### Independent Study
- #### Fourth Year Master's Degree
- #### Enroll at Affiliated Institutions
- #### Honors

## Dual Degree Music Programs

If you are a talented musician and dedicated scholar choosing between in-depth music training and a liberal arts education, you can apply to Harvard College’s dual degree programs with the New England Conservatory (NEC) and Berklee College of Music.

[Learn more about Dual Degree Music Programs](https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences/dual-programs-study-music)

## Study Abroad

Escape the bubble and expand your horizons by enrolling at a foreign university for up to a full year. The Office of International Education can help you discover how study abroad can fit into your plan of study.

[Learn more about studying abroad](https://college.harvard.edu/academics/liberal-arts-sciences/study-abroad)

## Learn More About Harvard

Join our email list to download our brochure and stay in touch.

[Sign Up](https://apply.college.harvard.edu/register/?id=1b4499e4-8fd0-47f0-bb86-f17cd0fc8b32)

## Related Topics

[### Reading and Examination Period

Harvard is committed to supporting students and providing them with information, tips, and resources as they enter Reading and Examination Period.](https://college.harvard.edu/guides/reading-and-examination-period)

[### Residential Life

Residential Life at Harvard provides the opportunity to develop your own community through shared experiences.](https://college.harvard.edu/student-life/residential-life)

[### Advising

As a Harvard student, you have access to several different advising resources - all here to support your intellectual, personal, and social growth.](https://college.harvard.edu/guides/advising)