Our broad-based, multidisciplinary curriculum (including an ABET-accredited S.B. degree) rivals the more traditional engineering and applied science programs at larger institutions, and offers rigorous preparation for graduate school (including medicine) or for industry.

Our flexible structure encourages students to make the most of Harvard’s resources, such as taking courses in other departments, collaborating with researchers from other fields or schools, and taking advantage of the wealth of extracurricular activities available.

Planning

Placement

Placement is granted based on an appropriate Advanced Placement Examination, the Harvard Mathematics Placement Test, or an equivalent college-level course taken elsewhere. Questions regarding placement should be forwarded to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Students should consult with the Mathematics Department, Chemistry Department, and Physics Department for advice about appropriate placement in courses.

Tracks in Engineering

Two different Engineering Sciences degrees are offered at Harvard: the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) and the Bachelor of Science (S.B.), in five distinct areas:

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts

The A.B. degree requires 14–16 half-courses.

Attendance at the Sophomore Forum is required for A.B. students

Bachelor of Science

The S.B. degree requires 20 half-courses.

Attendance at the Sophomore Forum is required for S.B. students.

English Honors

The Committee on Undergraduate Studies in Engineering Sciences votes the level of English honors to be recommended (Honors, High Honors, Highest Honors).

Recommendations for all degrees of honors are decided individually by vote of the Engineering  Sciences faculty based on the student's academic and scientific achievements. Ordinarily a recommendation  Highest Honors requires a concentration GPA of in the top 5% of the concentration and an outstanding thesis, a recommendation of high honors requires a concentration GPA in the next 20% and an excellent thesis and a recommendation of honors requires a concentration GPA in the next 25% and a thesis. 

A.B./S.M. Option

Students with sufficient advanced placement credit to qualify for advanced standing may graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years.

Advising

Advising Programs Office

This office is charged with coordinating, supporting, and facilitating academic advising programs for all undergraduates and, as such, works with students, faculty, the Freshman Dean's Office, the Houses and other Harvard College and FAS offices on all aspects of pre-concentration and concentration advising.

Sophomore Advising

For sophomores, we are experimenting with a new advising structure. Each person is assigned a faculty adviser from the board of advisers. 

Guidelines and Requirements

• Requirements for AB and SB Degrees
  A link to the guidelines for the concentration as published in the Harvard College Handbook for Students.

Entering the Concentration/Plan of Study

• Plan of Study Tool
  Rather than use the paper forms, check out the online Plan of Study tool.

• SB Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

• AB Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

• AB Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

• AB Engineering Physics Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

• AB Environmental Sciences and Engineering Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

• AB Mechanical and Materials Sciences and Engineering Plan of Study
  Required form used to list which course will satisfy concentration requirements. It must be submitted once the concentration is declared and an adviser is assigned.  It requires the approval of the concentration adviser and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Joost Vlassak.

Courses

SEAS offers undergraduate and graduate courses in Engineering Sciences. SEAS faculty also offer several courses in the section entitled Freshman Seminars, Extra-Departmental Courses, and House Seminars. Many additional courses of interest to applied mathematicians can be found in the Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics sections of the catalog.

Sample Schedules

Below are some suggested paths for the freshman and sophomore years in the Engineering Sciences concentration. There are many possible pathways through the degree. Interested students should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for guidance.

A.B. Degree

Schedule 1 - Student has no advanced placement credit in mathematics, chemistry, or physics.

Typically, students take only one of ES 6, ES 50, and ES 53 in their first year.

Schedule 2 - Student places out of Math 1a.

These schedules serve as a guide. Depending on which option the student chooses in Engineering Sciences, chemistry may or may not be required. Students should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies with specific questions.

Schedule 3 - Student places into Math 21a (We encourage students to take Applied Math 21a).

The above schedule may also be altered for students who place into Physics 15a. In that case, Physics 11a and 11b are replaced with Physics 15a and 15b.

S.B. Degree

The freshman and sophomore schedule suggestions for this degree are very similar to the ones provided for the A.B. degree; the main difference between these two degrees is that both Life Sciences 1a and Physical Sciences 1 are required for the S.B. degree. (Please note: Students should complete Life Sciences 1a and Physical Sciences 1 by the end of the sophomore year.) Students who place out of Physical Sciences 1 should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies for advice.

Schedule 4 - Typical schedule for a student pursuing the S.B. degree.

Since the S.B. degree requires 20 half courses, it is recommended that students take ES 120 in the spring of the sophomore year.