What concentrations (majors) are a part of SEAS?
In keeping with our emphasis on broad-minded learning we’ve designed programs and courses that cater to students at multiple levels and fully incorporate laboratory research.
SEAS believes in educating “T-shaped” individuals, or those who have deep knowledge in a discipline but are able to collaborate across the boundaries of disciplines.
Concentrations and Secondary Fields
Applied Mathematics (A.B., A.B./S.M., Secondary Field in Mathematical Sciences)
Applied Mathematics is a quantitative liberal arts degree that provides the opportunity for combining mathematical thinking with any subject for which mathematics can be productively applied. Applied Mathematics is inherently an interdisciplinary concentration with ties to other concentrations both within and outside of SEAS. Areas of focus include biological sciences, economics, engineering, and computer science, among others.
Biomedical Engineering (A.B.; A.B./S.M.)
Biomedical engineering lies at the intersection of the physical and life sciences. The overarching intellectual goal of biomedical engineering is to apply quantitative engineering analysis to understand the operation of living systems and to design novel systems to satisfy unmet needs in clinical medicine. Biomedical engineering distinguishes itself from the other life sciences disciplines by using scientific knowledge to create new biomaterials and devices. The A.B. in Biomedical Engineering requires 14 courses. Students interested in these topics can pursue an A.B. in Biomedical Engineering, or may also consider the Engineering Sciences S.B. on the Bioengineering Track, or the Engineering Sciences A.B. on the Biomedical Sciences & Engineering Track.
Computer Science (A.B., A.B./S.M., Secondary Field)
Computer Science is the study of the principles, techniques, and tools that enable this transformation, today and in the future. Students concentrating in Computer Science take a range of courses encompassing theoretical foundations to practical applications sharing an intellectual heritage from mathematics, engineering, and design. Computer Science concentrators learn about how modern computational systems are designed and built, and how these systems can be used to effectively and efficiently solve a variety of problems.
Electrical Engineering spans a broad range of topics, ranging from the physics of new materials and devices, the circuits and next-generation computing platforms made from these devices, and the algorithms that run on these platforms. The range of subtopics includes power systems, (micro)electronics, control systems, signal processing, telecommunications, and computing systems. The S.B. in Electrical Engineering requires 20 courses. Students interested in these topics can pursue an S.B. in Electrical Engineering, or may also consider the Engineering Sciences A.B. on the Electrical & Computer Engineering Track.
Engineering Sciences (A.B.; A.B./S.M.; S.B.)
The Engineering Sciences concentration is ideally positioned to provide students with both the breadth and depth of study needed to excel in these and other exciting integrative areas of engineering within the liberal arts setting of Harvard. The Engineering Sciences program seeks to educate future leaders who have the technical background necessary to develop and critically evaluate the next wave of engineering innovations; to apply these innovations to important global and local problems; and to make informed decisions about them in a societal context.
Students in the Engineering Sciences A.B. concentration specialize in one of four engineering tracks: Biomedical Sciences and Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Engineering Physics; Mechanical and Materials Science and Engineering. Students in the Engineering Science S.B. concentration typically specialize in one of two tracks: Bioengineering; Environmental Science and Engineering.Environmental Science & Engineering (A.B.; A.B./S.M.)
Environmental Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles from the natural science and mathematics to better understand and address environmental challenges. The overarching goals of the field are to protect human health from adverse environmental conditions, to protect local and global environments from the deleterious effects of human activities, and to improve environmental quality. Students interested in these topics can pursue an A.B. in Environmental Science and Engineering, or may also consider the Engineering Sciences S.B. on the Envrionmental Science & Engineering Track.
Mechanical engineering deals with the study and application of mechanical systems. It covers a range of subtopics including mechatronics and robotics, structural analysis, thermodynamics and engineering design including the analysis of mechanical systems using finite element methods, the science of new materials and devices for micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), and biological and nanotechnology applications. The S.B. in Mechanical Engineering requires 20 courses. Students interested in these topics can pursue an S.B. in Mechanical Engineering, or may also consider the Engineering Sciences A.B. on the Mechanical and Materials Science & Engineering Track.