Prospective Students

Many History & Literature concentrators are students who do not want to be restricted to a single humanities discipline, but who do want to graduate with coherent knowledge of a field and extensive academic advising. Even if you have not identified a particular region or period of focus, you can count on History & Literature to prepare you to write a strong senior thesis. 

Interested in learning more? Here are steps you can take to explore History & Literature:

• Take one of our HL90 Seminars to get to know the concentration. 
• Contact our Peer Advisors, current students who are eager to share their experiences in the concentration.
• Visit us in the Barker Center, Room 122. During the academic year, our most experienced academic advisers hold open office hours Monday though Thursday afternoons from 1-4. You are also welcome to contact us individually or send an email to histlit [at] fas.harvard.edu.

Every year a few students switch into History & Literature in the sophomore spring or junior fall. If you are considering switching concentrations, contact us to schedule an advising meeting! We are here to help you find the right concentration.

Step 1: Sophomores wishing to concentrate in History & Literature should submit a completed Application for Admission to History & Literature in November 2018.

Step 2: Upon submitting an application, you will be asked to schedule an advising meeting with History & Literature faculty advisers. This conversation takes the place of the Plan of Study online, and it is the first of many advising meetings that form the backbone of the concentration.

Step 3: Declare History & Literature on my.harvard! You do not need to complete the Plan of Study online.