BA History and Literature at Harvard University

Programme overview

Harvard’s oldest concentration, History & Literature is an interdisciplinary humanities program where you work closely with outstanding faculty in small-group and one-on-one tutorials. Beyond these tutorials, you take courses from a variety of departments as you develop your individual interests at the intersection of art, history, politics, and culture.

Faculty: Harvard College: Arts and Humanities | Department: History and Literature | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

History & Literature is an honors concentration that helps you build the skills you need to write a thesis in your senior year. In small-group tutorials, we provide rigorous training in how to read and analyze a diverse array of primary and secondary sources, advise you as you conduct original research, and help you develop rigorous interdisciplinary approaches to the exciting material that you discover along the way. Gateway courses include HUM 10A (fall) HUM 10B (spring) Consider taking one of our HL90 Seminars to experience the kind of work we do in History & Literature. These courses are designed for first-year students and sophomores. You may also consider introduction to humanities courses.

Official programme page

Application information

USD 62,226 a year (2026-27). Harvard College undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, one rate for all students; excludes fees ($6,216), housing, food and health insurance. Source

Entry term is fall. Applicants choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision; admitted students reply by May 1.

First-year applications through the Common Application: Restrictive Early Action closes November 1 with notification by mid-December; Regular Decision closes January 1 with notification by the end of March. The application fee is $95 (fee waiver available) and can be paid online via the Common Application. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with exceptions only where the tests are not accessible.

Apply through the official page: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

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