哈佛大学

COVID - 19 update: We will begin transitioning to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate classes. Our goal is to have this transition complete by Monday, March 23, which is the first day of scheduled classes following Spring Recess.

Applied mathematics represents a quantitative liberal arts degree. The degree provides the opportunity for combing mathematical thinking with any subject for which mathematics can be productively applied.

In some instances, combining applied mathematics with a particular subject can lead to a program of study that is quite similar to studying that subject itself. For example, applied mathematics with physics as an application area is quite similar to studying physics. On the other hand, there are other instances (combining applied mathematics with music or history) where the degree program would be completely different.

At a professional level the difference between an applied mathematician and a practitioner in a given field can be very small, when the two are working on problems in that field. However, the applied mathematician's primary interest is in the general way that mathematics is applied--and as such also could use [variants of ] the same methods to study other fields.

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. Any student considering this option should discuss requirements with our Office of Academic Programs (Pierce 110) or with the Concentration Advisors.

Secondary Field

The secondary field in Mathematical Sciences is jointly sponsored by the Mathematics Department and the Applied Mathematics concentration. Students are required to take four courses in either Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, or Statistics of which at most two can be in Statistics. The Mathematics and Applied Mathematics courses must be numbered 104 or higher; Statistics courses must be numbered 110 or higher.