I‘m sure when you picture Harvard University, the image that likely comes to mind first is students with law textbooks hurrying to class at Harvard Law School. As one of the most renowned law schools in the world, it has become almost synonymous with the Harvard name. However, what you might not know is that Harvard is actually comprised of 12 degree-granting graduate and undergraduate schools spanning disciplines like business, medicine, design, education and more.
An Esteemed Research University
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is a private Ivy League institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university is divided into the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and 10 professional graduate schools. In total, Harvard enrolls over 23,000 students including 6,700 undergraduates and 15,000 graduate students. With a 7% acceptance rate, it is one of most competitive universities to get into globally.
The student body represents over 130 countries and 50 states, creating an incredibly diverse community of scholars on campus. They are taught by over 2,400 faculty members, many leaders in their respective fields. For the 2021-2022 school year, Times Higher Education ranked Harvard as the number one university worldwide, showcasing its continued excellence in education and research.
So while its law school does attract a great deal of attention, Harvard is better characterized as an esteemed research institution advancing human knowledge across diverse academic disciplines.
Exploring Undergraduate Concentrations
As a Harvard undergraduate student, you would be enrolled in the elite Harvard College to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (AB) or Bachelor of Science (SB) degree. With only about 1,700 students per class year, Harvard College fosters an intimate learning environment with a phenomenal 5:1 student-faculty ratio.
You‘d have access to cutting edge facilities like world-class laboratories, libraries with extensive archives and collections, and state-of-the art innovation spaces like i-lab that foster entrepreneurship. Harvard also emphasizes hands-on experiences like research projects, internships, and study abroad to supplement classroom learning.
A unique feature of Harvard College is its extensive range of concentrations (majors) available – over 50 offered spanning the arts & humanities, social sciences, life sciences, physical sciences and engineering.
Some of the most popular concentrations include:
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Computer Science: With new technologies transforming our world every day, computer science skills are highly in demand. 25% of Harvard undergraduates concentrate in this field. The department partners with industry leaders and offers interesting courses like "The Computer Age" exploring computers‘ global impact.
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Economics: As a social science hub, Harvard is an ideal place to study economics. Prominent professors like N. Gregory Mankiwttes conduct pioneering research and the curriculum integrates real-world policy analysis.
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Neurobiology: Harvard life science programs are highly interdisciplinary, allowing students to examine fields like neurobiology from biological, psychological and chemical angles. The top-notch facilities include neuroimaging centers and cognition & brain sciences labs.
This interdisciplinary ethos allows students to take courses across departments, design their own concentrations, or even pursue a secondary concentration demonstrating the versatility of Harvard‘s College programming.
Graduate & Professional Schools
While Harvard College concentrates on providing a world-class liberal arts education to undergraduates, the university‘s graduate and professional schools cater to students pursuing more advanced, specialized study in fields like law, medicine, education, divinity and design.
Occupying graceful buildings bordering Harvard Yard, these schools foster vibrant intellectual communities, where students can collaborate with exceptional faculty members and their elite peers. Let‘s look at a few of Harvard‘s standout professional schools and some of latest developments coming out of them:
Harvard Medical School
Ranked 3rd globally for medicine (QS 2022), Harvard Medical School leads biomedical research and education. It offers illustrious degrees like Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in various specializations to over 1,000 students annually.
Ongoing research at the school has enabled breakthrough innovations in recent years, including:
- Brain organoid technology to model brain functionality and disorders
- Gene editing tools to potentially correct thalassemia and sickle cell anemia
- Machine learning diagnostic tools for conditions like colon cancer
Such cutting edge projects continue to change the face of medicine as we know it.
Harvard Kennedy School
Dedicated to public leadership and policy, Harvard Kennedy School offers master‘s degree options like Master in Public Policy (MPP) and Master in Public Administration (MPA).
The school champions diversity with 50% of newly enrolled students identifying as people of color. Extensive financial aid allows graduates to pursue career paths focused on public good. Recent alumni are leading change across sectors:
- Amanda Nguyen – Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee
- Kate Gallego – Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona
- Pasquale Romano – President and CEO, ChargePoint
Harvard Graduate School of Design
As one of the world‘s leading design schools, Harvard GSD offers exceptional programs in fields like architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design studies. GSD students and faculty are constantly reimagining living spaces through sustainable design solutions.
Recent innovations include a prototype for convertible small space living and a project visualizing how public spaces can facilitate social connection. Such ideas are shaping more livable cities worldwide.
Global Prominence
Beyond just the degree programs offered, Harvard‘s global reach stems from its pioneering research advancing human knowledge, coupled with its powerful alumni network holding leadership roles across industries worldwide.
Harvard consistently attracts over $800 million dollars annually in research funding from public and private sources – one of the highest research budgets globally. These substantial investments facilitate trailblazing discoveries and interdisciplinary collaboration:
- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics combines the resources of two esteemed institutions to study cosmic phenomena and host renowned telescopes.
- The Harvard Medical School and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences recently partnered to establish the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, which develops breakthrough technologies in healthcare, technology, and sustainable living.
Powered by such innovative projects and real-world applications, Harvard research influences policy-making and daily life on an international scale.
In addition to intellectual prominence, Harvard also holds financial clout with a $53 billion endowment as of 2022 – the largest university endowment globally. Savvy investing of this capital has made Harvard the backbone for pioneering research and education initiatives enhancing its global brand.
As a breeding ground for world-changers, Harvard has no shortage of standout alumni. They include 136 Nobel laureates, 21 Turing Award winners, 8 Olympic medalists and 196 Rhodes Scholars. Other influential figures include:
- Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook
- John Roberts, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Henry Louis Gates Jr., critically acclaimed author and historian
No matter which school they graduated from, Harvard alumni serve as ambassadors strengthening Harvard‘s prestige worldwide.
Conclusion
I hope this article clearly demonstrates how Harvard University extends far beyond just training outstanding lawyers at its Law School. With exceptional programming across 12 degree-granting institutions, groundbreaking cross-disciplinary research, tremendous financial resources, and a global alumni network – Harvard is truly making its mark across diverse academic fields and professional industries.
From advances in biomedicine enabled by biological engineers to architects pioneering sustainable living spaces – Harvard‘s impact is multilayered. Its continued excellence across sectors is what cements its status as one of the world‘s most prestigious universities – not just legal prowess!
So next time you picture the Harvard name, I urge you to think beyond jurisprudence. Harvard is shaping present and future changemakers tackling some of humanity‘s greatest challenges from all angles!