<p>Harvard doesn’t have an official international relations major, but is it possible to self-design/independent study such a major? If so, how much of an academic commitment would it be, compared to an official major? Are there many courses offered at Harvard related to International Studies?</p>
<p>[Special</a> Concentrations: Alumni](<a href=“http://www.specialconcentrations.fas.harvard.edu/alumni.html]Special”>http://www.specialconcentrations.fas.harvard.edu/alumni.html)</p>
<p>Given that the International Relations Council is the largest group on campus, it’s reasonable to assume that a lot of students here are interested in Int. Relations. My guess, given this fact and that 0 students have made their own Int. Relations concentration in the last 7 years, is that you will be told to concentrate in Gov instead, which has some courses related to International Relations.</p>
<p>One need only check the “Courses of Instruction” to see the rich course offerings in various departments that are relevant to international studies:
Government: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Government.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Government.html)
Economics: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Economics.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Economics.html)
History: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/History.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/History.html)
Social Anthropology: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Anthropology.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Anthropology.html)
Sociology: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Sociology.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/Sociology.html)
Global Health: [HERS</a> Output](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/GlobalHealthandHealthPolicy.html]HERS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/courses/GlobalHealthandHealthPolicy.html)
Other relevant courses are scattered under other headings, including Freshman Seminars, General Education, the various language departments, etc.</p>
<p>Harvard does make provisions for Special Concentrations that cross departmental boundaries. However, imo, it is probably best to concentrate in a traditional discipline relevant to international studies and supplement this with electives in other departments.
[Special</a> Concentrations Handbook for Students 2010-2011](<a href=“http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k69286&pageid=icb.page348600&pageContentId=icb.pagecontent721690&state=maximize&viewParam_amp;amp;amp;name=Speical%20Concentrations&viewParam_amp;amp;amp;view=view.do]Special”>http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k69286&pageid=icb.page348600&pageContentId=icb.pagecontent721690&state=maximize&viewParam_amp;amp;amp;name=Speical%20Concentrations&viewParam_amp;amp;amp;view=view.do)</p>
<p>There is, in fact, an official International Relations subfield within Government.</p>