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Home > Degree Programs > Master's Degrees > Joint & Concurrent Degrees > Concurrent Degrees
Concurrent Degrees
Concurrent degree programs allow students to obtain two separate degrees in one year fewer than is normally required if the two degrees were pursued separately by completing a reduced number of credits at both schools. There are no special integrated courses for concurrent degree program students. Concurrent Harvard degrees are offered with Harvard Divinity School (HDS), Harvard Medical School (HMS), Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). Students in a concurrent program with HMS or HSDM spend one year as a full-time HKS student and the remaining years of their program at HMS or HSDM, cross-registering to complete their HKS requirements.
The HKS/HDS and HKS/GSD students, however, spend one full year at each school in the first two years of the program. In the third year, they spend one semester in each school.
Concurrent Business Degrees
Students enrolled in a concurrent program with an approved business school will be required to complete three semesters at HKS and three semesters at their business school. The second year, however, must be at the "other" school because the two degrees may not be completed sequentially.
HKS has concurrent degrees with the following business schools:
- Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
- MIT Sloan School of Management
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Note: Those interested in concurrent business school programs should submit their application to the HKS two-year program for which they are qualified, i.e., for which they have the appropriate work and/or educational experience.
However, all applicants admitted to a two-year program at HKS and a business school on the above list may (prior to enrolling in either school) elect to pursue the HKS two-year MPA degree.
Concurrent Law Degrees
Students enrolled in a concurrent program with an approved law school will be required to complete three semesters at HKS and five semesters at the approved law school. The duration of the program is four years. Normally, the second year is spent at the "other" school. However, it is possible for law students to apply to HKS during their second law school year. The two degrees may not be completed sequentially.
HKS has concurrent degrees with the following law schools:
- Berkeley Law at the University of California
- Columbia Law School
- Duke Law School
- Georgetown University Law Center
- New York University School of Law
- Northwestern University School of Law
- Stanford Law School
- University of Michigan Law School
- University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Yale Law School
Concurrent Medical Degrees
HKS offers combined medical degrees with Harvard and UCSF Medical Schools. Normally, students enroll in medical school first and complete three years of study there prior to attending HKS. All concurrent medical students must apply to either the MPP or MPA/ID program unless they meet the specific admissions criteria for the HKS two-year MPA degree.
In addition to Harvard and UCSF School of Medicine, other US medical schools may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Other Concurrent Degrees
Concurrent degrees are also available from the following Harvard schools:
- Harvard Divinity School (HDS)
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM)
- Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD)
Curriculum Requirements
Joint/concurrent degree students are required to complete a reduced number of total credits toward graduation. However, there is an HKS residency requirement of three semesters. All HKS joint/concurrent students must complete a minimum of three credits in each of three semesters at HKS to fulfill this requirement. Thus, although it is possible to earn enough credits to graduate from a program by taking fewer than three credits in the final semester, three credits are still required in order to fulfill the HKS residency requirement.
Note: Dual degree students with MIT's Sloan School of Management should be aware that Sloan does not forgive any credit requirements toward the MBA. Therefore, some dual degree candidates cross-register to enroll in MIT classes while in residence at HKS in order to complete their MBA requirements. HKS gives no credit for those classes.
MPP Requirements
Concurrent MPP program students are required to complete a minimum of 12 HKS credits, including eight core courses, three electives, and a second year seminar related to the Policy Analysis Exercise. All MPP students must complete three semesters in residence at HKS. Because of integrative courses, joint programs may require additional credits beyond the minimum of 12 referred to above.
MPA/ID Requirements
Joint/concurrent MPA/ID students are required to complete 13 HKS credits. MPA/ID students who pursue joint or concurrent degrees work out the details of their curriculum plan in consultation with the MPA/ID program director.
Two-Year MPA Requirements
Concurrent MPA students are required to complete 12 HKS credits, including one approved course in each of the three methodological areas of analytics, management and leadership, democracy, politics and institutions, and nine elective courses.
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