Frequently Asked Questions

AB/AM Program

Q: How do I qualify for the combined AB/AM Program? How many students are admitted each year?

A: The AB/AM Program in Biology is open to qualified Advanced Standing students who wish to stay for the fourth year here to pursue upper-level advanced courses and to write a thesis. Currently there is no limit on the number of students accepted; typically there are 1-3 students in the program each year.

For more complete information, including application procedures, visit the AB/AM Program section of this site.

Q: Can my thesis count for both Honors AND an AM degree?

Advanced Standing Students currently in their third year at Harvard ("seniors"/class of 2005) are required to do only a single thesis in their fourth year to count for both the Honors and AM degree.

With the above exception, a fourth-year Masters thesis will no longer be double-counted for Honors for future AB/AM students. Such students can either do an Honors degree without a thesis (in which case they cannot be recommended for Highest Honors) or do an Honors thesis in their third year and a Masters thesis in their fourth year. The two theses should be undertaken in different labs on different topics.

Q: What is the Biology Department's policy regarding Advance Standing?

Students who wish to declare Biology as their concentration and to be eligible for advanced standing in the concentration status must submit a petition, approved by their advisor, to the Biology Undergraduate Office.

Complete information, including application procedures, are available online in our Advanced Standing section.

updated 01/01/05