Overview
The Harvard-New England Conservatory (NEC) program is a 5-year program leading to a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or Bachelor of Science (S.B.) at Harvard College and a Master of Music (MM) at New England Conservatory. The program benefits musically and intellectually talented students who wish to pursue both a professional music education at NEC and a rigorous liberal arts education at Harvard. During the first four years of the program, students pursue the undergraduate curriculum in the concentration of their choice at Harvard while taking studio instruction at NEC. Ensemble participation at either institution is encouraged, and a specific range of music courses is suggested as prerequisites to the NEC portion of the degree. NEC requires students to complete a promotional jury each year to make sure that they are on track with NEC requirements. A successful promotional jury at the end of the third year is required to confirm the student’s level of preparedness to begin their graduate studies at NEC. Students will graduate from Harvard in four years. Students will receive the MM degree from New England Conservatory after successful completion of the fifth year of study at NEC.
Application Process
Applicants must complete admission and financial aid applications at both institutions, and each school is responsible for making its own separate admissions decision. For Harvard, the admissions process takes place through Harvard’s central admissions office. The Harvard Music Department does not participate in the student application or admissions process.
The NEC application and admissions process requires that the student complete a successful audition.
Both applications require that students indicate interest in the dual-degree program.
Please note: admission to both institutions does not guarantee admission to the Harvard-NEC dual degree program. NEC is responsible for determining which candidates will ultimately be admitted to the program, after a candidate has been admitted to both Harvard and NEC separately. Transfer students and current students are not eligible for this program.
Housing
Dual-degree students typically live on or near Harvard’s campus during their first four years. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all Harvard undergraduates. All first-year students are required to live on campus, and while students have the option to move off campus after that first year, most choose to live in college housing for all four years. In the fifth year of the dual degree program, when students are studying full-time at NEC, they may either request graduate housing in NEC’s residence hall or choose to live off campus.
Academic Advising
Harvard undergraduates receive academic advising first through the Freshman Dean’s Office, through their House, and through the department of their chosen concentration. In addition, throughout their first four years all students in the dual degree program will be advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Harvard University Department of Music. NEC’s academic advisors meet with program participants each semester to track their progress and serve as advisors for the MM degree. Studio teachers and other NEC faculty may also serve as informal advisors.
Transportation
Harvard is located approximately three miles from NEC’s campus. Transportation between institutions is not provided. Public transportation between the schools is very easy to navigate via the MBTA. It takes about 30-50 minutes to travel between the schools using either the bus or the subway. Students are encouraged to consider travel time as they plan their course schedules.
Standard Program of Study
First Year – Third Year:
Students may pursue any area of undergraduate concentration at Harvard, including music. Certain courses taken at Harvard in Years 1-3 may satisfy NEC M.M. elective credits.
- Regular freshman curriculum at Harvard College.
- Introductory classes in musicology and theory at Harvard or NEC, if possible.
- During their sophomore year Harvard students will choose a field of concentration in accordance with Harvard’s academic requirements. Students in the dual-degree program may pursue any area of concentration at Harvard, including music.
- Studio instruction (one hour per week) at NEC.
- Ensemble participation, by advisement, appropriate to the area of music specialization at either institution (encouraged but not required.)
- Coursework at Harvard to be later transferred to NEC by advisement.
- Spring semester promotional jury required for all majors.
Moving from third year to fourth year – NEC M.M. status
Students enrolled in the Harvard-NEC program are required to perform a promotional jury at the end of Year 1, 2, 3, and 4. However, a successful promotional at the conclusion of Year 3 is required to confirm the student’s preparedness to start the M.M. degree at NEC in the following year (Year 4). The promotional is reviewed and confirmed by a faculty jury at NEC, and the result will be communicated to the student prior to the end of Harvard’s academic year. If a student fails this promotional, the faculty will recommend to the Provost and Dean of the College whether the student should be placed on probation or withdrawn from the joint program. The Provost will consult with the Dean of Academic Affairs, studio teacher, and Department Chair, and make a final decision. The student will receive notice of this decision in writing.
Fourth Year
The fourth year should be the concluding year of the undergraduate A.B. or S.B. degree at Harvard and the official start of the M.M. degree at NEC. Students should take NEC Master’s Music Theory Competency Exam and the Master’s Music History Exam at the start of the fourth year. Successful completion of these exams is a degree requirement of the M.M at NEC. Students must pass the MM Theory exam prior to enrolling in any NEC theory course. Students who do not pass the exam(s) in the first semester of Year 4 can attempt the exam(s) again in the second semester of Year 4. Students who do not pass the exam(s) by the end of Year 4 will be required to enroll in graduate remedial courses at NEC.
- Concluding curricular requirements for the undergraduate degree at Harvard.
- Studio instruction at NEC.
- Chamber music (string majors only) for one semester at NEC or by substitution.
- Music 180 is approved for this requirement for 1 credit.
- Students wishing to take Music 189 (previously 187) at Harvard must have prior approval from NEC to receive 1 credit towards the chamber music requirement.
- Ensemble participation by advisement.
- Promotional evaluation at NEC in spring semester (all majors except music theory)
- M.M. course work at NEC by advisement
Fifth Year:
Students who do not pass the Master’s Music Theory and History Competency Exams in year four will be required to enroll in graduate remedial courses at NEC.
- Studio instruction at NEC
- Ensemble participation as required for M.M. to be fulfilled at NEC
- Chamber music for 2 semesters for: Brass, Guitar, Strings, Woodwinds
- M.M. course work by advisement
- Recital required for most majors
Additional details regarding NEC’s requirements and advising programs can be found here.
In order to receive Harvard credit for any courses taken at New England Conservatory of Music, students must complete and submit the Proposal Form for Dual Programs of Study out of Residence.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Harvard University
Peter Charig, Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Pcharig@fas.harvard.edu
New England Conservatory of Music
Richard Giarusso, Dean of Academic Affairs
Richard.giarusso@necmusic.edu
Past Harvard-NEC Program Graduates
George Li, piano
Sandy Cameron, violin
Danielle Rabinowitz, composer, pianist
Charlie Albright, piano
Chase Morrin, composer, pianist
Julia Glenn, violin
Clayton Stephenson, piano