哈佛大学应用数学专业的基本目标是为学生提供一种结构，使他们对数学和数学推理的兴趣与对特定智力活动领域的兴趣相结合。集中提供了一种将这些兴趣结合到一个连贯的学术计划中的机制。我们将这种专注视为哈佛大学定量的文理学位，并竭尽全力为学生提供灵活性，以构建一个程序，使他们对自己感兴趣的主题产生数学推理的热情。数学思想也影响了您可能认为不可能做出这种贡献的领域，从社会学（哈佛大学的斯坦利·米尔格拉姆研究人类社会网络，导致著名的六度分离）到历史（其中莫斯特勒和华莱士曾使用过统计分析，以确定谁撰写了《联邦主义者的文件》
The Applied Mathematics concentration consists of a broad undergraduate education in the mathematical sciences, especially in those subjects that have proved vital to an understanding of problems arising in other disciplines, and in some specific area where mathematical methods have been substantively applied. For concentrators, a core learning objective is building and demonstrating foundational knowledge in computation, probability, discrete, and continuous mathematics through the successful completion of the foundation and breadth courses. The degree provides the opportunity for combining mathematical thinking with any subject for which mathematics can be productively applied.<br><br>At Harvard College, students choose a concentration, which is what we call a major. All prospective undergraduate students, including those intending to study engineering and applied sciences, apply directly to Harvard College. During your sophomore spring youll declare a concentration, or field of study. You may choose from 50 concentrations and 49 secondary field (from Harvard DSO website).<br><br>At a professional level the difference between an applied mathematician and a practitioner in a given field can be very small, when the two are working on problems in that field. However, the applied mathematician's primary interest is in the general way that mathematics is applied, and as such, also could use variants of the same methods to study other fields.