Harvard vs. Brown: Which Is Better for an Interdisciplinary Major?

Brown is the clearer choice for a student who wants to build an interdisciplinary course of study across computer science, psychology, and design. Its Open Curriculum has no universal core or distribution requirements, so students can use more of their schedule to connect fields intentionally. Brown also has established options in Computer Science, Cognitive Science, and Design Engineering, rather than requiring every interdisciplinary interest to fit inside one conventional department.

The Open Curriculum means you would still complete the requirements for a chosen concentration while having substantial room for psychology, visual arts, human-computer interaction, entrepreneurship, or other related courses. Brown’s Cognitive Science concentration is particularly relevant because it draws from computer science, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and neuroscience. Brown students can also take eligible courses at the Rhode Island School of Design, adding a hands-on visual and product-design dimension.

Harvard offers serious interdisciplinary opportunities, including Computer Science, secondary fields, and individually proposed Special Concentrations. However, Harvard College’s General Education and distribution requirements create a more structured undergraduate framework, and an unusually customized academic plan may require more formal planning and approval. Harvard can be excellent for a student whose interests center on research in computing, cognition, and behavioral science, but Brown makes it easier to let those interests evolve across departments and design-oriented coursework from the beginning.