Yet the concentration is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon Faculty from various departments. The centerpiece of the concentration is a junior tutorial program that is "designedly synthetic, designedly cross-disciplinary," according to Buell.

Much of the recent interest in cross-disciplinary studies can be credited to President Neil L. Rudenstine, whose five interfaculty initiatives have encouraged interdisciplinary study across the University.

ESPP is the only concentration thus far to come of the initiatives. The mind, brain and behavior initiative has created new neuroscience tracks in biology, psychology, computer science and history and science.

A third initiative, the Project on Schooling and Children, has been expressed interest in initiating a concentration in "children's studies."

Studies across departments are not new. Michael Herzfeld, head tutor in the Department of Anthropology, says his field is inherently interdisciplinary.

"As a concentration, it's as good an introduction to the overall liberal arts view of the world as you can take," he says. "Anthropology has always been this way."

And the department allows for students to focus on subfields, offering tracks in archaeology, biological anthropology and social anthropology.

"The choice really rests with the students," Herzfeld says, referring to the degree of specialization in the department.

Decrying the Trend

Many Faculty members question whether it is healthy for undergraduates to specialize early in their academic careers.

Reisinger Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures William M. Todd III, who will also become dean of undergraduate education next month, says he believes specialization is related to increased preprofessionalism among undergraduates, and is a threat to the pursuit of the liberal arts education Harvard offers.

"I think it is unfortunate that students feel these pressures upon what is, after all, a very precious four years of their lives, when they can explore the world of the mind," Todd says.

Herzfeld says he believes that academic institutions such as Harvard must be vigilant in protecting against professionalism.

"There has to be a place where education can stand for its own space," he says.