Often students then have to work out plans of study between the two schools.

Students pursuing concurrent degrees with the GSE and either HLS or HBS may double count four courses. This amounts to a reduction of approximately one semester in the total amount of completion time.

Likewise, with the concurrent program between KSG and HLS and joint JD/MBA program, small reductions in requirements also exist.

Generally with these degrees, candidates spend one full year at each school, enduring boot camp twice, as Jackson notes. The final semesters are then split between the schools, and this is when students encounter logistical and scheduling difficulties.

Daniel J.T. Devroye, who is in his third year at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and working on his Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government [PEG}, reflected the thoughts of many joint and concurrent degree candidates.

"I don't think that the requirements are too daunting," he says.

Making Progress at HLS

HLS plays an influential role in many joint and concurrent degree programs, and its administration--in both its policies and its goals--reflects many of the difficulties facing all of the Harvard graduate schools.

While a number of HLS students each year pursue a second or joint Harvard degree while in law school, the process, students say, is an arduous one mired in bureaucracy.

"The Law School faculty in particular has created a structure where even things that are supported are put through a complicated committee, sub-committee process," Grossman says.

Grossman has been spearheading a student-led campaign to establish an official joint degree between KSG and HLS, in addition to the already-existing JD/MBA program.

In his opinion, official joint programs encourage more teamwork between the various schools.

"With a joint program, one would hope you would have a regular ongoing dialogue between the two schools as to how things would work for people," Grossman says.

Doak, a joint JD/MBA candidate, notes a few consistent benefits of the joint degree program.

For instance, he says that at the business school, joint degree students enjoy two years with senior status.