This innovative inter-university program is designed for graduate students who are interested in learning more about the evolving and multidisciplinary field of humanitarian studies and who might be interested in pursuing careers in the field of humanitarian response. To cover the diverse topic areas in adequate depth at the graduate level requires expertise and curriculum offerings in a broad range of disciplines, including anthropology, history, political science, agriculture, nutrition, public health, demography, epidemiology, biostatistics, ethics, international law, human rights, and issues of field operations and logistics.

The program allows students of the partnering institutions (Harvard School of Public Health, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science Policy and the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and The Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to incorporate the requirements outlined here into their respective program of study. The program provides for a solid foundation in humanitarian studies while allowing for flexibility based on individual background and interest.

Each of the partnering institutions has developed areas of expertise, talent, and distinguished faculty in the evolving field of humanitarian studies. These faculty have joined forces to create this opportunity, through which students at each institution can obtain a robust education in humanitarian studies while completing the requirements of their individual degrees. This initiative has created bridges linking these three institutions, which students can traverse to meet the educational needs required in humanitarian studies: flexibility, diversity, excellence, and comprehensiveness.