Yes, Social Studies strongly encourages study abroad. Many Social Studies juniors use a term abroad to find a thesis topic and even to conduct preliminary research. However, Social Studies concentrators can generally only study abroad for one term during their junior year, as they will need their other term to prepare for their senior thesis while in residence at Harvard. Social Studies students cannot go abroad during their sophomore year (when they are taking Social Studies 10) or during their senior year (when they need to be in residence, writing their thesis).
Social Studies will also waive one junior tutorial for students who go abroad, provided that they write a research paper at least twenty pages in length either while they are abroad or in a non-Social Studies course at Harvard. This paper must be approved by the Director of Studies to obtain junior tutorial credit.