Handbook for Students 2007–2008
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Faculty of Arts and Sciences Handbook for Students 2007–2008 Harvard College PUBLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS Faculty of Arts and Sciences Harvard College Handbook for Students 2007–2008 August 1, 2007 Review of academic, financial, and other considerations leads to changes in the policies, rules, and regulations applicable to students. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences therefore re- serves the right to make changes at any time. These changes may affect such matters as tuition and all other fees, courses, degrees and programs offered (including the modification or pos- sible elimination of degrees and programs), degree and other academic requirements, academic policies, rules pertaining to student conduct and discipline, fields or areas of concentration, and other rules and regulations applicable to students. While every effort has been made to ensure that this book is accurate and up-to-date, it may include typographical or other errors. Changes are periodically made to this publication and will be incorporated in new editions. Barry S. Kane, Registrar Stephanie H. Kenen, Assistant Dean of Harvard College John (Jay) Ellison, Assistant Dean of Harvard College Ian A. Richmond, Department Administrator, Office of Academic Programs Kelli Costello, Coordinator, Office of Academic Programs The Official Register of Harvard University (ISSN #0199-1787) Published by the Office of the Dean of Harvard College © 2007 President and Fellows of Harvard College Printed and bound by Transcontinental Inc., Montreal, Quebec Printed in Canada. Notice to Students This book contains a concise review of the rules and procedures of Harvard College with which students are expected to be familiar. Included are the specific requirements for the AB and SB degrees (Chapter 2) and both basic and honors requirements for each of the fields of concentration (Chapter 3). New to this edition are the specific requirements for secondary fields (Chapter 4). Also included is information on a number of the services, programs, and organiza- tions that have been created to bring assistance and enrichment to a student’s undergraduate experience. In this book, “the Registrar” refers to the Office of the Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, located at 20 Garden Street. Harvard University makes all decisions concerning applicants, students, faculty, and staff on the basis of the individual’s qualifications to contribute to Harvard’s educational objectives and institutional needs. Discriminating against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sex- ual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or dis- ability unrelated to job or course requirements is inconsistent with the purposes of a university and with the law. Harvard expects that those with whom it deals will comply with all applicable antidiscrimination laws. In June of 2006, the completion or graduation rate for students who entered Harvard Col- lege as freshmen in September 2000 was 98 percent. Brief Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Academic Calendar.................................................................7 Chapter 2: Academic Information..........................................................19 Chapter 3: Fields of Concentration.........................................................81 Chapter 4: Secondary Fields..................................................................311 Chapter 5: General Regulations and Standards of Conduct.............387 Chapter 6: Life in the Harvard Community........................................417 Chapter 7: Financial Information.........................................................457 Chapter 8: Academic and Support Resources.....................................471 Chapter 9: Extracurricular Activities...................................................513 Index........................................................................................................535 Complete Contents Introduction Mission of Harvard College.................................................................................................1 A Brief History of Harvard College......................................................................................2 Chapter 1: Academic Calendar.................................................................7 Academic Year 2007–2008...................................................................................................8 Late Fees.............................................................................................................................15 Academic Year 2008–2009.................................................................................................16 Examination Scheduling.....................................................................................................16 Examination Groups and Dates..........................................................................................17 Chapter 2: Academic Information..........................................................19 The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees.....................................................20 Requirements for the Degree......................................................................................20 Core Curriculum Requirement...................................................................................21 Core Curriculum Requirement....................................................................21 Core Areas by Concentration.......................................................................21 Options for Meeting Core Area Requirements............................................27 Concentration Requirement........................................................................................30 Other Requirements....................................................................................................33 Writing Requirement...................................................................................33 Language Requirement................................................................................34 Residence Requirement...............................................................................35 Other Academic Opportunities...................................................................................35 Secondary Fields..........................................................................................35 Study Abroad...............................................................................................36 Citations in a Foreign Language..................................................................37 Advanced Standing......................................................................................46 Study at Other Boston-Area Institutions......................................................47 The Undergraduate Teacher Education Program.........................................47 Registration and Course Enrollment...................................................................................48 Registration................................................................................................................48 Choice of Courses.......................................................................................................48 Study Cards................................................................................................................49 Course Credit Without Letter Grades.........................................................................50 Simultaneous Enrollment...........................................................................................52 Cross-Registration......................................................................................................52 Change of Course (Add, Drop, Withdraw).................................................................54 Full Courses—Divisible and Indivisible....................................................................55 Divisible Full Courses.................................................................................55 Indivisible Full Courses..............................................................................56 Repeating Courses......................................................................................................57 Rate of Work...............................................................................................................57 Additional Term..........................................................................................................58 Extra Transfer Term....................................................................................................58 Harvard Summer School............................................................................................59 Grades and Honors.............................................................................................................60 The Grading System...................................................................................................60 Grade Point Averages.................................................................................................62 Promotion...................................................................................................................62 Requirements for Honors Degrees.............................................................................62 Prizes..........................................................................................................................64