Academics
Academics
At the center of your undergraduate experience is your academic journey.
Through Harvard's liberal arts and sciences education, you can expect to explore a wide range of subjects across disciplines, engage closely with faculty, and develop the ability to think critically, write clearly, and make analytical arguments.
You will take control of your own learning, explore new disciplines, discover your intellectual interests, and ultimately pursue focused study into the field of your choice.
Summer Orientation to Academics at Harvard
In these modules, Harvard's world-class faculty will help you understand how college is different from high school, prepare you for what to expect in the classroom, and lead you in exploring your academic interests. These modules even highlight specific courses offered in the coming academic year, so by the time you've completed them, you should have a good sense of some of the courses you want to consider taking.
- Summer Orientation to Academics at Harvard consists of three 30 minute modules and takes 1.5 hours to complete
College Curriculum
The Harvard College curriculum gives you both freedom and structure to engage with academics. As you work toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, you can expect your coursework to fall into roughly three parts: completing College requirements, pursuing your concentration, and exploring electives.
- Students typically take four courses for 16 credits each term (four courses, four credits per course).
- 128 credits, or 32 4-credit courses, comprise a Harvard College degree
The expository writing requirement is the only requirement that must be satisfied in your first year. Every incoming student is assigned to take Expository Writing in either the fall or spring term. Based on the writing placement exam taken over the summer, you will be recommended for either Expos Studio 10 or Expos 20.
For more information about Expository Writing and the process for fall registration, visit the Writing Program’s website.
First-Year Seminars are an unmatchable opportunity that won’t return in later years to get to know a faculty member and a group of first-years with shared interests. Because First-Year Seminars don’t have exams or letter grades and usually feature special activities such as guest speakers, field trips, exhibitions, concerts, and studio or lab work, they are often cited by students as the highlight of Harvard’s first year.
Enrollment for BOTH Fall and Spring Seminars occurs over the summer by way of an application available on the First-Year Seminar Program’s website: https://firstyearseminarprogram.college.harvard.edu/students/apply/
First-Year seminars are not required. You may take one first-year seminar in each semester, and they are credit-bearing courses. Because first-year seminars are limited in size, students will apply for these seminars, and are encouraged to apply for several.
Harvard has a language requirement, which is that students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Students who have not met the requirement upon entering Harvard will meet the requirement through taking language courses while enrolled at Harvard. The language requirement must be fulfilled to graduate.
Harvard offers study in more than 80 languages including American Sign Language. Language study can open possibilities for experiences, including study abroad, so while you are not required to take a language course in your first year, you’ll talk with your advisors about your plan to fulfill the language requirement.
Whether you have met the language requirement already or not, language study can be a part of your Harvard education. Language placement exams are optional and can help you and your advisors identify appropriate courses.
Harvard’s Quantitative Reasoning with Data (QRD) requirement does not necessitate that you take a math course – there are many courses that meet the QRD requirement. But if you are interested in a quantitative field, or any field with a math requirement, you are advised to plan on taking a math course in your first year.
Your math placement exam, taken over the summer, determines where you should begin your math journey at Harvard. Additional information on math placement, including virtual advising events, can be found on the Math Placement webpage.
Academic Resources
Harvard Student Compass
An AI tool for members of the Harvard community that helps you find accurate, policy-backed answers from the Harvard College Handbook, Fields of Concentration, and key advising resources, and points you toward the right people and offices. It is a starting point for finding information, not a replacement for conversations with advisors or for consulting official resources directly.
Like all AI tools, Harvard Student Compass can occasionally make mistakes or generate inaccurate information. Always confirm important details against the official sources or with an expert.
Harvard College Handbook
The Harvard College Student Handbook outlines academic requirements, the Honor Code, community standards, and rules students are expected to know and follow.
Fields of Concentration
The official record of requirements of Harvard College's Concentrations, Secondary Fields, and Language Citations.
Student Support
A directory of academic resources and support services available to Harvard College students.
