#  Course Registration 

 



##  Course Registration 

 Academics 

 

 

       ![A student smiles in class while holding a paper.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-04/FYW_HERO_Guide_to_Registration.jpg?h=23d8741c&itok=XDdlnx1t) 

 

 



 

 



 

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## Fall course registration for the Class of 2030 will take place August 11-August 13.

Once registration closes, you cannot make changes to your schedules until the open add/drop period starting August 24 and ending on September 9, 2026. During this period, you can add/drop a course without instructor permission, unless it has limited enrollment.



 

##  Quick Guide: How to Enroll in Courses 

 



 add\_shopping\_cart 

 [### Step 1

 ](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=6af11b09dbf94bc4a752f1a51d961984#Crimson_Cart_Add)Browse the my.harvard course catalog and add courses to your Crimson Cart beginning **June 17.**



 

 

 chat 

 [### Step 2

 ](https://events.college.harvard.edu/apo/event/197633-academic-advising-required-virtual-small-group)Discuss course selection in small group advising sessions between **July 9 and July 28**, which will lift your “advising hold”.



 

 

 check 

 [### Step 3

 ](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=6af11b09dbf94bc4a752f1a51d961984#Course_Validation)Validate the courses in your Crimson Cart and complete your enrollment in my.harvard by **August 13 at 11:59 p.m.**



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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##  Registration Logistics 

 



 [Key Registration Dates chevron\_right](#registration-dates) [Course Information chevron\_right](#course-information) [Sectioning chevron\_right](#sectioning) [Holds chevron\_right](#holds) [Enrollment Lotteries chevron\_right](#enrollment-lotteries) [Prerequisites chevron\_right](#prerequisites) 

 

 

 

 

###  Key Registration Dates 

 



  [### Apply for First-Year Seminars

 ](/event/apply-first-year-seminars?occ_id=0)Jul. 6 - Aug 6, 2026

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 All day 

 

 

   [### Attend Group Advising Sessions

 ](/event/attend-group-advising-sessions?occ_id=0)Jul. 9 - Jul 28, 2026

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 All day 

 

 

   [### View Course Recommendations in My.Harvard

 ](/event/view-course-recommendations-myharvard?occ_id=0)Jul. 15 - Aug 12, 2026

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 12:00PM EDT 

 

 

   [### Register for Fall Courses

 ](/event/register-fall-courses?occ_id=0)Aug. 11 - Aug 13, 2026

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 All day 

 

 

   [### Open Add/Drop Period

 ](/event/open-adddrop-period?occ_id=0)Aug. 24 - Sep 9, 2026

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 12:01AM - 11:59PM EDT 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

###  Course Information 

Instructors will share [basic information](https://registrar.fas.harvard.edu/basic-syllabus-information) about each course via my.harvard or on their course Canvas websites. Basic syllabus information includes elements such as:

- Course goals and format
- Typical enrollees
- When is the course typically offered?
- What can students expect from instructors?
- Assignments and grading
- Sample reading list (optional)
- If limited enrollment: what is cap, selection process
- Past sample syllabus
- Absence and late work policies

You can use this information to help you decide whether you want to take a course.



 

###  Sectioning 

Most courses offering a discussion section or lab will require you to register for a [timed section](https://registrar.fas.harvard.edu/enrollment#register) during registration. Some courses with less predictable enrollments or space constraints (like lab courses) will prompt you to enroll in an untimed placeholder section when you register and will finalize their sections at the end of registration. During registration and the open add/drop period, you can swap section enrollments if needed.



 

###  Holds 

Each semester, students must have their advising hold lifted by an academic advisor in order to register. It's helpful to meet with your academic advisor to discuss your fall schedule as soon as Crimson Carts open.

> **Incoming students will have their advising hold lifted after participating in small group advising sessions hosted by the Advising Programs Office between July 9–July 28.**
> 
> **Crimson Carts open for Fall 2026 courses on June 17, 2026**

Be mindful that additional holds may be placed on your account by various offices such as Harvard University Health Services (HUHS), Student Financial Services, etc., and you may need to take separate steps to clear these holds. If you have not completed your language requirement after two terms, a language requirement hold will be placed on your record until you meet with an academic advisor.

You can view holds on your record under the 'Student Home' tab when logged into my.harvard. [Common types of holds](https://registrar.fas.harvard.edu/enrollment#holds) and information about who to contact for help can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

> **Important information about holds:**
> 
> - **Holds only prevent you from enrolling in courses.**
> - **If you have an active hold on your account, you may still petition for courses and enter course lotteries.**



 

###  Enrollment Restrictions and Lotteries 

Some courses have enrollment caps, requiring a petition to join through my.harvard. If interest exceeds available seats, an enrollment lottery may be conducted. Specific instructions and deadlines vary by course or department and will be indicated on my.harvard and course websites. It is important to submit a petition to enroll in a course through my.harvard before the advertised lottery deadline.

If accepted through a lottery, you must enroll in the course via my.harvard by the deadline. Contact instructors directly for course-specific lottery questions.

#### Gen Ed Lottery

[The Program in General Education (Gen Ed)](https://gened.college.harvard.edu/courses/registration-and-lottery/) runs a single coordinated, ranked-choice lottery for all enrollment-capped Gen Ed courses for which student interest exceeds available seats. If you are offered a seat in a lotteried Gen Ed course, you must enroll and claim your seat.

> **There is no Gen Ed Lottery for incoming students. A limited number of seats for incoming students will be added to enrollment-capped courses prior to registration. You will be able to submit petitions for capped courses when registration opens on August 11.**

Not all Gen Ed courses have enrollment caps, but those that do are marked clearly in my.harvard and in the course catalog on the Gen Ed website.



 

###  Prerequisites 

Some courses require specific preparation, referred to as prerequisites, before enrolling. This information is located within the course notes on my.harvard. In some cases, instructors may waive a prerequisite if they believe you have the equivalent background. To waive a prerequisite, check directly with the instructor.



 

##  Exploring Courses 

 



 [My.Harvard Tutorial chevron\_right](#my-harvard-tutorial) [Course Search Tools chevron\_right](#search-tools) [Canvas Websites chevron\_right](#canvas) [Supplementary Tools chevron\_right](#supplementary-tools) [Expository Writing Courses chevron\_right](#expos) [First-Year Seminars chevron\_right](#seminars) [Unique Course Opportunities chevron\_right](#unique-courses) 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

###  My.harvard Course Search Tools 

My.harvard is the primary site for exploring courses, and it's where to finalize enrollment. Below are the central tools that can help explore course options for the coming term and future.

- [My.harvard Course Search Tool](https://courses.my.harvard.edu/): Browse courses, create a favorites list, and enroll in courses, including those available for cross-registration at other Harvard schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Visit the IT Help Center to learn more about how to use the course search tool and get tips for narrowing a course search on my.harvard.
- Placement and Test Score Report
- Adding a course to [Crimson Cart](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=dd963c61db6f0704a914fff31d9619c4) allows access to the course's Canvas site.

> - **Crimson Carts open for incoming students on June 17, 2026**

- [Search by my requirements (SBR)](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=cc9ea3121bb08590351ceb9bbc4bcb3a): Find courses based on the Harvard College academic requirements. The SBR searches for courses that meet: Unsatisfied Harvard College requirements, General Education, and Divisional Distribution requirements.
- [What if? Report](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=42b0e23f1ba109104990a8e22a4bcbd4): Enables the visualization of potential coursework to fulfill degree requirements within a chosen concentration, offering valuable assistance to first-year Harvard College students exploring concentrations or those contemplating a change in concentration.



 

###  Course Canvas Websites 

Canvas is the platform used for FAS course websites, and is where to access syllabi, assignments, announcements, and messages for courses; exploring Canvas provides insights into the course experience. To access individual course Canvas websites, go to the course descriptions on my.harvard. View the full course website for any courses added to Crimson Cart, as well as receive all announcements posted via Canvas for courses in Crimson Cart.



 

###  Supplementary Tools for Course Information 

- Use the [Harvard Syllabus Explorer](https://syllabus.harvard.edu/) to access to course syllabi associated with previous versions of a class.
- [The Q ](https://q.fas.harvard.edu/about)is a valuable resource for student feedback on courses and faculty. It collects data on workload, student comments, and teaching staff evaluations. Utilize the Course Selection Tool to access past course evaluations and individual Q reports for specific classes. Course descriptions on my.harvard also provide links to past Q evaluations. Note that new courses will not have a Q score available.



 

###  Special Courses for First-Year Students 

 

###  Expository Writing 

Expository Writing is a requirement for every first-year student and can be satisfied in one of three ways:

   ![A student participates in an Expos 20 course](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/IS_Content_Expository_Writing_Square.jpg?itok=6zhl4JrS) 

 

- Expos Studio 10 (fall) and Expos 20 (spring) or Expos Studio 20 (spring)
- Expos 20 (assigned either fall or spring)
- Humanities 10A and 10B is a two-semester intensive humanities course taught by a team of Harvard faculty. If both semesters are completed, the courses can be used to satisfy the Expository Writing requirement. These courses require an application.

[The Writing Placement Exam](https://placement.college.harvard.edu/) informs Expos course recommendation. Students are assigned to the recommended course in the fall or spring semester, and information related to assignment is within the Placement and Test Scores report on my.harvard.

> **All students taking Expos Studio 10 or Expos 20 will be automatically enrolled in a placeholder course but** [**must participate in the sectioning process to finalize their Expos section and time**](https://writingprogram.college.harvard.edu/registration/)**. Avoid ranking preferences that conflict with key times for other currently registered courses, as Expos sectioning is released near the registration deadline.**
> 
> [**View Expos 20 sections →**](https://writingprogram.college.harvard.edu/courses/expos-20/)



 

Apply starting July 6 - Applications due August 6

#### First-Year Seminars 

 

First-Year Seminars offer a unique opportunity for incoming students to work closely in a small setting with professors and students with similar interests. They are electives carrying 4-degree credits graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Participation in a short application process is required.



 [ Browse seminars arrow\_circle\_right ](https://firstyearseminarprogram.college.harvard.edu/seminars/) 

 



      ![Students seated around a round table](/sites/g/files/omnuum13001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-04/FYW_HERO_Classroom_Experience.jpg?itok=kvkBCEm9) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

###  Unique Course Opportunities 

 



 [### StudioLab Courses

 ](https://lpce.college.harvard.edu/studiolab)The Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship (LPCE) offers StudioLab courses in which students develop entrepreneurial skills and learn how to create ventures that tackle societal issues.



 

 

 [### Engaged Scholarship Courses

 ](https://engagedscholarship.fas.harvard.edu/student-resources/academics/)The Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship (MPES) offers courses that integrates community and civically engaged learning into the classroom. Through hands-on learning experiences in and with communities beyond the Harvard context, engaged scholarship challenge students to bring together intellectual content with community perspectives and expertise.



 

 

 [### Study Abroad

 ](https://oie.fas.harvard.edu/)The Office of International Education (OIE) facilitates academic year, semester, and summer study abroad experiences for College students. Through studying abroad, students embody the Harvard College mission by contributing to their development as global citizens and citizen-leaders, while also earning academic credit toward their concentration, secondary field, language citation, and/or elective credit.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

##  Fulfilling Degree Requirements 

 



 [Curriculum chevron\_right](#curriculum) [Concentration chevron\_right](#concentration) [Electives chevron\_right](#electives) 

 

 

 

 

 ### Curriculum Requirements

Up to 12 courses

 

  

 

 

 

1-2

Expository Writing

Students must fulfill the expository writing requirement in their first year. Based on the results of your Writing Placement Exam, you will be recommended for one of the following:

- Expos Studio 10 (fall) + Expos Studio 20 (spring) or Expos 20 (spring)
- Expos 20 (fall or spring)

[Explore expository writing courses →](https://writingprogram.fas.harvard.edu/courses-0)

 



1-2

Language

Students must complete one year-long course or two semester-long courses in a single language.

- A 700 on a SAT II Test in a language other than English, a score of 5 on a relevant AP examination, or a score of 7 on a relevant HL International Baccalaureate exam fulfills the language requirement.
- A passing score on a [language placement exam](https://websites.harvard.edu/placement/language/) fulfills the language requirement.

[Other ways to fulfill the language requirement →](https://oue.fas.harvard.edu/academics/#language)

 



3

Divisional Distribution

Students must complete three courses, one course in each of the three main divisions of the FAS and the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS): Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences; and Science and Engineering and Applied Sciences.

 



4

General Education

Students must complete four General Education courses, one from each of four categories: Aesthetics & Culture; Ethics & Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science & Technology in Society.

[Browse Gen Ed courses →](https://gened.college.harvard.edu/courses/)

 



1

Quantitative Reasoning with Data

Students must complete one course in Quantitative Reasoning with Data. QRD introduces mathematical, statistical, and computational methods that enable students to think critically about data as it is employed in fields of inquiry.

- The QRD requirement can be fulfilled at any point before graduation.

[Find courses that fulfill the QRD requirement →](https://qrd.college.harvard.edu/courses/)

 



 

 

 

 

 

  [### Concentration Requirements

 ](https://advising.college.harvard.edu/concentrations)11-14 Courses

 

  

 

 

 

 ### Electives

8-12 Courses