Frequently Asked Questions

Outside Course Credit

Credit for Courses Outside the Concetration

Q: Suppose I want to have a course not listed in Fields of Concentration count for concentration credit. What do I have to do?

A: You must get a reading list and course syllabus (note: course catalogue descriptions are NOT adequate) and file a petition. You must specify exactly what kind of credit you are seeking (e.g., elective or advanced), and provide a written rationale for why you think this course will contribute to your biology training. Your advisor must sign the petition. You will be notified after the Head Tutor has reviewed the petition and made his recommendations or stipulations. In most cases, if you do not hear back from the Undergraduate Office, it means the petition has been approved.

Credit for courses taken outside Harvard

Q: I would like to take one of my courses during the summer at a local college. Would this summer course count anything towards my requirements?

A: Harvard does not award credit for Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physics or Math taken during the summer at another university. However, a number of students take this route to free up their time here. So, what Biology requires is that you get a syllabus of the respective courses and consult with the Head Tutor in the respective Chemistry and Physics departments to have them assess the course content. You are not asking them for permission or credit, just for their evaluation of the content. If they deem that the course(s) is similar in content to Harvard’s offering, have them write a short, one-sentence note to this effect. You can then later, after the course has been successfully completed, petition the Biology concentration to waive that requirement. Biology won’t reduce the number of courses needed; it will simply exempt you from that particular requirement. Again, Harvard won’t give you credit, so you must make up the credit somewhere else in your curriculum (not necessarily biology).

updated 01/01/05