Introduction
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
As a new academic year begins I extend a most cordial welcome to you. If you are a newcomer to Harvard, this book will give you a general introduction to the Graduate School and help you to get acquainted with its history, organization, degree programs, regulations, services, and many other details of interest and importance. If you are returning to a familiar setting, you will find that this book is designed to serve as a regularly updated source of reference for many purposes, in particular academic policies and procedures.
Supplementary information is provided by other publications of the Graduate School and the Registrar’s office. However, as printed materials cannot offer exhaustive coverage, let alone answers to all questions, please keep in mind that the Dean’s office, the Office of Student Affairs, the Admissions and Financial Aid office, and departmental directors of graduate studies are all available for personal consultation.
My best wishes for a productive year.
Allan M. Brandt, Dean
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2008–09
When an official deadline falls on a holiday observed by the University, the effective deadline is the next working day.
Registration for non-resident students:
August 1, Friday. Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year are due in department offices. Students filing after this date will be charged a late registration fee of $50, plus an additional $5 for each week thereafter.
Applications for part-time study are due in the GSAS Dean’s office, Holyoke Center.
August 11, Monday. Applications due at the Registrar’s office for November degrees.
September 9, Tuesday. Spring term registration period ends on the day before fall term registration.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the fall term 2007-2008.
Registration and orientation for resident students:
September 5, Friday. 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., orientation for international students, Harvard
Hall 202.
September 10, Wednesday. 10:30 a.m., orientation for new students, Sanders Theatre. 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., SeptemberFest, Dudley House. Includes representatives from student organizations, Term Bill Office, HUID Photos (G1 students), GSAS Financial Aid, University Health Services (immunization information), GSAS Handbook and Courses of Instruction catalog distribution.
All GSAS students must register online by midnight. GSAS students can inquire about holds placed on registration at SeptemberFest (see above) or at the office placing the hold during regular business hours.
All Special Students and Visiting Fellows must register online by midnight.
Students who fail to register will be charged a late registration fee of $50 plus an additional $5 for each week thereafter.
Students in residence who register late must file a study card within five working days of the date of their registration; subsequently the late study card fee is activated. (Special Students should also consult the Office of Special Students.)
Derek Bok Center Teaching Orientation. Students participating in this orientation should register 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. For cross registration, see Chapter V.
September 15, Monday. Fall term begins. First meeting of classes.
September 19, Friday. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., final study cards for GSAS and Special Students for the fall term due in Dudley House. There is a late fee of $40 for each week late. Study cards filed after September 19 must bear the instructor’s signature for each course listed. Degree candidates taking a language course SAT/UNS should see Grade
and Examination Requirements, SAT/UNS, in Chapter V.
September 26, Friday. Tuition and health-care fees will be removed from the term bills of all GSAS degree candidates who are not registered by this date.
September 30, Tuesday. Fall deadline for waiving health insurance, if eligible. (See www.huhs.harvard.edu for waiver information, eligibility requirements, and forms.)
October 1, Wednesday. Last day on which GSAS degree candidates may cancel their registration for the fall term without payment of tuition.
Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for November
degrees.
October 6, Monday. Make-up examinations for spring term 2007-2008 begin. Last day students from other schools may file cross-registration petitions with the FAS Registrar’s office.
October 13, Monday. Columbus Day: a holiday.
October 24, Friday. End of first quarter of fall term tuition period.
October 27, Monday. Last day to register for or add courses for the term. After this date students may add or register for TIME only. Last day for graduate students to add or change SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.
November 11, Tuesday. Veterans’ Day: a holiday.
Last day to drop a course. After this date a petition to withdraw must be completed and returned to the GSAS Student Affairs office, Holyoke Center.
November 25, Tuesday. End of second quarter of fall term tuition period.
November 27, Thursday. Thanksgiving recess begins.
November 30, Sunday. Recess ends.
December 1, Monday. Applications are due at the Registrar’s office for March degrees.
December 17, Wednesday. Winter recess begins.
December 23, Tuesday. End of third quarter of fall term tuition period.
Registration for non-resident students:
January 1, 2009, Thursday. Applications for non-resident status for the spring term are due in department offices. Late fees apply as in the fall.Applications for part-time study are due in the GSAS Dean’s office, Holyoke Center.
January 1, Thursday. Recess ends.
January 2, Friday. Fall term Reading Period begins.
January 5, Monday. Applications from continuing students for 2009-2010 grants due in the GSAS Financial Aid office, Holyoke Center.
January 12, Monday. Last day to petition the Dean’s office for late withdrawal from a
course. (See Chapter V, changing courses during term.)
Fall term Reading Period ends.
January 13, Tuesday. Mid-year examinations begin.
January 19, Monday. Martin Luther King Day: a holiday.
January 22, Thursday. Mid-year examinations end.
January 23, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for March degrees.
January 27, Tuesday. Fall term registration period ends on the day before the spring term
begins.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the spring term 2007-2008.
Registration for new GSAS students, GSAS students returning from non-resident status, Special Students, and Visiting Fellows:
January 28, Wednesday. Spring term begins. First meeting of classes.
All new degree candidates, students returning from non-resident status, and continuing resident students must register online by midnight. (Late fees apply as in the fall.)
All Special Students and Visiting Fellows must register online by midnight.
February 4, Wednesday. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., final study cards for GSAS and Special Students for the spring term due in Dudley House. There is a late fee of $40 for each week late. Study cards filed after this date must bear the instructor’s signature for each course listed. Degree candidates taking a language course SAT/UNS, should see Grade and Examination Requirements, SAT/UNS, in Chapter V.
To change courses after the study card has been filed, students must file a petition to add or drop a course with the registrar, 20 Garden Street. (Special Students should file the petition at Holyoke Center 350.) There is no charge for adding or dropping a course during the first three weeks of the term (from January 26 through February 13). From February 16 through March 16, there is a $10 fee each time a petition is filed. If two petitions are filed simultaneously, only one processing fee is charged. From March 17 through March 31, students may drop courses only and are charged a $10 fee.
February 6, Friday. Last day on which GSAS degree candidates may cancel their registration for the spring term without payment of tuition.
Spring registration will be canceled for students who have filed approved dissertations at the Registrar’s office by this date. Any spring term tuition previously paid will be refunded.
February 16, Monday. Presidents’ Day: a holiday.
February 17, Tuesday. Make-up examinations for fall term 2008-2009 begin.
February 25, Wednesday. End of first quarter of spring term tuition period.
Tuition and health-care fees will be removed from the term bills of all GSAS degree
candidates who are not registered by this date.
February 28, Saturday. Spring deadline for waiving health insurance, if eligible. (See
www.huhs.harvard.edu for waiver information, eligibility requirements, and forms.)
March 2, Monday. Last day students from other schools may file cross-registration petitions with the FAS Registrar’s office.
March 16, Monday. Last day to register for or add courses. After this date students may add or register for TIME only. Last day for graduate students to add or change SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.
March 21, Saturday. Spring recess begins.
March 25, Wednesday. End of second quarter of spring term tuition period.
March 29, Sunday. Spring recess ends.
March 30, Monday. Applications are due at Registrar’s office for June degrees.
March 31, Tuesday. Last day to drop a course. After this date a petition to withdraw must be completed and returned to the GSAS Student Affairs office, Holyoke Center.
April 24, Friday. End of third quarter of spring term tuition period.
May 2, Saturday. Spring term Reading Period begins.
May 13, Wednesday. Last day to petition the Dean’s office for late withdrawal from a course.
Spring term Reading Period ends.
May 14, Thursday. Final examinations begin.
May 22, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office, 20 Garden Street, for June degrees.
Final examinations end.
May 25, Monday. Memorial Day: a holiday.
June 4, Thursday. Commencement.
DEGREE CALENDAR FOR 2008–09
| For a diploma for an advanced degree to be awarded on |
Degree applications are due at the Registrar’s office on* |
Degree recommendations and dissertations are due at the Registrar’s office on |
| November 4, 2008 |
August 11, 2008 |
October 1, 2008 |
| March 10, 2009 |
December 1, 2008 |
January 23, 2009 |
| June 4, 2009 |
March 30, 2009 |
May 22, 2009 |
*In exceptional circumstances, the registrar will accept late applications during the next
two weeks only; there is a late fee of $50.
TENTATIVE CALENDAR FOR 2009–10
The Harvard University Coordinated Academic Calendar becomes effective with the 2009-2010 academic year. Special attention should be paid to deadlines, as many will vary from prior years.August 1, Saturday. Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year are due in department offices.
August 10, Monday. Applications are due at the Registrar’s office for November degrees.
August 30, Sunday. The spring term registration period ends on the day prior to fall term registration.
Last day to submit work for Incomplete grades from the fall term of 2008–2009.
August 31, Monday. Resident registration.
September 2, Wednesday. Fall term begins. First meeting of classes.
October 2, Friday. Approved dissertations due in the Registrar’s office for November degrees.
January 25, 2010, Monday. Spring term begins.
May 27, 2010, Thursday. Commencement.