About Harvard Summer School
This page contains content from the Summer School 2009. For current information, visit the Harvard Summer School website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
Earn credit toward a degree, satisfy intellectual curiosity, or gain new professional skills at Harvard this summer.
Courses with no application required
Our nearly 300 courses are challenging, but most are open admission, which means no application, transcripts, or letters of recommendation are required. The faculty of Harvard professors and visiting scholars teach classes that meet during the day; some courses are available in the evening or online.
Special programs and courses
The following opportunities are also available; some require application.
See: English Language Programs, Study Abroad, Secondary School Program, and Courses for Teachers
Harvard campus and community
Cambridge and Harvard are lively in the summertime, and there are many University resources and activities to enjoy.
Living on campus
JFK slept here … And so did Henry David Thoreau, Natalie Portman, and Al Gore. Harvard housing has accommodated many illustrious figures. With buildings around Harvard Yard and the Square, you are steps from everything.
See: On-Campus Housing
Libraries, museum, athletic facilities
Fifty-seven miles of bookshelves … Who needs a treadmill? You could get lost in Widener Library, which houses some three million volumes in more than 100 languages. The University also has wonderful museums and computer labs, and extensive athletic facilities.
See: Resources
Fun and relaxation
Scull, shuck, sing, serve, Sox. Success in your courses depends on the proper balance. Participate in organized excursions, intramural sports, and musical groups. Or try something new—whether it’s sculling on the Charles, shucking oysters at a raw bar, or cheering on the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
See: Activities