Register now
- Register through May 21.
Harvard College Students
Earn Harvard degree credit in the summer
At Harvard Summer School you’ll find:
- Intensive study ideal for fulfilling tough requirements
- Your Harvard professors and visiting scholars
- Classes to strengthen your application to graduate school
Courses to consider
The following are just a few of the many summer options.
- CHEM S-20ab Organic Chemistry
- ECON S-1900 Financial Accounting
- ENGL S-36 The Bible in the Humanities and the Arts
- PHYS S-1ab Principles of Physics
- SCAN S-115 Nordic Cinema
- SAST S-140 Social Development in Pakistan
Counting summer credit toward your College degree
Most courses count toward your degree if taken for credit after matriculating at Harvard College. There are exceptions, including online courses, which do not count.
To ensure you will earn credit:
- Register for courses held in Cambridge or through an approved program abroad.
- Review the course exceptions by department before registering.
- Because some courses are offered both on campus and online, see how to request credit for on-campus courses with a distance option.
- See the instructions for newly admitted freshmen, transfer students, and students returning from a leave of absence.
Course exceptions
There are some course exceptions, along with the procedures governing admission to certain courses in economics. Review Academic Credit for information about applying Summer School credit toward Harvard College degrees.
Biological sciences
Harvard College biology concentrators: you must petition the Biology Undergraduate Office before registering for Summer School courses to determine which biological sciences courses are appropriate for your plan of study. See information about earning credit for on-campus courses with a distance education option.
Chemistry
CHEM S-1ab satisfies a year of general chemistry, either for a chemistry concentration or a premedical program. Likewise, CHEM S-20ab satisfies a year of organic chemistry, either for a chemistry concentration or a premedical program. See the chemistry courses.
Computer science
CSCI S-19, S-75, and S-131b are special professional offerings not drawn from the Harvard College curriculum and, therefore, cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree. CSCI S-1 counts as 4 degree credits but may not be counted for concentration credit in computer science. CSCI S-111 counts as 8 degree credits and 4 concentration credits (Computer Science 50). See information about earning credit for on-campus courses with a distance education option. See the computer science courses.
Core Curriculum
Any summer courses previously approved for Core credit will continue to receive that credit. You can find a list of last year's approved courses here. Please consult directly with the Core Office for guidance on new summer courses, by e-mailing core@fas.harvard.edu.
Drama
Check with the director of undergraduate studies before counting any Summer School courses for secondary field credit. See drama courses.
Economics
Consult the Economics Undergraduate Office in Littauer 111, (617) 495-3290, before enrolling in Summer School economics courses. If you have completed Social Analysis 10 and meet the requirements listed below, you may enroll in the following courses without taking the proficiency exam. Note that credit for summer courses taken online cannot be applied toward Harvard College degrees. See the economics courses or consult the Department of Economics summer webpage.
| Summer School course | Equivalent Harvard College prerequisites |
|---|---|
| ECON S-1010 | Mathematics 1a |
| ECON S-1012 | Mathematics 1a |
| ECON S-1123 | Statistics 100 |
| ECON S-1530 | Mathematics 1a and Economics 1010b |
| ECON S-1535 | Mathematics 1a and Economics 1010b |
| ECON S-1913 | Mathematics 1a and Economics 1745 or consent of the instructor |
| ECON S-1920 | Mathematics 1a, Statistics 100 and Economics 1723, or consent of the instructor |
| ECON S-1941 | Statistics 100 and Mathematics 20; or Statistics 100, Mathematics 21a, and Mathematics 21b |
Education
EDUC S-037 is a professional offering and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree.
Engineering sciences
Engineering sciences concentrators must consult the department regarding concentration credit for Summer School courses. See the engineering sciences courses.
Environmental studies
ENVR S-101, S-140/W, S-161, S-200, S-210, and S-599 are professional offerings and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree. See the environmental studies courses.
Expository writing
Summer School courses in expository and creative writing do not fulfill the expository writing requirement.
French
FREN S-27 does not fulfill the language citation. FREN S-Ax does not fulfill the foreign language requirement. See the French courses.
General Education Curriculum
See the list of approved courses on the Program in General Education website. Several study abroad programs also offer courses that meet various General Education requirements. See Study Abroad Credit Information.
German
You must have the permission of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures to enroll in GERM S-R. See the German language and literature courses.
Government
Note that credit for summer courses taken online cannot be applied toward Harvard College degrees. See information about earning credit for on-campus courses with a distance education option. See the government courses.
History of art and architecture
The Graduate School of Design’s Career Discovery Program may count as Harvard College credit.
Journalism
Journalism courses are professional offerings and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree.
Literature
Some literature courses may be counted toward concentration credit. However, if you are a literature concentrator, consult your faculty advisor before enrollment to determine how credit for these courses will be applied. See the literature courses.
Management
The courses in management (MGMT) and information systems management (ISMT) are professional offerings and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree.
Mathematics
MATH S-310 and S-317 are professional offerings and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree. See the mathematics courses.
Museum studies
These courses are professional offerings and cannot be taken for credit toward a Harvard College degree.
Psychology
While all psychology courses count for Harvard College degree credit, only certain courses can count toward the concentration or secondary field. Please consult the department’s electives webpage or e-mail psychology@wjh.harvard.edu for further information. See the psychology courses.
Reading and research courses
In accordance with policies and requirements in your department, you may enroll in up to 8 credits of reading and research or tutorial during the Summer School session. Reading and research courses are available only for Harvard College students and only in departments that regularly offer the courses during the year.
To register for a reading and research course, obtain written approval from your resident dean and department tutor on a Summer School reading and research application form (See Forms). Submit that form along with a Summer School registration form, the $50 registration fee, and $2,700 tuition (per 4 credits) by Monday, May 21. From Tuesday, May 22, to Thursday, June 28, you may register with an additional $200 late fee.
Religion
Note that credit for summer courses taken online cannot be applied toward Harvard College degrees. See information about earning credit for on-campus courses with a distance education option. See the religion courses.
Spanish
SPAN S-27 does not fulfill the language citation.
Study abroad programs
See Study Abroad Credit Information.
Summer seminars
Unlike Harvard freshman seminars, summer seminars are taken for a letter grade. Summer seminars provide 1 half-year course of Harvard College degree credit.
