Coursework
Course Requirements Overview
- Graded 4-credit courses: 4 minimum by the end of the second year and 6 minimum by the end of the third year.
- Prescription courses: number to be determined by the Prescription Committee. Prescriptions count toward course total and are usually at the 100- or 200-level.
- Grade Minimum for graded courses: B-
- Additional Courses: With advisor approval, students may opt to take courses beyond their 4-course requirement.
Prescription courses are personalized to ensure that students have a strong, well-rounded academic background. In recent years, the procedure by which students are assigned these courses has changed. Upon your arrival, expect to receive a tentative list of courses which have been determined by the Prescription Committee. Regardless of prescriptions, each student must take at least four graded courses prior to graduation.
Each student should confer with his/her advisor to:
- Determine if there are any courses on the tentative list which may not be necessary
- Prepare a tentative course of study beyond the required prescription courses
If all are in agreement with the list you receive, it is not necessary to meet with the Prescription committee. However, if you would like to petition for a change, you will need to consult with the committee to make your request. Based on your prior training, an appropriate course of study will then be decided.
The Committee will require you to meet the content of the following Harvard courses before your Qualifying Examination. These requirements may be met by courses you have taken before admission to the graduate program, or be prescribed for you by the committee.
--Mathematics - college-level calculus
--Statistics
--A reasonable combination of courses in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology
--'Kingdom' course - A course that deals with the systematics, structure, function and ecology of at least one major group of animals or plants.