The Core Curriculum Requirement

All students must meet the requirements of the Core Curriculum in order to graduate. Students who entered Harvard College before September 2002 should consult the Core Office, 77 Dunster Street, 617-495-2563. Students who entered Harvard College after September 1999 and before September 2002 have an eight-course Core requirement, unless they qualify for and formally move to the current seven-course Core requirement, and should consult the Core Office. Students who enter Harvard College in September 2002 or thereafter must pass one letter-graded course in each of seven areas designated as Non-exempt for their concentration.

The Core Curriculum Requirement

There are eleven areas in the Core Curriculum:

Since the goal of the Core requirement is to broaden each student's perspective, students must pass one letter-graded course in each of the seven areas that will give their overall program the greatest breadth. The Core requirement for each concentration appears on the following pages. The Core requirements for Advanced Standing students who graduate in fewer than eight terms, and for transfer students, are explained on page 29. Courses taken in Exempt areas and courses taken Pass/Fail cannot be used to satisfy the Core requirement. As a rule, Harvard Summer School courses cannot be used to meet the Core requirement. Students should consult the Core Office for information about specific Summer School courses that can be taken for Core credit. Specific departmental courses that can be counted for Core area credit are listed in the section on "Options for Meeting Core Area Requirements" starting on page 27.

Students are well advised to do all seven Core areas before their last term in residence.