What percentage of faculty members teach undergraduates?
Is it possible to talk with and get to know professors?
Are there required freshman courses?
How many courses does Harvard offer?
How large are courses?
What are Harvard's engineering and science programs like? Harvard is experiencing tremendous expansion within engineering and the sciences. Our unsurpassed facilities provide dozens of labs (many interconnected), clusters, and programs designed to encourage scientists to cut across boundaries and to collaborate.
In the past year alone, Harvard faculty members have invented new types of lasers, stopped light in its tracks, created nanowires one-thousandth the width of a human hair, won a host of prestigious awards, and received major government and industry grants. Our graduates have gone on to lead Fortune 500 companies, run world-class labs, and teach the next generation of researchers, professionals, and technologists.
Harvard caters to "renaissance" thinkers who want to blend a rigorous approach to science and engineering with a broader liberal arts education. Students tackle technical, yet socially relevant challenges through coursework- solving the University's parking space problems or modeling college enrollment trends - and by doing research and fieldwork on everything from computer security to water pollution.
Undergraduates can study an enormous range of topics, including Computer Science (artificial intelligence, graphics, languages, networking, systems, and theory of computation); Engineering Sciences (bioengineering, electrical and environmental engineering, and mechanical and materials science); and Applied Mathematics (with a focus on biology, chemistry, computer science, decision and control, economics, physics, social sciences, and engineering).
About half of recently entering students intend to major in the natural sciences, engineering sciences, computer science, or mathematics. For more information about engineering and the applied sciences, visit the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences website.
How easy is it for students to change majors ("concentrations")?
Can students fulfill academic requirements with previous course work?
What is Harvard's graduation rate?
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
Must students live on campus?
What is the climate at Harvard for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students?Harvard's bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender (BGLT) community consists of an active, visible, and diverse group of students, staff, and faculty. Organizations, support groups, colloquia, and political and social events provide a range of opportunities for BGLT students and their friends to become engaged in the life of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities according to their own preferences for involvement and openness.
In our ongoing efforts to support transgender students, we have made important changes to our policies, such as ensuring that the "gender" field on our application is optional, and that Harvard College has inclusive policies on housing and access to gender non-specific bathrooms across campus. We have many "out" faculty and staff members on campus who are accessible to students as role models and/or mentors. There is an active student BGLT community through the Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance and Harvard boasts the oldest and largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender alumni association in the country, the Harvard Gay & Lesbian Caucus. We strive to create an inclusive environment which supports the well-being and dignity of every student.
Harvard College has an extensive network of BGLT proctors and tutors in our residential communities. These proctors and tutors are live-in residential staff who provide information and programming for BGLT students and their allys. This is one of the greatest strengths and commitment to BGLT students. By living and working with students in their communities, the BGLT educational and social programming is visible and readily accessible. Through the Women, Gender, and Sexuality department, students have additional opportunities to explore issues of gender, identity, and expression.
If you have questions about housing for transgender students, please call the Harvard College Office of Residential Life at 617 495- 1942 or Paul J. McLoughlin II, Assistant Dean of Harvard College for Student Life and Activities at 617 495-1558.
May students bring cars to Harvard?
Should students be concerned for their safety at Harvard?
Does Harvard provide services for students with disabilities?
Are there exchange programs with other Greater Boston colleges?
What study-abroad programs does Harvard offer?
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?
How successful are Harvard students in gaining admission to graduate schools or finding employment after graduation?