At Harvard University individual schools and departments have their own program and degree requirements. It is therefore essential that you obtain and read carefully the University bulletin (catalog) for your school, not only for its course listings but also for its regulations pertaining to credits, grades, deadlines, etc. You may obtain the University bulletin at your school's registrar's office or at your particular school's registration/orientation. The following academic terminologies are in general use:
Academic calendar
A schedule of important dates and deadlines for the academic year.
Academic year
The autumn term (semester) of September through January, and the spring term of February through early June generally constitute the academic year. Some school calendars may vary.
Assignments (homework)
Work to be completed outside of class; for example, reading books from the course syllabus or writing a term paper. Foreign students are sometimes dismayed by the amount of reading assigned for their courses, especially if English is not their native language. It is important, therefore, to be clear about the role of the reading assignments in a course. In some courses, the reading is central; you must read the texts closely and know the material for exams. In other courses, readings may be supplementary or optional. It probably will not be possible for you to read thoroughly everything that is assigned. You will have to prioritize: read the most important material first and carefully; then skim the less important assignments (See also Preparation below).
Course credits
A system schools create to keep track of the courses you have taken and need to complete a degree. The registrar's office in your school is a good source for this information.
Exams
Tests, given mid-way through or at the end of the term. They may call for specific, short replies or for longer responses in the form of essays. Often examinations are a combination of both forms. Objective questions have only one right answer and include true or false, sentence completion ("fill in the blanks"), multiple choice, and matching. They cover a broad range of material and demand a particular type of study. Many exams include one or two questions requiring essays of several pages, or several questions requiring only a paragraph or two. Essay questions generally specify how you are to approach the material. Terms often used in essay questions are analyze, compare and contrast, criticize, define, describe, discuss, evaluate, explain, illustrate, interpret, justify, outline, prove, review, summarize, and trace. You will become familiar with these methods soon enough, but if you don't understand, see your instructor or your academic advisor. The exam room is monitored by proctors, who enforce instructions given by the professor; such instructions may not allow the use of books or other sources. Talking during examinations, bringing written notes into exams, copying from another's paper, or having someone else do your work is considered cheating. Please be aware that something as simple as asking to borrow a pencil or using another student's calculator during an examination may be misunderstood. Penalties for cheating can result in expulsion from the University.
Full-time program
Registration for twelve credits or more. See the Government Regulations section of the Maintaining Your Visa Status booklet.
Grades
Each school at Harvard has a different system for grading its students. It is imperative that you understand the system in your school. Ask your academic advisor or consult the registrar's office for information.
Lectures
The most common method of instruction in the U.S. Lectures are supplemented by classroom discussion (especially in small classes called sections), by reading assignments in textbooks, journals, or library books, and by periodic written assignments.
Libraries
Both in the preparation of term papers and in doing course assignments, you are likely to use the library a great deal. University libraries in the U.S. tend to be large, and students use them regularly; it is important, therefore, to learn how the library you use is organized. Each library on campus has trained staff members who are happy to answer your questions about its organization, the location of specific materials, bibliographies, and other library services.
Office Hours
The time teachers set aside for talking to their students. If you do not have the time or opportunity to raise questions in class, you may see your teacher privately during his or her office hours or by making an appointment for another convenient time. Teachers usually announce their office hours at the first meeting of class.
Preparation
For each hour in class you should devote two to three hours at home to reviewing your class notes and texts, writing down questions for discussion, reading in advance the assigned material, and writing your homework assignments, including term papers.
Seminar
A small class on specialized topics at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level. It is likely to be devoted entirely to discussion. Students are often required to prepare presentations based on their independent reading and research.
Syllabus
Usually a handout describing the course objectives, materials to be covered, due dates for assignments, schedule of exams and reference reading. It may also describe the professor's office location and office hours.
Take-home examination
Questions to be answered in written essays outside of class hours, using resource materials. It must be taken alone, not in collaboration with fellow students.
Term papers
In many courses you will be required to write a comprehensive paper based on study or research you have done in the library or laboratory. Your teacher will usually assign such a paper in the early part of the course. You are expected to work on it throughout the term and submit it near the end of the term. The grade you receive on the paper may be very important in determining your grade for the course. Booklets available in bookstores and libraries explain the format you must use for footnotes and bibliographies. If you have questions about a particular term paper assignment, discuss them with your teacher.
Transcript
An official record of the courses for which you have registered and the grades you received in them is maintained in the registrar's office of your school. You should receive a copy once a year. Official copies may also be ordered for a fee.