The Center for Middle Eastern Studies organizes three mandatory orientation events for new students one week before classes: a session with Associate Director Susan Kahn to introduce students to formal aspects of the program; an informal reception with members of faculty, current graduate students, staff and Center associates; and a Harvard Libraries workshop. The Graduate School (GSAS) also hosts a general orientation. See the Orientation Schedule for exact dates.
It is vital that PhD students attend both the CMES and their department orientation.
Registration for incoming students is a two-step process. Students formally register with GSAS online from September 9 through September 13. On September 13, incoming students must come in person to SeptemberFest at Dudley House where they will receive, among other materials, a temporary ID, the GSAS Handbook, and the full catalogue of courses, Courses of Instruction.
Returning students register online.
The first meeting of classes is on Monday, September 17, 2007. The first week of classes is known as "Shopping Week". Attend as many classes as possible (you can enter or leave a class at any point) in order to make an informed choice when you hand in your Study Card. Be sure to consult the CMES online list of Middle Eastern related courses. Other useful sources of information are the Course Evaluation Guide (CUE Guide). Finally, don’t forget that you can take courses outside of GSAS and even outside of Harvard at Tufts and M.I.T.
Course enrollment is carried out online through the "Courses" tab at my.harvard.edu. The course enrollment tool will be available to Graduate School students from 7:00 am on Wednesday, September 12, through 5:00 pm on Friday, September 21.
To sign up for classes, move courses from the electronic shopping cart to the electronic Study Card. Your electronic study card will become available once you have registered on September 12. The electronic Study Card can then be printed and used to collect the necessary signatures before being submitted on Study Card Day.
Study Cards are submitted to Dudley House by Friday, September 21 (fall term) and Wednesday, February 6 (spring term). All students submitting their Study Cards past the deadline will be charged the usual fee of $40.00 per week.
See the CMES Student Handbook for more detailed information about coursework, the Study Card, the Office of the Registrar, cross-registration, and policies and procedures.
See the individual CMES program guides for information on advising and the plan of study.
Copyright © 2007 The President and Fellows of Harvard College