First-Year Seminar Program
First-Year Seminars provide an engaging setting for incoming students to work closely with faculty and peers on topics of mutual interest. Because they are meticulously designed for the first-year audience, First-Year Seminars are an ideal setting to discover areas of interest and explore potential concentrations. A wide range of seminar topics are offered, and first-year students can enroll in one seminar, worth 4-degree credits, in each of the two calendar terms.
Writing Program
The Harvard College Writing Program designs the curricula and pedagogy for the required expository writing course Expos 20. Expos courses are taken as first-year students and are taught in small seminars focusing on writing proficiency in scholarly writing. In addition to teaching the fundamentals of analytical argument to first-year students, the Writing Program extensively supports undergraduate writing beyond Expos with elective courses, guides, and writing resources.
Rising Scholars Program
The Harvard College Rising Scholars Program (RSP) is a year-long program offered to an invited cohort of academically ambitious incoming Harvard College students. Offered at no cost to participants, it begins with a seven-week intensive eight-credit course on Harvard’s campus in the summer before the first-year fall that introduces students to Harvard’s academic expectations and helps them to develop their academic voices. Through the RSP, students will receive specialized support and guidance at every level as they contribute actively to Harvard’s living and learning community.
