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FAQS for Secondary Fields
Please read through the FAQs below to see if your specific question is answered before contacting an adviser or the Undergraduate Office. Also, please read the General FAQs from the Advising Program Office's secondary field webpage.
*UPDATE: As of Fall 2009, PSY 1 and SCI B-62 will no longer be offered. These courses have been replaced by a new General Education course, Science of Living Systems 20: Psychological Science. To learn more about the Tier 1/Introduction requirement for psychology, please click here.
I. Questions about Advising and Filing:
II. Questions about Double-Counting Courses:
III. Questions about Requirements:
THE ANSWERS:
I. Questions about Advising and Filing:
Who can I talk to about psychology secondary field requirements?
After having carefully read the requirements and the FAQs, you may seek out an adviser to answer your questions. Students in houses may contact the psychology Concentration Adviser assigned to their house. Students who are not yet in houses may come to William James Hall during drop-in hours. You may also email questions to psychology at wjh dot harvard dot edu. top
How do I declare a secondary field in psychology?
- Notify the department of your intention to complete a secondary field by using the Secondary Field Webtool and clicking on the "Notify" icon. Do not "file" at this time.
- Complete the required coursework.
- Complete and File the online Form to File for a Secondary Field electronically by following the instructions provided.
- Print the filed form to be signed by the department.
- Prior to 5th Monday, email Rebecca Stoodley (stoodley at wjh dot harvard dot edu) to make an appointment to come to the Psychology Undergraduate Office, William James Hall 218, to have the printed form reviewed and signed. If you have any approved petitions, it is your responsibility to keep a copy of the approved petition and attach it to your printed form.
- Prior to 7th Monday of your final term, hand in the filed and signed form to the Registrar no later than 5pm top
II. Questions about Double-Counting Courses:
I took Stat 100 for my concentration and a Science B course in psychology to meet a Core requirement. Can I count both courses?
No. You can only count one course toward the secondary field and any other requirement. If you are in this situation, you have three options, in order of preference:
- Use Stat 100 as your one double-counted course. Do not use your Science B course toward the secondary field, and take a different psychology elective instead.
- Take an additional, different Science B course to meet the Core requirement. Count the psychology Science B course only toward the secondary field, and use Stat 100 as your one double-counted course.
- Do not count Stat 100 and take Psy 1900 to meet the Psy 1900 requirement. Use the Science B course as your one double-counting course. (Not ideal, as there is a lot of overlap between Stat 100 and Psy 1900). top
I took Stat 100 for my concentration (or QR Core) and took Science B-62 for Core. Both of these courses meet requirements, but both double-count. Can I count them both for the secondary field?
No, only one course may double-count. Your best option is to take another SCI B or QR core course to meet core requirement and use either Stat 100 or SCI B-62 for the secondary field only. It is possible to fulfill the secondary field requirements by taking SLS 20 or PSY 1 and PSY 1900, however there will be significant overlap with SCI B-62 and Stat 100, respectively. top
Can I count courses I have taken for my concentration or for Core requirements toward a psychology secondary field?
A college-wide rule states that only one half-course may double count for a secondary field and concentration (or any other degree requirement, such as the Core, a foreign language citation, or the language requirement). Courses count first for concentration, and then one may be double-counted for a secondary field. In short, you must take 5 courses toward the secondary field that don't meet any other requirements. top
How do I know whether something is counting toward my concentration?
Check your student record and see which courses are marked "1C" (Keep in mind these aren't always current!). All concentrations have different policies about which and how many courses they count toward the concentration, and about accommodating students who want to do a secondary field. Some combinations may not be possible. A student should check with his or her concentration about whether or not they are willing to change what counts for the concentration in order for the student to do a secondary field. Concentrations are not required to make such accommodations at this time. top
III. Questions about Requirements:
I have a Psychology AP Score = 5. Does that mean I only have to take 5 half-courses?
No, you will need to still take 6 half-courses to complete the secondary field. Since you have an AP score of 5, you will not need to take an introductory psychology course, but you will need to take an additional elective so that your total number of courses is 6. You may choose to take Science of Living Systems 20 (or Psychology 1 or SCI B-62 if taken prior to Fall 2009) if you wish. Please note that Psychology AP = 5 is treated differently for concentrators. top
I have a Statistics AP Score = 5. Can I be exempt from the Psychology 1900 requirement?
No. You must take this course or an approved substitute. If you have an extremely strong statistics background and are interested in exploring higher level statistics that are relevant to the field of psychology, please e-mail Rebecca Stoodley, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, at stoodley at wjh dot harvard dot edu. top
Can I count Science B-62 toward the Tier 1 Introductory Psychology Requirement?
Maybe. This course will meet the Tier 1 Introductory Psychology requirement if taken in Spring 2006 or in Spring 2009. If taken another time, Science B-62 may count as an elective. Keep in mind the double-counting rule. If this course is counting toward your Science B core requirement, it can only count toward the secondary field if you are not planning to double-count any other courses. top
What courses can I use as electives?
The courses that may count as electives are very specific, and no exceptions will be made. You may count any courses designated as Departmental Electives. PLEASE NOTE that Positive Psychology taken in Spring 2008 CANNOT be counted toward the secondary field.
You may also take up to one non-departmental, affiliated course from a department outside of psychology. See Affiliate Courses on the Undergraduate Program electives webpage for a list of these courses. Please note that Expedited Courses WILL NOT count, and we will not accept petitions to count other courses that are not either departmental electives or affiliate courses. top
Can I count courses taken in the Harvard Summer School?
CERTAIN psychology courses offered by the Harvard Summer School will automatically count for secondary field credit if you have not already taken the equivalent course during the academic year. For summer 2009, PSYC S-1, Introduction to Psychology may be taken to meet the Tier 1 Introductory Psychology requirement, and the following courses may be taken for ELECTIVE credit only:
- PSYC S-25x, Summer Seminar—The Meaning of Madness, Rich McNally
- PSYC S-1015, Psychological Trauma, Rich McNally (only if you have not taken Social Analysis 43 in the College)
- PSYC S-1240, Abnormal Psychology, Shelley Carson
- PSYC S-1870, Law and Psychology, Ellsworth Fersch
- PSYC S-1875, Delinquents Criminals, Psychopaths, and Terrorists, Ellsworth Fersch
Please note that Psych S-1240, Abnormal Psychology and Biology S-80 CANNOT meet the Tier 2 requirements and PSYC S-1900 and STAT S-100 CANNOT meet the basic methods requirements of the concentration or secondary field in psychology. top
Can I count courses taken out of residence (SOR) toward the secondary field?
No, not at this time. top
I transferred to Harvard. Can I count courses from my prior institution?
Not at this time. If you are in this situation, please be in touch with Rebecca Stoodley, our Undergraduate Program Coordinator, at stoodley at wjh dot harvard dot edu. top
Why don't courses that count for psychology concentration credit also count for the secondary field?
Because there are only 6 half-courses in the secondary field, the faculty thought it was important that they all be core psychology courses. Since there are 12 half-courses in the concentration, there is room to allow students to supplement a strong psychology backbone with a few, more broadly related courses. top
My friend had a petition approved for a certain course, so mine will be approved too, right?
Not necessarily. Each petition is decided on a case-by-case basis. To ensure that you will be able to count courses when you go to turn in your paperwork to file a secondary field, it is important to turn in a petition for review as early as possible, preferably before you take the course. You are responsible for retaining a copy of any signed, approved petitions and turning them in along with your final paperwork to the Undergraduate Office, William James Hall 218. top
What is the process for petitioning for one of the allowable exceptions?
First, keep in mind that you do not need to fill out a petition for the approved substitute courses, only for those that indicate they require a petition. You can download a copy of the petition here. You can sign it electronically (by typing your name: Jane Doe - Signed electronically) on the signature line and e-mailing it along with any relevant materials as an attachment to psychology at wjh dot harvard dot edu, or drop it off in William James Hall 218.
Once we review the petition, we will e-mail you to let you whether it was approved. If approved, you will need to pick up a copy of the signed petition and retain the copy. It is your responsibility to keep track of any approved petitions, and to turn in a copy along with your final paperwork to file a for a secondary field program. top
Can I petition to count a different course to meet the Introduction or Tier 2 requirements? I've already taken advanced psychology courses without having taken this required course.
No - Even if you have already excelled in more advanced courses, you will need to go back and complete the Introductory and/or Tier 2 requirement(s). top
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