Course registration at HKS: Tips & tricks

We are about halfway through the fall semester here at Harvard Kennedy School—Fall 2 courses began this week, and students are beginning to prepare for January session registration in early November. We know prospective students are often curious about the course registration process. Senior Registrar Coordinator Jim Meehan, who assists students through registration, offers insight into this process and gives his advice on how to prepare for registration.

What are the differences between Fall 1 and Fall 2 courses? 

Module courses are two-credit courses where students can focus on specific topics, themes, or case studies for half of a semester. Sometimes module courses held in the latter half of a semester are a continuation of the first half of the semester’s topic and allow for students to utilize what they learned and the skills they developed in a practical application.

Master in Public Policy (MPP) students, for example, enroll in DPI 385M: “Race and Racism in the Making of the United States as a Global Power” in Fall 1, and then in Fall 2, they take DPI 386M “Race and Racism in Public Policies, Practices, and Perspectives.” These classes are a part of their core curriculum in their first semester.

How do you recommend students prepare for registering for spring courses? 

To prepare for spring term registration, students should keep an eye on their “To-Do List” in their student portal, and make a plan to resolve any registration holds before Registration Round 1 closes. Outside of that, students should meet with their degree program staff or their academic advisor(s) to ensure that their course selection is fulfilling their graduation requirements and building the toolset they came to HKS to develop.

What advice would you give to prospective students about registration when coming to HKS? 

The most important thing is for students to remember their “why” and to seek out courses that fit their mission. During registration, it is easy to get caught up in the flurry surrounding courses that are popular or new and for students to enroll in classes that are ultimately not engaging to them. I also recommend reading emails from the HKS Registrar’s Office because we send out helpful registration instructions at the beginning of each registration round and deadline reminders at the close.