FAQ about Cross-Registration

Q. What schools can I cross-register into?
A. Cross-registration for eligible HLS students extends to all schools of Harvard University with the exception of the Division of Continuing Education (Extension School). The University-wide Harvard Course Catalog is available here. HLS students may also cross-register into courses at MIT and the Fletcher School at Tufts. 

Q. When do I cross-register?
A. Cross-registration takes place at the beginning of the semester in which you plan to take the cross-registered course.

Q. How do I cross-register?
A. You must complete the online cross-registration through the University Cross-Registration website. 

Q. Can I start taking a course and then file my petition to cross-register into it later in the semester?
A. No. You cannot file a retroactive petition.

Q. There seem to be a lot of different deadlines. How do I know which one applies to me?
A. You should consult the HLS Cross-Registration Calendar for the appropriate deadline for filing your cross-registration petition.

Q. If I want to take a year-long course, can I just register during the fall semester?
A. No, you should complete a second petition at the beginning of the spring semester.

Q. I’m a 2L or 3L - how do I know if I’m eligible to cross-register?
A. If you’re a 2L or 3L, you may cross-register as long as you  have at least 8 HLS credits in your schedule in the semester in which you seek to cross-register, and the course you take is worth at least 2 HLS credits in order to meet the HLS 10-credit minimum residency requirement.

Q. I’m a 1L – may I cross-register?
A. As a 1L you may cross-register in the spring semester, as long as you get permission from the Vice Dean of Academic Programming.

Q. I’m an LLM – is there anything special that I have to do to cross-register?
A. LLMs must contact Nancy Pinn, Director, Administration and Student Affairs for the Graduate Program before cross-registering.

Q. What is the maximum number of credits I’m allowed to take through cross-registration?
A. J.D. students may take up to 12 credits in total through cross-registration. LL.M. students may take up to 6 credits in total through cross-registration. LL.M. students do not receive credit for language courses at FAS, though they still may cross-register for them, pending approval of the Graduate Program. For all HLS students there is a maximum of 6 cross-registration credits per semester.

Q. How do I know what courses are available to me?
A. The Harvard University Course Catalog allows you to filter for courses available for cross-registration.  Contact MIT and Fletcher for information about which of their courses open to cross-registrants.

Q. I'm a J.D. student -- do I have to get approval for my cross-registered courses?
A. If you are a J.D. student, all courses at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Kennedy School, the Business School, and the School of Public Health qualify for cross-registration. If you have questions about whether a course at the other Harvard schools or at MIT or the Fletcher School qualifies for cross-registration consult the Registrar’s Office.

Q. I'm an LL.M. -- do I have to get approval for my cross-registered courses?
A. You should consult with Nancy Pinn about the courses you would like to take.

Q. Do I have to do anything other than file the Cross-Registration Petition?<,/b>
A. Some schools require additional steps for cross-registration. In some schools you must participate in a lottery for courses. Others require students to pay a materials fee. Check the University's Cross-Registration website to find out more about a particular school’s cross-registration requirements.

Q. How do I know how many HLS credits I’ll get for a cross-registered course?
A. The HLS Registrar’s Office will determine the number of credits you’ll get. For general credit information, see the University's Credit Conversion information.

Q. Can I cross-register for an Independent Study?
A. No. You must cross-register for a course.

Q. Are there other limits on the courses I can cross-register for?
A. You cannot cross-register for a course that duplicates or overlaps work you’ve done in another course, including your undergraduate work.

Q. What about scheduling conflicts?
A. Your cross-registered course cannot conflict with anything on your HLS schedule. You must allow travel time between schools as well. You are responsible for understanding the schedule and rules at the school where you cross-register.

Q. What if the exam in the cross-registered course conflicts with something in my HLS schedule?
A. You should plan to take the exam in the cross-registered course at the time that it’s scheduled and you should familiarize yourself with the host school’s examination policies. For this reason, you should be sure to arrange your academic, travel, and employment schedules to avoid a conflict.

Q. What if one of my HLS exams conflicts with the exam in my cross-registered course?
A. HLS does not allow deferral or rescheduling of examinations except as specified in the HLS Deferred Examination Policy.

Q. Will the grade from a cross-registered course appear on my transcript?
A. The grade from the host school is the grade of record that will appear on your transcript. It will not, however, be used in the calculation of honors. Grades are not converted between schools. Whatever grade you are assigned at the host school will appear on your HLS transcript.

Q. Can I ask the professor from the host school to let me take the class pass/fail?
A. Most graduate schools do not allow pass/fail grading, and you should not try to negotiate different grading with the professor. If you have questions about the grading at the other school, contact the Registrar’s Office there.

Q. I’m a joint degree student – are there different rules for me?
A. Joint degree students should check the credit requirements of their particular program online or with the Registrar’s Office (Pound 300).

For more information about cross-registration, contact registrar@law.harvard.edu.