Courses with an Online Component 

Harvard Summer School offers several types of courses with online components, including web-conference courses, online only courses, and courses that meet “on campus or online,” which feature a livestream and videos of lectures held on the Harvard campus. A few courses are offered “online with a required on-campus weekend,” combining web-conference meetings with intensive, multi-day, mandatory meetings on campus. 

For details about these and other course formats, see Course Formats and Required Technology. 

Policies 

Summer School policies, procedures, and deadlines outlined on the Summer School website and in the student handbook apply to all students who enroll in an online course. In addition, the following policies and procedures apply to students taking courses online: 

• Students must have the necessary computer systems (hardware and software) and internet access to view course lectures, take online exams, use an electronic drop box, and participate in any live attendance web-conference meetings throughout the term. This includes any course-specific software needed to complete course assignments. Check the course website or syllabus to determine if any special software is needed. Harvard University does not provide equipment or software. The Summer School also does not support taking courses or viewing videos on mobile devices. Review minimal technical requirements for more information. 

• Online courses are not self-paced. Students are expected to watch the video lectures on a regular basis and be active participants in the course throughout the term. Students must adhere to deadlines and due dates provided in the course syllabus. Students in live attendance web-conference courses must attend in real time, which means being online and connected to the virtual classroom at the time the class meets. Students may not join online courses after the end of registration. 

• Recorded lectures for online courses are available only to registered students. 

• Many online courses have in-class hour, midterm, and final online exams. Students may take exams on campus or arrange to take them with a proctor at a location near their home. 

• Students approved for an extension of time or make-up final exam will have access to the recorded lectures until they submit their work to the instructor, take the make-up final exam, or the deadlines pass—whichever occurs first. 

• Harvard College students are also held to Harvard College policies regarding online courses and should check the Harvard College Student Guidelines section on the Summer School website and the Harvard College Handbook for Students. 

Information about exams is also available under Examinations and on the Exams page of the Summer School website.