For prospective theologians/ethicists/philosophers of religion: is having a language down necessary for applications?

[Averroes MD]

As per, http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/handbook/academic_information.php - Graduate Students are not entitled to utilize the Pass-Fail option with their courses, it's an undergraduate option only.

 

That said, with instructor permission, you may be allowed to take a course as SAT/UNS

Thanks for the response!

I guess that might raise some eyebrows to opt for SAT/UNS, right?

[theophany]

As per, http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/handbook/academic_information.php - Graduate Students are not entitled to utilize the Pass-Fail option with their courses, it's an undergraduate option only.

That said, with instructor permission, you may be allowed to take a course as SAT/UNS

Sorry, but this isn't quite accurate. The policy you referenced is from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, not the Divinity School. The HDS Handbook (p. 44, http://www.hds.harvard.edu/sites/hds.harvard.edu/files/attachments/academics/registrar/handbook-for-students/33771/HDS_Student_Handbook_2013-14.pdf) says: "A student may choose to take a letter grade course on a Sat/Unsat basis by indicating this preference on their study card. Degree programs limit the number of courses that may be taken under the Sat/Unsat option and students should use caution when electing this option." The Sat/Unsat option is equivalent to pass/fail for all intents and purposes.

That said, if you intend on pursuing further academic work, you should not take any courses related to your field under the sat/unsat option. In fact, you should limit the number of sat/unsat classes period, because they give no standard for evaluating your coursework (it could be anywhere from an A to a C-), and will be suspect. And you should always talk to your advisor (once s/he has been assigned) about any decisions like this. At any rate, I would advise holding off planning out your course schedule; shopping period is a phenomenon at Harvard that you likely will not have experienced before and you will want to avail yourself of it as much as possible.

Edited March 25, 2014 by theophany