Are you sick of people telling you to take CS50 with David Malan? Upset that you did not win the lottery for “Meritocracy and Its Critics” with Michael Sandel? Tired of perusing the course catalog during your DIY shopping week trying to find the perfect 4th class?
Harvard students commonly have three classes per semester that fulfill some requirements but often scramble to find a final course that balances their course load and academic interests. This year’s edition of Classes You Need to Take Before You Graduate features some of the most underrated, might-never-have-heard-about-otherwise classes at Harvard that could be the final piece in your academic puzzle.
English 90QM: Metaphysical Poetry
M 3:45pm–5:45pm Fall 2023
I took this English seminar last fall with Professor Teskey and absolutely loved it. Despite being one of two students not declaring an English Concentration or Secondary, I felt welcome and encouraged in the class. Teskey’s knowledge of physics, religion, and mythology supplemented his expertise in poetry. Each week, you read a selection of metaphysical poetry from the 1500s and 1600s, submit a short, completion-graded analysis of one poem, and write a poem of your own. The final and only major assessment of the course is your choice of a collection of poems or a long form poetry explication. This class was the perfect creative outlet for an otherwise problem set filled semester. I highly recommend this class for anyone interested in poetry and writing in a low stakes environment. Don’t take this class if you’re uncomfortable sharing your work with your peers. – Hannah Davis ’25
GENED 1006: Music From Earth
MW 10:30–11:45am Fall 2023
“GENED 1006 has very entertaining content and an amazing professor and TFs. You can tell that both the students and the teaching team are engaged with the course and its content, and I am really excited to see where it goes this semester. Each week, I look forward to attending lectures and sections where we have meaningful discussions about a wide array of topics, and I am able to think and analyze outside of my comfort zone. The class is a great combination of music, space, intellect, history, theory, and other aspects, with unique projects, exciting class visits, and a syllabus that is well-thought out and filled with enthusiasm. I was lucky to receive a spot in the class through the GENED lottery,” – Layla Chaaraoui ’26.
If you need an interesting, low-commitment class to fulfill your Aesthetics and Cultural General Education requirement, look no further than “Music From Earth.” This course centers around the question: “How can music help us in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence?” The overall Q-guide rating of 4.34 and average instructor rating of 4.61 place it well above other undergraduate FAS scores. Each week, students tap into their creative side with writing prompts or artistic projects. There is no final exam. 25% of your grade is participation. And 92% of students spent 0-5 hours per week on coursework outside of class, making this a hidden gem in both senses of the word.
RELIGION 1538: Liberal and Liberation Theologies in Dialogue
MW 9:00–10:15am or 10:30–11:45am Fall 2023
“I like the small class size and the personal discussions we are able to have. Our professor explains the overlap and disagreements between two theologies well. Take this class if you’re interested in theology and how it liberates (or does not liberate) different groups of people. This is also a great course if you’re curious about different perspectives in religion. You do not have to be religious/theist to enjoy this course. Avoid this course if the walk to the Divinity School is too far for you.” –Adedoyin Adebayo ’26
With weekly introductory videos and required readings centered around classical liberal theology ideas, this class is perfect for students looking for an escape from problem set courses. The course’s combined seminar and tutorial style promotes learning, discussion, and a close-knit environment. Before each seminar class, students submit a 300-word completion-graded reading reflection focused on insights, critiques, responses to other students, and questions that arise from the reading. The reading list features Latin American, African American, and feminist liberation theology in addition to liberal American theology.
ENGLISH 178X: The American Novel: From Dreiser to the Present
MW 10:30–11:45am Spring 2024
“One of my favorite classes that I have taken so far at Harvard was called ‘The American Novel: From Dreiser to the Present.’ It was a fascinating class taught by a professor who has been teaching it for many decades. It provides a unique perspective on American history and culture through literature and it was fascinating to explore what defined ‘The American Novel’ and how it changed at different points in time over the last 120 years. The class is very accessible for non-English concentrators and it gives students who haven’t taken English classes since high school a refreshing reacquaintance with the subject.” – Candace Gardner ’25
This class mandates students read approximately one book a week, complete worksheets and short assignments due in section, write two 7-page papers, and submit a final project. Despite the daunting weekly readings, students speak highly of the class in the Q-guide. Of 2023 enrollees, 80% recommended the class with enthusiasm, and 88% spent 3-8 hours on coursework outside of class each week. If you regret not taking Hum10 freshman year or want to rediscover your adolescent love of reading, take English 178X.
ECON1042: Sports Economics
TTh 1:30–2:45pm Spring 2024
“If ‘Moneyball’ were a class, Sports Economics would be it. And if Adam Schefter were a professor, Judd Cramer would be him. Though, don’t take it if you don’t know how many points a touchdown is worth.” – Charlie Steinbaum ’24
Though widely popular among Harvard undergraduates, ECON1042 might not be for everyone. The Q-guide reports difficult but manageable problem sets where students use Stata to run various sports analytics. Luckily there are no weekly problem sets, but sports enthusiasts willing to do the work and pay attention often root team ECON1042. 69% of students spent 3-5 hours per week on coursework outside of class, which is reasonable for an economics elective. Biweekly lectures cover topics such as baseball, football, game theory, sports gambling, basketball, the Olympics, and the NCAA. The only major assessments are a midterm and a final.
HIST1029: Early Modern Britain, 1485-1714
MW 1:30–2:45pm Spring 2024
“Early Modern Britain is fantastic for both history concentrators and those just looking for an elective. The course takes a deep look at how England went from one of the most Catholic countries in the world to an extremely Protestant one. The work is mostly essay based and is very manageable. Flynn Crattys lectures are very interesting and offer a comprehensive view of one of the most tumultuous chapters in England’s history. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in history, but particularly those who want to learn about the shifting perception and role of religion in the public sphere.” – Declan Buckley ’24
This course is the perfect introduction to the History department for first-years or other potential History Concentrators because it does not assume students have taken any previous college History classes. Weekly discussion topics focus on the formation of ideas and institutions in Britain, such as religion, the English and Scottish Reformations, scientific culture, Puritanism and Arminianism, the Civil Wars, the public sphere, and Britain’s political constitution. 73% of students in 2023 spent 3-5 hours on coursework outside of class, representing a decrease in courseload from the 2022 Q-guide reports. Last spring, the course required two essays, a blue book style written final, and a group project reenacting a 17th century coffeehouse discussion.
GOV94GD: Africa: Power and Politics
Th 9:45–11:45am Fall 2023
“Dr. Rhodes is so kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable! I feel like I have already learned so much. It is the perfect class. Dr. Rhodes picks a fantastic assortment of articles and readings that pair very well with his lectures. While you are covering a large landmass and a lot of history, the content flows really well and the professor is really accessible. You feel like you’re learning a lot in this class and you feel like the professor really cares about you. ” – Alex Carlin ’26
This course compares the colonial history, governments, politics, religions, state violence and economics of African countries through case studies, academic scholarship and journalism. The 4.71 course and instructor mean respectively rank significantly above the FAS means despite the heavy workload in this seminar. In 2023, six students spent 3-5 hours, four students spent 6-8 hours, and one spent 9-11 hours. Each student is assigned a country to research over the semester, perhaps contributing to a self-selection of students who intend to research Africa for their focus field or thesis. Over the semester, students must write three 5-page papers, present in-class about their assigned country, and write a 10-page final paper. Anyone interested in a comprehensive overview of African history and politics and not afraid of hard work would delight in this course.
For more class ideas, check out “The Classes You Need to Take Before You Graduate 2.0” and “The Classes You Need to Take Before You Graduate”
Hannah Davis ’25 (hannahdavis@college.harvard.edu) is adding these courses to her course list.