| Through Harvard’s program of teaching fellowships,
all graduate students who have passed the General Examination are given
the opportunity to develop and refine their own teaching skills, supported
by the experience and knowledge of the faculty. Graduate students are
given special responsibility in the department’s undergraduate
program (small courses independently designed and taught by advanced
graduate students). This opportunity for advanced students to independently
teach is a special attraction of the Harvard program.
Graduate students also assist in lecture courses by
leading discussion sessions or directing papers, and they advise on
undergraduate senior theses. The University’s Derek Bok Center
for Teaching and Learning helps instructors learn the ropes and provides
advice on teaching techniques. Many graduate students find the experience
of teaching in Harvard College one of the most satisfying aspects of
their graduate education.
In addition to teaching fellowships, a number of research
assistantships are available from individual faculty members and from
the various social science research centers of the University. These
centers, many of which we have listed earlier, are happy to offer you
dissertation advice and financial support, as well.
Many centers also provide office space for graduate students, thus enabling
them to participate in a research community of students, faculty members,
and visiting scholars. By associating
yourself with one or several of these centers, you can widen and enrich
your experience at Harvard. Seminars, lectures, and informal gatherings
present frequent opportunities to work and socialize with students and
professors in political science and other disciplines.
If you are interested in the activities of a specific
center, we encourage you to contact the director of that center. At
present, most of the research centers listed are directed by Government
Department faculty members. |
