-----The GHHP 91 registration deadline for Fall 2024 is Tues, Sept 3 by 5:00 pm.-----
GHHP 91: Supervised Reading and Research is not a traditional course with weekly meeting times. It is similar to an independent study (but graded). Note: you must declare GHHP as your secondary field before registering for GHHP 91.
Students determine a topic area and then find a faculty advisor themselves, although if you already are involved in a research project with faculty, you may write a paper related to that research. Advisors can be from anywhere at Harvard – even at HSPH or HMS, so feel free to think beyond the main campus – as long as they have a faculty appointment. Harvard Catalyst can be an excellent resource for researching potential advisors. Graduate students are not eligible to be advisors for GHHP 91.
Your GHHP 91 paper should have some sort of analytic component; even if it's mostly a lit review, it should be a critical lit review. (What are the problems with the published studies, what questions does the literature not answer?) Your advisor must agree to substantial interaction/advising on the research project throughout the semester. In order to successfully complete GHHP 91, you are required to submit a research paper (minimum of 20 pages exclusive of graphics or bibliography, with the same editorial guidelines as the extra thesis chapter) to both your advisor and the GHHP program during Reading Period. Your advisor is responsible for evaluating the paper, which will be letter graded.
Important for students working on an existing research project: you cannot simply be an RA and get GHHP 91 credit for it. You must write a separate GHHP 91 paper and maintain full direction over the topic. This usually means choosing a different but related topic to the research you're doing with your PI.
Students who wish to register for this course must ensure their advisor submits the following via email to Ryan Kim before the College’s course registration deadline:
1) Completed GHHP 91 contract
2) 1-2 page research topic proposal and preliminary reading list
These two things must be submitted together as one Word document (not a PDF or scanned file) by your advisor to Ryan Kim. Hint: put it all together for your advisor, and then ask him/her to read and forward it via email to Ryan. Make sure to name the file [lastname_firstname_GHHP91_proposal].
The GHHP 91 registration deadline for Fall 2023 is Tuesday, August 26th at 5:00 pm. Once the document has been received, Ryan Kim will approve your my.harvard petition so you can enroll in GHHP 91.
Note: Students often ask "What is the difference between GHHP 99 and 91?" GHHP 99 is a guided research seminar offered every spring, taught by graduate students, with a regular weekly meeting time. TFs work with students in small groups to complete their research papers. GHHP 91 is more similar to an independent study, but where the student is working under the guidance of a faculty advisor, to write his/her research paper. Meeting times are determined jointly by the student and advisor.