GHHP 91
GHHP 91
The GHHP 91 registration deadline is the day before the first day of classes.
GHHP 91: Supervised Reading and Research is not a traditional course with weekly meeting times. It is similar to an independent study (but graded).
- 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 before 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.
Instructions
1. Schedule advising meeting → 2. Prepare proposal for 3 potential advisors → 3. Advisor approves proposal, emails all documents before first day of classes → 4. Submit petition on my.harvard → 5. Petition approved
GHHP 91 vs. GHHP 99
Students often ask "What is the difference between GHHP 91 and 99?" GHHP 99 is a guided capstone course offered every spring, taught by graduate students, with a regular weekly meeting time. TFs work with students in small groups to complete their health policy 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.
