GSAS registration in the Fall is on the Wednesday before classes begin. Students pick up study cards and ID cards at Lehman Hall (Dudley House). Completed study cards get turned in a week or so later at Memorial Hall. Spring study cards are mailed to students in mid-January.
G1 and G2 students are permitted to register for 3010 courses, but are restricted by the Department to two per semester; if two are taken, each must be with a different instructor. Students in the G3 year and beyond who have completed most coursework should register for 3020's, Direction of Doctoral Dissertation. A student can register for up to four units of 3020 per semester. It is expected, of course, that students maintain contact with their adviser who will be signing the evaluation for 3020's; even if you are at very initial stages of your thesis research and working rather independently, your advisor should be advised of your progress. Students in years G3 and beyond are also permitted to register for Time (T, teaching-related, C, course-related, or R, research-related); however, 3020's are preferable. The University has been the subject of IRS lawsuits regarding whether graduate students should be treated as employees or as students, and students registered in 3020's obviously look more like students.
If your advisor is away on leave or sabbatical and unable to sign your study card, you should see the head of your RTG or program. If another faculty member has signed for your 3020's, it is wise to remind this person that they will be signing the grade sheet for you at the end of the term.
Incompletes
An Incomplete (INC) is turned into a grade if the work is made up by the end of the term following that in which the course was taken, even if the student's registration status during that term is leave of absence. Specific dates are available at http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/u_dates/index.html. Courses that are required by the Department, i.e. 2010, 1951, 1952 must be made up. Should the work be made up after the Registrar's deadline, the course instructor should send a letter to the Graduate Office giving the grade. The INC will remain on the student's transcript, but the Department file will show the course grade. The course may not be used toward the 8 half-courses required for an M.A. or the 16 half-courses required for a Ph.D.