Renee J. Gasgarth ’03, a psychology concentrator who is also pre-med, had been taking Spanish courses at Harvard for several years when a friend mentioned that she could get credit—in the form of a language citation—for her work in Spanish.

“I don’t think I’ve ever talked to a preceptor about it, only other students,” says Gasgarth, also a Crimson editor. “I’ve never seen it in writing anywhere; I’m just assuming it’s the truth.”

Citations and certificates are two of Harvard’s options for students who complete significant work outside of their concentration—though many students, like Gasgarth, say these programs are poorly publicized.

Currently, there are four certificates—in health policy, Mind, Brain and Behavior (MBB), African studies, and Latin American studies—and a citation in foreign language, which can also count as a credit for the Foreign Cultures requirement in the Core Curriculum.

Students who take advantage of certificates and citations say they are happy to earn recognition for their work. After all, getting a citation or a certificate can seem like the perfect way to get the equivalent of a minor at Harvard.

But the fact that the University still does not recognize certificates on students’ transcripts makes the real-world value of the distinction somewhat ambiguous.

Harvard’s Minor

Since language citations were approved by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) in 1998 as an alternative to making the foreign language requirement more difficult, they became the only official citations issued by the Faculty—which means they are included on transcripts and referenced in student handbooks, according to Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Jeffrey Wolcowitz.

Students can earn citations by completing four language half-courses beyond the first-year level, or literature courses in a particular foreign language. At least two of the courses taken must be at the third-year level or beyond.

“[Language citations are] meant to be an incentive and recognition of students who have done a substantial amount in foreign language,” Wolcowitz says.

The number of students cited yearly has grown from 69 in the program’s first year to 183 in 2001, according to Wolcowitz.

He attributes the growth to students’ ability to plan ahead to have room in their schedules for language courses.

“This is a good way to [study language] without making a major commitment,” says Geri A. Lake-Bakaar ’03. Lake-Bakaar has taken French courses towards a foreign language citation since her first year at Harvard.