The Program in General Education established the General Education Prize to inspire Harvard College students to reflect on the transformational nature of their Gen Ed learning experiences. Up to five $500 prizes will be awarded annually to students who submit exceptional reflections on how one or more Gen Ed courses have transformed the way they approach urgent problems or enduring questions and have helped them make connections between the subjects they study and the world beyond the classroom.
The program welcomes original submissions in a wide variety of formats from undergraduates who are currently registered as degree candidates at Harvard College. Written work (such as an essay, a poem or series of poems, a piece of short fiction, and a graphic novel) may be up to 1,500 words. Recorded work (such as a film, a song, and a dance) may be up to 10 minutes long. Artistic creations (such as a painting, a drawing, and a photograph or series of photographs) are also welcome. All essays must be accompanied by an abstract of up to 250 words, and all other works must be accompanied by an artist’s statement of up to 250 words contextualizing the work. Works may be submitted for this prize only if they have not been or will not be submitted for course credit.
The Spring 2024 deadline for submitting materials is Monday, March 18th.
Submissions are only accepted online via the Program in General Education’s website. Click on the “Apply Here” link below to submit materials. Please review our FAQs before submitting an application.
The Prize Committee is made up of Gen Ed faculty who teach in the program.
Prize-winning submissions will be published on the Gen Ed website and featured on the social media channels of Harvard College.
Questions? Please see our FAQs.
Please contact gened@fas.harvard.edu if your questions are not answered in our FAQs,.