The Office of the Registrar compiles and publishes the Courses of Instruction by gathering course information from departments, divisions, committees, as well as the Dean's Office. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers these courses to students registered in Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A student in good standing in any other School of the University may be admitted to courses by cross-registration.

Students are admitted to a course only if they have fulfilled all the requirements for that course as stated in the catalog or by permission of the instructor. Courses may be selected via the course shopping tool and course locations are available on individual course websites. Each course website may be accessed through the Course Selection Tool or the online catalog.

Students registered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may enroll in most courses given by other faculties of the University by cross registration and they also may take courses at approved non-Harvard schools. Copies of the catalogs of other Harvard faculties and non-Harvard institutions are available via the University Course Catalog.