"In a way that's too bad. Hardcore science gives you an understanding of the world," he says. "An awful lot of the classes do try to explain what scientists do, even though the students may not be doing it at the same level."

In marked contrast to most professors, James L. Michel '76, head tutor of biochemical sciences, says he is dismayed by the science education at Harvard for non-science concentrators and those who are pre-med.

"Students who are in the sciences have requirements in math and science," he says. "Everyone else has watered down requirements which are not adequate today to be an intellectual person."

"Science concentrators take liberal arts courses and do well," Michel says. "Non-science concentrators slip by with a much weaker preparation in the science."

No More Scores for Cores

If two science classes seem like a small requirement to fill, remember that many students really only take one.

Until the Faculty eliminated the exemption earlier this year, students could substitute Advanced Placement (AP) scores for Cores. The beauty of AP exams; for those who attended high schools offering AP biology, chemistry or physics, getting a score of four or five means that you can place out of one--but only one--of the science Core classes.

Yet science is the only requirement one can fill with AP credit. Harvard does not consider AP history or English scores as adequate substitutes for either historical studies or literature and arts Core requirements.