Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between the Program in Clinical Effectiveness (PCE) and the Summer Session in Public Health Studies?The Program in Clinical Effectiveness is designed for physician-clinicians, fellows and faculty, who are seeking quantitative and analytic skills needed for clinical research or interested in health care administration. Students must take 15 credits in the first summer, which includes the core daily morning epidemiology and biostatistics courses and afternoon electives.
The Summer Session in Public Health Studies contains a series of courses that are open to all qualified students, physicians and non-physicians. Students can enroll in one or more of these courses up to a maximum of 10 credits.
2. Are there separate applications to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness and the Summer Session in Public Health Studies?
Yes. Since the Program in Clinical Effectiveness is targeted to a particular audience, it requires material that is not part of the application to the Summer Session in Public Health Studies. Applicants to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness must submit a curriculum vitae, a statement explaining the reasons for applying to this program and three letters of recommendation. One of these letters must be from a senior person (e.g., Department Head, Division Chief, Program Director) from the applicant's home site verifying the applicant's appointment at that site and guaranteeing tuition payment. (Applicants who will be responsible for their own tuition must indicate so in writing and agree to pay the full tuition amount by the Harvard University Billing Office deadline.)
3. What is the deadline for applications?
February 1, 2007 is the deadline for the Program in Clinical Effectiveness (July 2 - August 17, 2007).
4. Can I take less than 15 credits in the first year?
No. All students in the Program in Clinical Effectiveness must take the full course requirement of 15 credits, which includes the core Epidemiology and Biostatistics courses. If you do not wish to do this, you should explore other programs, such as the Summer Session in Public Health Studies at HSPH .
5. Can I take more than 15 credits in the first year?
No. Because of the workload, we do not recommend taking more than 7.5 credits at any one time (15 credits in total for the summer).
6. Do I have to submit separate applications if I want to apply to the Master's degree programs at HSPH at the same time as to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness?
Yes. You may use the application form for the Program in Clinical Effectiveness and fax it, with the supporting documents requested, to Barbara Rosen at 617-732-5344 by February 1. You should also submit a separate Harvard School of Public Health application for the Master's (SM or MPH) degree programs by December 15 or by the later deadline of February 15, 2006 for the MPH.
However, if you have already completed the HSPH application to the MPH Program with a Concentration in Clinical Effectiveness or to the one-year Master of Science in Epidemiology Program with a Concentration in Clinical Epidemiology, you need only to submit to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness the PCE one-page application form, a current curriculum vitae, and the single letter from your institutional representative verifying affiliation at that institution and guaranteeing tuition payment. The Summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness can access the three letters already submitted to the Admissions Office of HSPH.
7. If I am accepted into the Program in Clinical Effectiveness, will I be automatically accepted into the HSPH Master's degree programs to which I apply?
No. Acceptance to the summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness is no guarantee of acceptance into the HSPH degree programs. The application requirements are different for the two programs.
8. Can I be accepted into the MPH in Clinical Effectiveness concentration without acceptance by the PCE?
No. Applicants to the MPH in Clinical Effectiveness concentration must first be accepted by the PCE Admissions Committee before the MPH Admissions Committee can act on the application.
9. After attending the Program in Clinical Effectiveness (PCE), if I wish to apply to a degree program at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), can I use the same letters for both the summer program and the degree program?
Those who are applying to a degree program at HSPH should have their PCE referees send a statement to Barbara Rosen (by fax or mail) releasing their original letters of recommendation to the HSPH. Or you may submit new letters. Ideally, one or more of these letters should be from the summer faculty of the Program in Clinical Effectiveness.
10. How long can I wait to apply to HSPH after completing the Program in Clinical Effectiveness and have the credits (and tuition) from that program apply to a Degree?
Graduates who apply to a degree program at HSPH within two years after completing their summer program can transfer all tuition and credits taken that summer towards their degree.