Q: 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 PCE program has specific admissions criteria; please see the Program in Clinical Effectiveness website for more information.
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.
Q: 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).
Q: 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 (www.hsph.harvard.edu/admissions) for the Master's (SM or MPH) degree programs by December 15 or by the later deadline of February 15, 2008 for the MPH. Please see the Program in Clinical Effectiveness website for additional information about PCE application requirements.
Q: If I am accepted into the Program in Clinical Effectiveness or the Summer Session in Public Health Studies, 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 or the Summer Session for Public Health Studies is no guarantee of acceptance into the HSPH degree programs. The application requirements are different for the two programs.
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