FAQs

Summer Session

Q: Who is eligible to take courses in Summer Session?

Q: I have already applied for admission to an HSPH degree program. Do I need to resubmit my statement of purpose, resume/CV, transcripts, GRE scores, etc. in order to apply for Summer Session?

Q: I have applied to an HSPH degree program, but I haven’t heard back from the Admissions Office yet. Should I apply for summer courses and continue to wait for a response from the admissions committee? I want to make sure I’m eligible to take summer courses in the event that I am admitted.

Q: I am an international applicant. Do I need to obtain a visa to attend Summer Session?

Q: Do I have to submit GRE scores if I want to take courses in Summer Session?


Q: Who is eligible to take courses in Summer Session?

A: There are several types of students who participate in Summer Session courses:

New Harvard Chan Degree Applicants: Students applying for a degree program at the Harvard Chan School during the regular academic year may also take courses during the Summer Session. All current degree applicants will be contacted by email with an invitation to participate in Summer Session. Those interested in enrolling in summer courses should apply to the Summer Session in Public Health Studies via SOPHAS Express be the deadline.

Applicants accepted into the MPH in Epidemiology, the Master in Health Care Management, the DrPH, the MPH 65-credit and the MPH-45 credit program (with the exception of the Qualitative Methods field of study) are not eligible to participate in the Summer Session for Public Health Studies.

Current degree students: All current Harvard Chan School students will be contacted separately by email in the Spring with details for Summer Session course enrollment and deadlines.

Non-degree students:
The Summer Session is intended for health professionals in training or those who are considering a mid-career change into public health and feel the need to strengthen their skills. Participants include public health professionals, primary care practitioners, physicians engaged in the evaluation of health care delivery and management, physicians in training, and candidates for a part-time MPH program.

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Q: I have already applied for admission to a Harvard Chan degree program. Do I need to resubmit my statement of purpose, resume/CV, transcripts, GRE scores, etc. in order to apply for Summer Session?

A: No. If you have already submitted this information to the Admissions Office, you do not need to resubmit this information in SOPHAS Express.

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Q: I have applied to a Harvard Chan degree program, but have not heard back from the Admissions Office yet. Should I apply for summer courses and continue to wait for a decision from the admissions committee? I want to make sure I’m eligible to take summer courses in the event that I am admitted.

A: All Harvard Chan School degree applicants for the 2021-2022 academic year will be contacted separately with an email invitation to apply to the Summer Session via SOPHAS Express. If you have not heard back from the Admissions Office regarding your degree application, but may still want to take summer classes, please apply to the Summer Session in SOPHAS Express.

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Q: I am an international applicant. Do I need to obtain a visa to attend Summer Session?

A: If the session is on  campus, visa requirements will apply.

You will receive visa information once your application for the Summer Session is reviewed.

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Q: Do I have to submit GRE scores if I want to take courses in Summer Session?

A: Non-degree applicants for the Summer Session are strongly encouraged to self-report their GRE scores or an appropriate substitute in SOPHAS and email or mail a copy of the score report to Summer Programs. Scores from such standardized tests can provide important information about applicants’ quantitative aptitude in particular. Please note: applicants to the Harvard Chan School’s degree programs are required to submit official GRE scores.

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