Additional Coursework and Degree Options

Applicants interested in pursuing the PCE and a degree program may:

  • Apply to both programs simultaneously; or
  • Apply to the degree program after completing the PCE.
    • Students must apply to and be admitted to the degree program within 5 years of completing non-degree credits to have a maximum of 20 non-degree credits counted toward the degree.

Degree students may enroll in additional PCE courses during subsequent summers. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers two Master’s degree programs, both of which offer options for summer-only or academic year study:

  • Master of Public Health Degree – Clinical Effectiveness
  • Master of Science – Epidemiology

Both programs have academic-year and summer-only scheduling options and allow PCE graduates to take many of the summer PCE courses listed on our Curriculum page, as well as other courses at the Harvard Chan School. Students in these degree programs can take elective methods courses offered through the blended MPH in Epidemiology Program. This gives PCE graduates multiple degree and scheduling options with courses targeted for the clinical researcher. Summer-only degrees can be completed with two summers in residence at the School.

Credits earned, and tuition paid, from the Program in Effectiveness account for one-third of the degree requirements and tuition for the MPH degree (35% for the MS degree).

Master of Science Degree

Master of Science (SM) degree programs differ from department to department. PCE participants seeking this degree generally apply to the 42.5-credit Master of Science degree in the Department of Epidemiology. There are two options for this degree program available.

The academic year option requires a total of 42.5 credits of coursework in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and electives. There is no research/thesis requirement for the academic year option.

The summer-only option also requires a total of 42.5 credits. Participants take a full complement of courses (30.0-37.5 credits) that are offered over two or three summers and, in addition, obtain 5.0-12.5 academic credits for implementing and completing a research project (thesis) at their home institution under the joint supervision of a local mentor and a member of the Harvard faculty. Summer-only students also may enroll in the online elective courses of the MPH in Epidemiology Program in the fall and spring semesters, if space allows.

Master of Public Health Degree

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree programs are designed to train health professionals for leadership roles in public health. MPH-45 students select from among eight fields of study; the Clinical Effectiveness field of study has been developed specifically for students who participate in the PCE. There are two options for the MPH in Clinical Effectiveness, both requiring 45 credits beginning with the 15-credit summer PCE curriculum.

The academic year option allows students to satisfy MPH requirements through a combination of summer and academic year courses.

The summer-only option gives students the chance to earn 37.5-42.5 credits over a three-summer period and complete a 2.5-7.5 credit off-site practicum at their home site under the supervision of a local mentor and a member of the faculty at the Harvard Chan School.