Master of Science Programs

The information in this section pertains to students in the Master of Science (SM) programs only.

Committee on Admissions and Degrees
The Committee on Admissions and Degrees is responsible for monitoring the academic progress of all students at the School. The CAD reviews petitions and forms submitted by students.

Liaisons to the Committee on Admissions and Degrees:
Registrar’s Office, 617-432-1032
Master of Science (Academic Year; 42.5-, 60-, and 80-credit)                  TBD
Master of Science (Summer Focused; 42.5-credit)                                          TBD
Committee Chair                                                                                                              Paul Catalano

Master of Science Information
The SM is a 42.5-credit, 60-credit, or 80-credit program that students may complete on a full- or part-time basis on most programs. All students must complete School-wide core requirements and required courses in their program. Additionally, all students may be required to complete a thesis and/or Curricular Practical Training (CPT), in accordance with the guidelines of the various fields of specialization.

SM students must meet the following requirements:

• Complete the School-wide biostatistics (5 credits) and epidemiology (2.5 credits) core requirements

• • Students in Biostatistics are automatically waived from the Biostatistics requirement.
  • Students in Epidemiology are automatically waived from the Epidemiology requirement.
• Meet departmental course requirements
• Maintain a CGPA of 2.70 or better, or as indicated by the department
• Complete at least half of total earned credits at the Harvard Chan School
• Complete the full number of credits required for each degree program:

• • Complete a minimum of 30 ordinal credits for the 42.5-credit program
  • Complete a minimum of 45 ordinal credits for the 60-credit program
  • Complete a minimum of 60 ordinal credits for the 80-credit program
• Full-time students who enroll in the maximum number of credits allowed for fall and spring semesters may exceed the SM degree completion requirement of 42.5, 60 and 80 minimum credits respectively. Although this is allowed at no additional tuition costs the workload of all courses above the minimum required for the program should be considered carefully in light of numerous co-curricular offerings, opportunities to engage in a rand of activities, and the time need to do a job search or applications for further study.

Time Status Definitions

• Academic year SM full-time candidates must register for a minimum of 15 credits and a maximum of 27.5 credits per semester each fall and spring term.

• • SM 80 full-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 4 semesters.
  • SM 60 full-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 3 semesters.
  • SM 42.5 academic year full-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 2 semesters.
  • These timelines may change if circumstances require a leave of absence or a transition to part-time study. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information, and also review the tuition requirements for master’s students on the Student Billing website.
• Summer-Only SM 42.5 candidates must register for a minimum of 10 credits for the summer where at least 7.5 credits are in one session.

• • SM 42.5 summer-focused students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 3 summers plus optional fall and spring enrollment.
• Part-time SM candidates must register for a minimum of 1 course and a maximum of 14.75 credits in the fall and spring terms.

• • SM-80 academic year (residential) part-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 8 semesters.
  • SM-60 part-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within  6 semesters.
  • SM-42.5 part-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 4 semesters.
  • These timelines may change if circumstances require a leave of absence or a transition to full-time study. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information, and also review the tuition requirements for Master’s students on the Student Billing website.
• For time status definitions specific to the summer term, please see “Summer Credit Limits For Degree-Seeking Students”.

More information is available in each department curriculum guide:

• SM in Biostatistics
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology (Academic Year)
• Epidemiology (Summer-Only)
• Global Health and Population
• Health Policy and Management
• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Metabolism
• Nutrition
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Continuation Fee
Students are expected to complete all program requirements within the stated time-to degree. Time-to-degree begins with the semester a student is enrolled/matriculated. If a student enrolls in required credits beyond the time-to-degree policy, a continuation fee will ordinarily be assessed at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment. Exceptions to assessing the continuation fee will be considered for extenuating circumstances by submitting the General Petition Form.

• Academic year students that enroll beyond their approved time-to-degree will ordinarily incur a $3,381 continuation fee at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment.
• Summer-focused students that enroll beyond their approved time-to-degree will ordinarily incur a $2,254 continuation fee at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment.