Certificate Overview
The Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate equips you with the interdisciplinary knowledge to work at the intersection of climate science, global policy, and sustainable economic development. In four online courses, you’ll explore topics like regulatory frameworks, international diplomacy, cost-benefit analysis, and change management.
Designed for professionals seeking to drive meaningful change across policy, research, and organizational contexts, this fully online certificate gives you the flexibility to tailor your coursework to your focus area. You’ll join a network of peers working as sustainability managers, consultants, and analysts at NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies.
Skills You'll Gain
Through the certificate, you’ll learn to:
- Analyze the science of climate change and the social adaptation of human communities.
- Evaluate environmental policies, including regulatory and legislative frameworks.
- Apply economic tools such as valuation, value chain analysis, and cost-benefit analysis to support sustainable development.
- Assess the role of diplomacy and international agreements in addressing environmental challenges.
- Apply change management principles in organizational and policy contexts.
Courses
The Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate includes four online courses.
- 2 to 4 core courses (at least two are required)
- Up to 2 elective courses (electives are not required)
Selecting courses. Multiple course options are available during fall, spring, and summer terms. Offerings vary by term. Explore current options in the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.
Upcoming Term: Fall 2026
Enroll in your first certificate course this fall — no application required.
Pre-registration opens July 6. Registration opens July 20 at 9 a.m. ET.
Stackable Certificates and Degrees
Stackable credentials allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements.
You may apply coursework from the Circular Economics Microcertificate toward this certificate.
If you pursue a master’s degree in one of the following two fields, you can earn this graduate certificate along the way by completing courses that fulfill both certificate and degree requirements:
This approach allows you to build expertise in environmental policy and development while making measurable progress toward your graduate degree.
Tuition
Support and Resources
Access to career resources, including webinars, advising, and career fairs
Weekly virtual office hours with the student advising team
Affiliate membership in the Harvard Extension Alumni Association
Earning Your Certificate
If you take two courses per semester, you can complete your certificate in 8 months. If you prefer a more flexible pace, you have up to three years to finish.
There is no formal application required. You simply register for each course.
To meet the requirements for the certificate:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete all courses within three years of starting your first eligible certificate course.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
