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Health and Society Graduate Certificate

Learn to address systemic health inequities and understand how these impact public policy and business practices.

  • Format

    Online

  • Total Courses

    4

  • Tuition

    $13,760

  • Next Start Term

    Fall 2025

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What You'll Learn

In this Health and Society Graduate Certificate, you will take a biosocial approach to understanding human health, healthcare, and public health systems. You will examine biological, social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of disease, pandemics, and medical care. Additionally, you will explore ways to address systemic inequities and improve policy and business practices.

  • Explore how structural social inequalities influence health practices, outcomes, and decision making, and gain tools and strategies for advancing health justice
  • Understand the multifaceted effects of disease on an organism through the lens of epidemiology, immunology, physiology, or neurology
  • Analyze historical and current public health policies, particularly during times of crisis
  • Understand the impact of epidemics on society, research, business, and economies

Upcoming Term: Fall 2025

Enroll in your first certificate course this fall — no application required.

Pre-registration opens July 8. Registration opens July 21 at 9 a.m. ET.

Learn How to Register

Certificate Courses

The Health and Society Graduate Certificate requires four courses:

  • 1 human health course
  • 1 society course
  • 2 elective courses

Searching and Registering for Courses

Available course options vary by term. You can browse options for fall, spring, or summer in the certificate course search within the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.

Browse Courses

Earning Your Certificate

Most of our certificates can be completed online and no formal application process is required to pursue a certificate.

To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:

  • Complete 16 certificate credits at the graduate level.
    • This can be accomplished by completing three 4-credit certificate courses and two 2-credit certificate courses, or four 4-credit certificate courses for graduate credit.
  • Earn at least a B grade in each course.
  • Complete the courses within three years.

Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.

Prerequisite Experience

Students should have a background in basic biology at the level of BIOS 1A, or equivalent.

Cost

Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.

Our Tuition (2025–26 rate) $3,440 per course
Average Tuition of Peer Institutions $5,476 per course
Average Total Cost $13,760
Learn About the Cost of Attendance
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Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.