Certificate Overview
The Health and Society Graduate Certificate takes a biosocial approach to understanding human health, healthcare, and public health systems. In four rigorous online courses, you’ll examine the biological, social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of disease, pandemics, and medical care — with a focus on how these factors shape health outcomes and systems.
What You'll Learn
Through the Health and Society Graduate Certificate, you’ll learn to:
- Analyze how structural social inequalities influence health practices, outcomes, and decision-making.
- Evaluate the effects of disease through perspectives such as epidemiology, immunology, physiology, and neurology.
- Analyze historical and current public health policies, particularly during crises.
- Assess the impact of epidemics on society, research, business, and economies.
Courses
The Health and Society Graduate Certificate includes four online courses:
- 1 human health course
- 1 society course
- 2 elective courses
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.
Recommended Prerequisite Knowledge
You should have a background in basic biology at the level of BIOS 1A or equivalent to succeed in certificate courses.
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.
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 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 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.
