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January and Spring Term 2024 course registration is now open!

Religion and Society Graduate Certificate

  • Get Started

    No Application Required

  • Format

    Online and On Campus Options

  • Average Tuition

    $3,220

  • Courses

    4

An Image of St. Patrick's Cathedral behind a busy street with taxis and between two buildings.

Build a multidisciplinary foundation for understanding the complex religious influences in modern societies at the local, national, and global level.

This certificate is jointly sponsored by the Program on Religion and Public Life at the Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Extension School.

What You'll Learn

  • Apply an interdisciplinary, multicultural, and critical theory methodology to the study of religion in society from a nonsectarian perspective. 
  • Understand the historical origins, central teachings, devotional practices, and social/political influences of religious traditions. 
  • Explore ways that religions shape—and are shaped by—society, culture, and politics.  
  • Consider the ways in which a foundation of religious literacy can improve the ability of professionals in the public and private sectors to work effectively.

Earning Your Certificate

To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must: 

  • Complete the four 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

Certificate Courses

The graduate certificate in Religion and Society requires 4 courses: 

  • 2 core certificate courses 
  • 2 certificate elective courses 

Ready to take the next step?

You can enroll in your first course in the fall, spring, or summer. See the schedules in the academic calendar

Search For Courses:

To find courses that apply toward the certificate use the DCE Course Search and Registration:  

  • Under Search Classes, scroll to Browse by Degree, Certificate, or Premedical Program.
  • Select Graduate Certificates.
  • Choose Religion and Society Graduate Certificate to explore program courses.

Cost

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

Our Tuition (2023–24 rate) $3,100 per course
Average Tuition of Peer Institutions $5,476 per course
Average Total Cost $12,880