Designed solely for students who’ve completed the MITx MicroMasters program in Supply Chain Management, this degree pathway offers innovative sustainability content that strategically complements the in-depth training in supply chain theory. In this program, you’ll gain the breadth and perspective to lead sustainable initiatives for almost any industry.
What You’ll Learn
Through the master’s degree program in the field of sustainability you:
- Concentrate your studies in one of five fields: corporate sustainability, sustainable cities and communities, environmental policy and international development, sustainable food systems, or natural resource management.
- Develop an understanding of policies, technologies, and financial models that support sustainable development.
- Build competency in a variety of quantitative and analytic skills.
- Learn to design sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact and increase benefits to society and ecosystems.
Required Courses
In this pathway, Harvard Extension School will credit four courses (16 credits) toward the sustainability program for earning the MITx MicroMasters credential in Supply Chain Management, leaving you with 8 courses (32 credits) to complete.
8 Graduate Courses (32 credits)
The degree field is offered online with 1 required course on campus here at Harvard University. Weekend options are available for the on-campus course.
The primarily asynchronous format offers the most flexibility for international students or those with variable work schedules.
Core Courses:
- ENVR 101 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Sustainability and Global Development
- ENVR 210 Quantitative Research in Sustainability
- 5 sustainability electives
Capstone Courses
- Precapstone tutorial (noncredit)
- Capstone (on campus)
The Capstone Experience
You can choose the independent research capstone, where, with guidance from your research advisor, you’ll craft and execute a research project of your own design. Or, you’ll engage in a consulting project for an industry client in need of an innovative sustainable solution. Past clients include Amazon, General Electric, State Street Corporation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and NYC Health + Hospitals.
On-Campus Requirement (1 capstone course)
You have two options to complete the on-campus capstone:
- Accelerated on-campus option: as an online course with an intensive weekend on campus (fall & spring term)
- Standard on-campus option: as a three-week on-campus course through the Harvard Summer School
The Harvard Summer School (HSS) option is ideal for those who want a more traditional on-campus experience. HSS offers housing, meal plans, and a prolonged on-campus experience here at Harvard University.
International Students Who Need a Student Visa
To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the Standard option, to study with us in the summer. You can easily request an I-20 for the F-1 student visa through Harvard Summer School to complete the 3-week capstone. For more information, see the International Student Study Options page.
Admissions and Getting Started
Once you’ve earned the MITx MicroMasters credential in Supply Chain Management, you begin the admission process by simply registering—no application needed—for the following graduate-level course:
- ENVR 101 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Sustainability and Development Practice
Prerequisites: To register for the course, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills. Alternatively, you can complete EXPO 42c Writing in the Sciences or EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences with a grade of B or higher at the undergraduate or graduate level to meet the proseminar registration requirement, but it will not count toward the degree.
Grade Requirements: The proseminar must be completed with a grade of B or higher, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0. You have two registration attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt), which cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.
Eligibility: Prior to beginning this pathway, which starts with your first MITx course, you need to possess a four-year, regionally accredited US bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master’s degree in sustainability or related field.
Submitting Your Application
During the semester that you are completing the proseminar, submit the official application to the program.
Don’t delay! You must prioritize the proseminar course for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:
- avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
- ensure your enrollment in critical and timely degree-candidate-only courses.
- pay the standard versus delayed application fee.
- gain access to exclusive benefits (see bottom of page).
Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 7 more courses after admission to earn the degree.
For more details about eligibility, the application process, and application fees, visit Admissions.
MicroMasters Program Admission Pathway Policy
The MITx MicroMasters credential in Supply Chain Management must be earned prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses at Harvard. Further, the credential cannot be more than three years old at the time of application. Credit is only granted for the entire MicroMasters credential; Harvard credit will not be awarded for individual courses.
For details about Harvard Extension School degree program eligibility and the application process, visit Admissions. If you have questions about the MicroMasters program, contact MITx directly.
Cost and Financial Aid
Affordability is core to our mission. You’ll find our tuition comparable to tuition at public universities. And when compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2023-24 rate) | $3,220 per course |
| Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $5,476 per course |
After admission, you may qualify for financial aid. Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.
To Complete Your Degree
Required GPA, Withdrawal Grades, and Repeat Courses
GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in the proseminar course required for admission (ENVR 101) as well as Quantitative Research in Sustainability (ENVR 210) and a B– or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.
Withdrawal Grades. You are allowed to receive 1 withdrawal (WD) grade without it affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. See Academic Standing.
Repeat Courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses. Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.
Courses Expire: Finish Your Coursework in Five Years
You have five years to complete the degree requirements. The five-year timeline begins at the end of the term in which you complete any one degree-applicable course at Harvard, whether or not you have been admitted to the degree program. Moreover, Harvard courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree.
Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and submit their applications to comply with the five-year course expiration policy or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work. Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied.
Graduate with Your Harvard Degree
When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Sustainability. Degrees are awarded in November, March, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.
Degree Candidate Exclusive Benefits
When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges.
