Ongoing, career-relevant education has become essential as AI, automation, and data-driven tools reshape how work gets done. Professionals are seeking ways to build new skills, advance their careers, and adapt to change while balancing work and life commitments.
The available learning options have also expanded significantly. As Dr. Nancy Coleman, dean of Harvard Extension School and Continuing Studies, observed: “Learning today really is omnichannel. Professionals can learn online, in a classroom, or in a hybrid environment.”
Certificates, microcredentials, noncredit courses, and online or hybrid graduate degrees now coexist — often within the same institution. At Harvard University alone, online programs span multiple schools and credential types, and it can be challenging to navigate the options.
This article clarifies the differences among Harvard’s online learning offerings to help you choose the path that best fits your career goals.
What Online Programs Are Available at Harvard?
Harvard University offers a range of online learning opportunities designed for various stages of career development.
These include credit-bearing courses, degrees, and certificates through Harvard Extension School, as well as noncredit online courses, professional programs, and short-form learning experiences offered by other Harvard schools and platforms.
Harvard Extension School
Harvard Extension School (HES) provides credit-bearing courses, certificates, and degrees for learners seeking academic rigor and flexibility while balancing work and other commitments.
Graduate and undergraduate degrees earned through HES are Harvard University degrees, conferred by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Graduates receive a Harvard diploma, participate in Harvard University Commencement, and become members of the Harvard Alumni Association. These distinctions set HES degree programs apart from other continuing education options at Harvard.
Many HES programs are stackable, allowing you to build credentials over time. For example, you can begin with a single course, then apply it toward a graduate certificate. Graduate certificate coursework can then count toward a master’s degree. You can start small and leave the door open to a full degree in the future.
Whether you’re exploring a new discipline or advancing your career, HES offers a stackable suite of options:
- Individual, credit-bearing courses to gain targeted skills, including many synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on-demand) options
- Graduate certificates to demonstrate specialized expertise
- Microcertificates for rapid upskilling
- Degree programs in a wide range of in-demand fields that carry the full recognition of Harvard University
HES programs combine academic rigor with flexibility. Courses are taught by Harvard faculty and industry experts. And students have access to advising, career resources, and academic support services.
Harvard Professional and Executive Development (Division of Continuing Education)
Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE) Professional and Executive Development offers short, intensive noncredit executive education programs. They are designed for professionals seeking targeted skill development or leadership training, and dozens of options are available online.
Harvard Online
Many students simply want to learn a new topic on their own time and for the love of learning. Harvard Online offers short, noncredit online courses curated from across Harvard’s schools.
All courses are pre-recorded and available asynchronously, allowing students to engage with content and fit it into their busy schedules. While Harvard Online courses do not offer academic credit or contribute to a degree, some offer certificates of completion.
CS50
Harvard’s CS50 is an open-access, noncredit introduction to computer science offered through edX. CS50 is one of the most popular online courses in the world and is ideal for self-starters who are looking to learn about computer science or preparing for more formal study.
This course equips learners with essential programming skills and teaches them how to think algorithmically. It covers topics like data structures, algorithms, software engineering, and web development. Students also learn programming languages like C, Python, SQL, and others. You have the option to audit CS50 for free or pursue a verified certificate for a fee.
The lead instructor, Professor David Malan, also teaches Harvard Extension School courses that count toward various certificates as well as the computer science and cybersecurity master’s degree programs.
Harvard Business School (HBS) Online
Harvard Business School Online offers online courses in topics including management, leadership, finance, and strategy. All courses are pre-recorded and can be completed on your schedule.
HBS Online’s flagship option, CORe, or Credential of Readiness, was created by HBS faculty and is considered a foundational business credential across associated fields. This 17-week noncredit program is designed to help students achieve business fluency and covers business analytics, financial accounting, and economics.
At the end of the course, students take a final exam to earn their Credential of Readiness from HBS Online. This course is especially beneficial for professionals transitioning into management positions, those preparing to apply to business school, or recent graduate students hoping to transition their skills from academia to industry.
Professional & Lifelong Learning (PLL)
Harvard’s Professional & Lifelong Learning (PLL) serves as the central discovery hub for online learning opportunities at Harvard. PLL aggregates short-form professional and lifelong learning opportunities across the University. You can find both free and paid courses on the PLL platform.
Harvard Kennedy School Public Leadership Credential
The Public Leadership Credential (PLC) is an online, noncredit professional credential for learners interested in public leadership, policy analysis, and decision making in government, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations.
The PLC includes a series of six-week asynchronous courses. Learners may take individual courses or complete the full series and a capstone assessment to earn a digital Public Leadership Credential. The PLC may be used as an admissions pathway to the ALM in Government at Harvard Extension School or to the MC/MPA program at the Kennedy School.
Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) — Online Master’s in PreK–12 and Higher Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education offers an online master’s degree in PreK–12 and Higher Education for educators and education leaders seeking to advance their careers. Delivered fully online through a combination of asynchronous coursework and interactive learning experiences, the program focuses on education systems, policy, and practice.
Harvard Medical School (HMS) Online Pre-Med Certificate
Harvard Medical School’s noncredit Pre-Med Online Certificate is an enrichment program for students looking to increase their knowledge of medicine. It’s best suited for students on a gap year or those exploring whether or not to pursue a field in medicine.
This certificate is not a credit-bearing postbaccalaureate program like the HES Premedical Program, which offers prerequisite courses and advising for students preparing for medical, dental, or physician’s assistant (PA) school.
What Makes Harvard Extension School Unique
Harvard Extension School (HES) offers students practical learning opportunities with course curricula aimed to prepare them for current, real-world applications. As one of the oldest continuing education institutions in the country and pioneering new ways of learning online, Harvard Extension School is at the cutting edge of how education is evolving for working professionals.
Dean Coleman emphasizes that, for working professionals, real value comes not from access to content alone, but from the learning experience itself.
“What matters is how learning is delivered, who’s teaching it, and how closely it reflects what’s happening in the real world,” she says.
Stackable pathways from courses to degrees
One of the defining features of HES is the ability to stack certificates and degrees. At HES, learners can start with a single course, earn a graduate certificate, and then continue toward a master’s degree — all within one credit-bearing system.
As economies and professional roles evolve, stackable credits help working professionals quickly upskill and then deepen expertise at their own pace.
For students who would like a certificate but aren’t sure if they can commit to a master’s program yet, HES’s stackable pathways offer the opportunity to pursue their certificate now and decide to pursue a graduate degree later.
Real Harvard faculty, real Harvard standards
All HES courses are taught by Harvard instructors and industry experts and meet Harvard-level academic rigor.
“There were moments throughout the degree where professors could see my potential and pushed me accordingly. Although it was difficult at the moment, they all shaped me into the person and professional I am today,” says Basant Shenouda, ALM ’25. “The biggest appreciation I have for the HES is the faculty. Every educator truly cares about you, truly sees you, and wants you to learn and grow!”
Unlike Harvard Online or HBS Online, the majority of HES courses are taught live, giving students the opportunity to interact with faculty, build connections, and engage with their peers in real time.
The asynchronous courses available are designed to encourage interaction, too.
Every HES course carries Harvard University credit and maintains the high academic standards upheld across the University.
Flexibility without compromise
HES courses come in three core formats: online, hybrid, or on campus. Our mission is to make high-quality education accessible for busy adults. These learning modes support students in balancing learning, work, and personal commitments.
“Learning is no longer about employees going to a classroom. Employees can learn online, they can learn in a classroom, they can learn in a hybrid environment,” Dean Coleman said.
Most of our students work full time, like Helly Nguyen, ALM ’25.
“I didn’t want to step away from the job I had worked hard to earn, and Harvard Extension School turned out to be the perfect fit,” she says.
Advancing Your Career Through Harvard Extension School
In the increasingly crowded world of online learning, HES continues to offer distinctive value: a flexible, credit-bearing Harvard education that supports both immediate professional growth and long-term career advancement.
HES students also benefit from career services and coaching through the Migone Center for Career Success. A dedicated team is available to help students consider their goals and to identify how to best position themselves for success after completing their time at HES.
Degree candidates have other opportunities and privileges, including partnering with Harvard’s iLab to gain practical, hands-on learning through their capstone and thesis projects.
As the world becomes more complex and the need for new skills emerges, HES’s “just-in-time” learning is available to help employees distinguish themselves, pursue their goals, and become more effective.
Learn more about how HES can help you upskill, reskill, or pivot careers — on your timeline.
