The Harvard Summer Session for Public Health Studies Introduces students to the core areas of public health in two intensive sessions. Courses in the program help students develop the ability to define, assess, and evaluate the health needs of populations; to participate in the development of health policy; and to ensure the delivery of health services.
Students in the Summer Session attend one or two three-week sessions in July and August. The 2009 curriculum includes courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, health care management, health policy, ethics, environmental health, global health, and social and behavioral science. Each course offers 2.5 credits, and the maximum recommended course load is 5 credits (two courses) per session. Because the course work is very intensive and fast paced, students registered for two courses in a session should not have other work commitments.
The Summer Session is intended for health professionals in training or those who are considering a midcareer change into public health and feel the need to strengthen their skills. Participants include public health professionals, primary care practitioners, physicians engaged in the evaluation of health care delivery and management, physicians in training (including preventive medicine residents and medical students in an MD/MPH joint-degree program), and candidates for a part-time MPH program. Students accepted for admission to an HSPH degree program may choose to begin their studies early by enrolling in the Summer Session; these students will have greater flexibility in course selection during the academic year. Other students may subsequently seek admission to an HSPH degree program. Students eligible for the MPH in the quantitative methods or clinical effectiveness concentrations may apply for a summer-only MPH, which must be completed in three consecutive summers.
Related offerings
Contact Information
For more information about the Summer Session, please contact:
Nancy Perna
Administrative Assistant for Summer Programs
Office of Educational Programs
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-432-0091
Fax: 617-432-3365
Email: summer@hsph.harvard.edu
(specify Summer Session on subject line)
Web: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/summer/brochure
For more information about the summer only MPH degree program, please contact:
Roberta Gianfortoni
Assistant Dean for Professional Education
Office for Educational Programs
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-432-0090
Fax: 617-432-3365
Email: roberta@hsph.harvard.edu