What You'll Learn
- Gain knowledge of sustainability criteria and benchmarking measures to critically evaluate the health of the natural and manmade world.
- Concentrate your studies in one of five sustainability 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 skill-sets.
- Learn to design more sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact and increase benefits to society and ecosystems.
Your Harvard Degree
Admissions: Earning Your Way In
Here at Harvard Extension, you begin your coursework before you even apply. Why? Because we believe the best way to prove you can succeed in the program is by first succeeding in the classroom.
The sustainability degree program includes 12 courses, with at least one, three-week course taken on campus.
To get started, you take the following two courses. Earn at least a B in each to qualify for admission.
- ENVR 101 Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Management
- ENVR 210 Proseminar: Critical Analysis of Environmental Systems
While completing your second degree course, you’ll apply to the program during our fall, spring, or summer application cycle.
Alternative Admissions Pathway
Instead of earning admission through coursework, you may earn a MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management to qualify for admission. Learn about the MITx MicroMasters pathway.
Learn From Industry Experts
A hallmark of the sustainability program is its versatility. You’ll choose from a diverse set of courses to design a curriculum that meets your unique needs and interests. And you’ll learn from Harvard faculty and industry leaders who help you gain real-world perspectives.
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Flavia Perea
Lecturer on Sociology, Harvard University
Teaches Pursuing Truth and Justice: Community-Based, Participatory, and Action Research
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Leith Sharp
Director, Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Teaches Sustainability Leadership for the Twenty-First Century
Cost & Financial Aid
Affordability is core to our mission. You’ll find our tuition comparable to tuition at public universities. And when compared to our Ivy League continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2020–21 rate) | $2,900 per course |
| Average Tuition of Ivy League Peers | $5,378 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.
Learning & Connection
Deep learning springs from human connection. That’s why we work so hard to bring people together — whether in a live virtual classroom or an in-person seminar on campus.
Our approach to online learning fosters interaction without sacrificing flexibility. Each week, you’ll engage with your instructor, participate in peer discussions, and receive one-on-one support from teaching staff—all from your home or office.
