Harvard Chan School launches online master of science degree program
A new fully online master of science (SM) degree at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will make rigorous research training more accessible to students across the globe. The Online SM program will provide students with expertise across disciplines, preparing graduates with a strong foundation in quantitative public health research that can launch or advance careers in a range of fields.
The program is included in this year’s SOPHAS application—the application for students applying to schools of public health—and will welcome its first cohort in the fall of 2026.
The 60-credit program was designed to be completed over four semesters (two academic years), with full-time study in year one and a part-time schedule in year two; there is also the option for students to complete the degree on a part-time basis over three years. Students take courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI) and will receive training in academic writing and publishing.
“All courses maintain the same academic standards and expectations as their in-person counterparts but are 100% online,” said Jeff Miller, associate professor of biostatistics and program director for the Online SM. “Students watch lectures asynchronously, join synchronous lab sessions, and submit assignments remotely.”
The program equips students to understand and apply a range of quantitative research methods, Miller explained. “Compared to the School’s existing in-person SM degrees in biostatistics, epidemiology, and other areas, the Online SM integrates content from across these disciplines, while offering tracks for specialization,” he said.
Miller said there had long been interest in launching an online SM degree, especially after Harvard Chan’s hybrid MPH-Epidemiology and fully online MPH-Generalist programs have seen success reaching students around the world.
Nancy Turnbull, senior associate dean for educational programs, emphasized the School’s commitment to access. “The online SM is another opportunity for students who cannot come on campus to earn a public health degree from Harvard Chan School,” she said. “Our online and hybrid programs are also a more affordable way to get a degree because students do not have to move to the Boston area and can also continue to work while studying.”
“Quantitative research in public health is more important than ever,” Miller said. “Improving health and wellness is a common goal of people worldwide, but there is often disagreement about how to achieve this goal. It is crucial to have reliable, solid research so that individuals, organizations, and governments can make well-informed decisions that have a positive impact on health.”
Graduates will be prepared for roles across public health, including biotech and pharmaceuticals, healthcare analytics, government agencies, technology and AI industries, and genomics, he said.
