HGSE’s mission is to prepare education leaders and innovators who will change the world by improving education. Through a rich suite of courses and co-curricular experiences designed to incorporate the best learning practices, a degree from HGSE prepares you for the myriad ways one can make a difference in education today. Learn more about our degree programs below.
HGSE recently announced plans to deliver a fully online experience during academic year 2020-2021. For more information about HGSE’s online learning experience during academic year 2020-2021, read Dean Bridget Long’s announcement to the community and explore frequently asked questions about our plans.
Master's Programs
Our Master’s in Education (Ed.M.) explores the most challenging and exciting questions in education research, policy, and practice. Choose a core focus area — our Ed.M. programs explore everything from international education policy to cognitive development and education technology — and take full advantage of Harvard's extensive intellectual and professional resources, including coursework at other Harvard graduate schools and rewarding field internships in Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. If you are a student or professional seeking rigorous academics grounded in real-world problems, an educator ready to become a leader, or an innovator looking to improve lives, we welcome you join our community.
Doctoral Programs
Given the fiscal constraints on our institution presented by the continuously evolving COVID-19 pandemic, HGSE has made the difficult decision not to accept doctoral applications for fall 2021 enrollment. We are pausing admissions for our fully-funded doctoral programs in order to uphold our commitment to maintaining program quality and strong support for our current students. At this time, the next application cycle is expected to have a December 2021 application deadline for fall 2022 enrollment.
Doctoral study at Harvard means full immersion in one of the world's most dynamic and influential intellectual communities. At the Harvard Graduate School of Education, two distinct doctoral programs leverage the extraordinary interdisciplinary strengths of the entire university. The Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) prepares experienced educators for system-level leadership roles in school districts, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and beyond; and the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.) empowers cutting-edge interdisciplinary research informed by the cognitive sciences, economics, medicine, the humanities, and more.
