See Also
Online Course Options
You can earn the master’s degree in information technology through a combination of online and on-campus courses.
The degree is not offered entirely online. A particular advantage of the program is being part of the larger Harvard community, connecting with Harvard faculty, and using the many campus resources, including a renowned library.
Residency requirement
The degree program requires at least 1 on-campus-only course. If you live far from Boston, you may wish to fulfill this requirement at Harvard Summer School, which offers housing and I-20s to international students who enroll full time. Depending on course availability and your concentration choice, you may be required to complete additional on-campus courses.
Requirement guidelines
- If you are in the software engineering concentration (thesis or capstone track), you can complete the residency at any time in the program. If you are pursuing the thesis track, we recommend you work on your thesis proposal during the time that you are in residence so that you are able to meet in person with your research advisor.
- If you are in the information management systems concentration, we recommend completing your residency at the end of your program while enrolled in the information technology management required course and capstone, which are typically offered each fall and spring.
- If you are in the mathematics and computation and the digital media arts and science concentration, additional on-campus courses are required. We recommend you work on your thesis proposal during the time that you are in residence so that you are able to meet in person with your research advisor.
- If you plan to be in residence for only 1 semester, you must complete the residency approval form and schedule a meeting with Henry Leitner or Stephen Blinn during your semester in residence.
Choosing online courses
See the degree course search to find online courses that count toward the degree. To learn more about taking courses online, see Distance Education.
Visit the Summer School website to see the summer course offerings. Course listings are updated every January.