Online Options and Residency Requirement

You can earn the information technology degree through a combination of on-campus and online classes, but 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 and state-of-the-art computer facilities.

Residency requirement

The degree program requires at least one on-campus-only course (the thesis does not count toward residency). If you live far from Boston, you may have the option to fulfill this requirement at Harvard Summer School, which offers housing and an I-20 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.

• If you are in the software engineering or digital media arts and instructional design concentration, you can complete the residency at any time in the program.
• If you are in the information management systems concentration, you complete the residency near the end of your program while enrolled in the capstone course offered in the fall and spring.
• If you are in the mathematics and computation concentration, you complete the residency while enrolled in the two required math courses ordinarily taken early on in your program. 

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.