Management Graduate Program

Study management or finance at Harvard University—a leading center for business scholarship. You will explore areas critical to every business enterprise, including accounting, organizational behavior, marketing, and strategic management.

Flexible online and on-campus classes

• With online and evening courses that typically meet once a week, you can balance school and other commitments—no need to give up your weekends. 
• Courses run in fall or spring terms, a three-week January session, or a seven-week Harvard Summer School term.
• You have five years to complete the degree.

Courses in two specialized tracks

You have a choice of two tracks, each requiring 12 courses (up to six courses can be taken online).

• General management degree track: focuses on essential managerial skills, including analysis, critical thinking, and organizational awareness.
• Finance degree track: a solid foundation for finance-related careers, this track focuses on in-depth exploration of topics in economics and finance.
• For both tracks, you should be well-versed in the principles of economics, college algebra, and calculus A. For the finance track, a strong quantitative aptitude is ideal. Elective options may include economic theory, leadership, nonprofit management, marketing, and negotiations.

See the business management degree requirements.

Opening doors

Students in the program talk about studying management at the Extension School and the opportunities the flexible degree provides.

Getting started and admission

Start off with just one course: every student takes three courses before applying—an ideal way to ensure the program is the right fit for you.

Admission is based in large part on your performance in these courses (a 3.33 cumulative grade-point average is required, with no grade below B). Standardized test scores are not required. Read all the admission criteria.

Once you have been admitted, a number of resources open up to you. See Degree Candidate Privileges.

Tuition and financial aid

Graduate-credit tuition is about $1,950 per course. In total, tuition is roughly $25,000. After you are admitted, a variety of financial aid options may be available, including grants, scholarships, and loans. See the financial aid options for admitted degree candidates.

Harvard faculty, Harvard degree

Instructors include Harvard faculty and affiliates, faculty from Boston-area universities, and business professionals. Browse the management courses to see who teaches our classes. The program administrators include:

• Margaret Andrews, Program Director and Associate Dean for Management Programs (meet the director)
• Laura Wilcox, Associate Director for Management Programs
• Kerry Fitzgerald, Admissions Advisor for Management Programs

The degree is awarded by Harvard University. It is the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, field of finance or general management degree.

Student profile

• Total degree candidates: 600
• Age range: 22–62 (average: 33)
• Enrollment: 80 percent part time
• Degree completion: three-year average
• Graduation rate: 96 percent
• Global impact: students representing 46 US states and 118 countries register in Extension courses each year

Career outlook

Sample alumni fields:

• Finance
• Information technology
• Education
• Law
• Marketing
• Nonprofits

Sample alumni positions:

• Brand manager
• Chief financial officer
• Consultant
• Marketing manager
• Economist
• Investment analyst
• CEO

Graduates credit the program’s ability to prepare them to enter or advance within their profession. One graduate said: