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Software Engineering Certificate

Take five software engineering courses at Harvard

Learn the techniques and theory of modern software design and development through this software engineering certificate. You can build on your programming knowledge by learning to test and analyze program behavior.

Online and on-campus course options

Take five software engineering courses from the following list for graduate credit to earn your software engineering certificate. A basic background in computer science is helpful for success in these courses. Through the completion of five courses you will gain expertise in high-level languages, systems programming, and develop a deeper understanding of low-level machine organization and design principles.

Required courses:

One of the following courses:

Two of the following courses:

Getting started

Choose the software engineering courses you’d like to take first and register for graduate credit. No application is required. Most students take one or two courses a term. Download a certificate course tracker form to keep a record of completed courses.

To earn the software engineering certificate:

  • Take all five courses for graduate credit.
  • Earn at least a B in all five courses.
  • Complete all courses within three years.

Contact us with questions

We are happy to answer general questions about the certificate. E-mail us at professional_certificates@dcemail.harvard.edu.

Considering a master’s degree?

You can count software engineering courses from this certificate toward the Information Technology Graduate Program. To do so:

  • First meet the degree admission requirements and apply to the degree program.
  • Then begin the certificate courses after you’re admitted to the program.

This will ensure you’re meeting degree completion deadlines and academic standing policies.

Requesting your certificate

During the semester that you are completing your final course, download and complete a certificate request form form and send it to Wayne Ishikawa, (617) 495-2478, ishikawa@hudce.harvard.edu. He will review your course record and grades to determine eligibility.

After you complete your final course, you will receive your certificate in the mail, and the credential will be noted on your transcript. Certificate requests forms must be received no later than two weeks of the award of the final grade.