harvard phd business management

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Current HBS Faculty

• Julie Battilana
• Ethan S. Bernstein
• Alison Wood Brooks
• Edward H. Chang
• Gerald C. Chertavian
• Amy C. Edmondson
• Amit Goldenberg
• Ranjay Gulati
• Jonas Heese
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• Emily Truelove
• Michael L. Tushman
• Eric J. Van den Steen
• Ashley V. Whillans
• Julian J. Zlatev

Current Management Students

• Jonathan Palmer

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, laura weimer, 2023, michael y. lee, 2019, yusaku takeda, 2022, johnathan cromwell, 2018, michael christensen, 2021, paul green, 2018.

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
• PhD Programs
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Business Economics

• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Curriculum & Coursework

Research dissertation, areas of specialization.

• Behavioral Economics
• Development
• Econometrics
• Economic Theory
• Economics of Organization
• Entrepreneurship
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Macroeconomics

Fanele Mashwama

Sagar Saxena

“ HBS is the ideal environment because I get to think about the world like an economist, but I have the freedom and resources to draw on methods from other disciplines as I study market design and industrial organization. ”

Current Harvard Economics Faculty

• Pol Antràs
• Robert Barro
• Emily Breza
• John Y. Campbell
• Raj Chetty
• Gabriel Chodorow-Reich
• Richard Cooper
• David M. Cutler
• Melissa Dell
• Karen Dynan
• Benjamin Enke
• Richard B. Freeman
• Benjamin M. Friedman
• Roland G. Fryer, Jr.
• Xavier Gabaix
• Edward Glaeser
• Claudia Goldin
• Benjamin Golub
• Gita Gopinath
• Oliver Hart
• Elhanan Helpman
• Dale Jorgenson
• Myrto Kalouptsidi
• Maximilian Kasy
• Lawrence Katz
• Gabriel Kreindler
• David Laibson
• Robin S. Lee
• N. Gregory Mankiw
• Stephen Marglin
• Eric S. Maskin
• Marc Melitz
• Jeffrey Miron
• Ariel Pakes
• Amanda Pallais
• Matthew Rabin
• Gautam Rao
• Kenneth Rogoff
• Amartya Sen
• Neil Shephard
• Andrei Shleifer
• Stefanie Stantcheva
• Jeremy Stein
• James Stock
• Ludwig Straub
• Tomasz Strzalecki
• Lawrence H. Summers
• Elie Tamer
• Winnie Van Dijk
• David Yang

Current HBS Faculty

• Laura Alfaro
• Samuel B. Antill
• Brian K. Baik
• Malcolm P. Baker
• John Beshears
• Katherine B. Coffman
• Lauren H. Cohen
• Shawn A. Cole
• Joshua D. Coval
• Mihir A. Desai
• Mark L. Egan
• Benjamin C. Esty
• C. Fritz Foley
• Stuart C. Gilson
• Paul A. Gompers
• Jerry R. Green
• Shane M. Greenstein
• Robin Greenwood
• Brian J. Hall
• Samuel G. Hanson
• Victoria Ivashina
• Ebehi Iyoha
• Robert S. Kaplan
• William R. Kerr
• Scott Duke Kominers
• Jacqueline Ng Lane
• Josh Lerner
• Michael Luca
• Alexander J. MacKay
• Edward McFowland III
• David A. Moss
• Ramana Nanda
• Matthew Rabin
• Forest L. Reinhardt
• Edward J. Riedl
• Raffaella Sadun
• William A. Sahlman
• David S. Scharfstein
• Joshua R. Schwartzstein
• Arthur I Segel
• Emil N. Siriwardane
• Ariel D. Stern
• Adi Sunderam
• Boris Vallee
• Luis M. Viceira
• Matthew C. Weinzierl
• Dennis A. Yao

Current Business Economics Students

• Maxim Alekseev
• Martin Aragoneses
• Sage Belz
• Michael Blank
• Fiona Chen
• Jiafeng (Kevin) Chen
• Cameron Cohen
• Jorge Colmenares
• Terry Culpepper
• Songyuan Ding
• Jo Ellery
• Simon Essig Aberg
• Toren Fronsdal
• Jacob Furst
• Jeffrey Gortmaker
• Shlok Goyal
• Helene Hall
• Ruru (Juan Ru) Hoong
• Catherine Huang
• Baiyun Jing
• Nathan Kaplan
• Justin Katz
• Lev Klarnet
• Shira Li
• Angela Ma
• Alex Magnuson
• Fanele Mashwama
• Marcela Mello
• Laura Nicolae
• Lauren Rice
• Maya Roy
• Dominic Russel
• Kunal Sangani
• Claire Shi
• Wilbur Townsend
• Jennifer Walsh
• Andi Wang
• Alex Wu
• Hanbin Yang
• Jeffrey Yang
• Jennifer Zou

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, john conlon, 2023, erica moszkowski, 2023, ran zhuo, 2023, matthew lilley, 2022, david zhang, 2022, karen shen, 2021, ravi jagadeesan, 2020, vitaly bord, 2019, weiling liu, 2019, anastassia fedyk, 2018, spencer yongwook kwon, 2023, daniel ramos, 2023, francesca bastianello, 2022, frank pinter, 2022, andreas schaab, 2021, edoardo maria acabbi, 2020, michael thaler, 2020, oren danieli, 2019, janelle schlossberger, 2019, yueran ma, 2018, robert minton, 2023, sagar saxena, 2023, talia b. gillis, 2022, ron yang, 2022, gregor schubert, 2021, xiang ding, 2020, christopher anderson, 2019, yizhou jin, 2019, william diamond, 2018, neil thakral, 2018.

Business Economics

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From corporate finance, industrial organization, and international business to markets, competition, and government regulation, you will delve into some of the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of economics through the practical lens of business.

In this program, you will choose among these fields of specialization: corporate finance, organizations and markets, international business, business strategy and industrial organization, corporate governance, and business and government. You will receive the comprehensive training of a PhD in economics along with the opportunity to focus on business-related research questions.

Examples of student theses and dissertations include “Empirical Analyses in Finance and Macroeconomics,” “Mapping Networks to Probability Distributions in the Economy,” and “On Government Effectiveness: Organizational and Governance Limitations on the Delivery of Education.”

Graduates have gone on to secure faculty positions at such prestigious institutions as Columbia Business School, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics and Political Science, MIT, and Northwestern University.

Students in business economics are enrolled in and receive their degree from the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and  Harvard Business School  (HBS). Harvard Griffin GSAS has offered PhD programs in collaboration with HBS since 1916. In addition to Business Economics , Harvard Griffin GSAS and HBS collaborate on the programs in  Business Administration ,  Organizational Behavior , and Health Policy (Management Track) .

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Business Economics , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Behavioral Economics | Development | Econometrics | Economic Theory | Economics of Organizations | Entrepreneurship | Finance | Industrial Organization | International Economics | Labor Economics | Macroeconomics

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Business Economics .

Academic Background

Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences, engineering, sciences, and business are encouraged to apply.

Standardized Tests

GRE General or GMAT: Required iBT TOEFL preferred minimum score: 100 IELTS preferred minimum score: 7.5

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Business Economics

See list of Business Economics faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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Law and Business Program of Study

Lawyers practicing in business-related areas – corporate law, real estate, tax, business litigation, many areas of government regulation, and aspects of nonprofit representation – need to acquire skills in three areas: basic analytics (accounting, finance, economics), an appreciation of transactions, and relevant fields of law. Most courses at HLS fall in the latter area, and a major benefit of all such courses is that they indirectly expose students to principles in the former two areas. For example, a course in Antitrust Law will enhance understanding of mergers, vertical distribution arrangements, and other market interactions. Most of what follows concerns courses in business law per se. Regarding basic analytics, it is very useful to take Analytical Methods for Lawyers (especially if your background in economics and finance is not strong) and/or courses at HLS or at other schools in Accounting, Finance, and Economics. Additionally, occasional offerings such as Real Estate Law – often best appreciated after taking some business law courses – are quite helpful in the second area. Courses in Negotiation can be helpful regarding both analytics and transactions, in addition to being directly valuable. Students interested in Law and Business should also consider the joint JD/MBA program with Harvard Business School .

Academic Offerings

For the latest academic year offerings in Law and Business, please visit the HLS Course Catalog .

Foundational Courses in Business Law

Corporations, taken by many students whether interested in pursuing a career in business law or not, is the base on which all advanced corporate and related courses build, and is a prerequisite or recommended course in related areas (such as Taxation of Business Corporations).

Corporations is taught by Professors Coates, Jesse Fried, Hanson, Kraakman, Ramseyer, Spamann and Subramanian in different years. Content, focus, and approach may vary significantly from professor to professor and over time. Students should read the course descriptions before choosing which Corporations class to take.

Likewise, all students interested in business law (and in most other legal careers) should take Taxation, another course taken by many HLS students. Taxation permeates nearly all areas of law practice (including litigation, family law, and nonprofit advising), so tax literacy is a minimal, but significant, requirement. Taxation is taught by Professors Brennan, Desai, Kaplow, and Warren in different years, as well as by visitors with a variety of backgrounds. The content, focus, and approach of these courses are fairly similar.

For students with no intention of becoming “corporate lawyers” or even general business lawyers, Corporations and Taxation provide an understanding of the legal regimen under which most business is conducted in the U.S., the rules that determine when corporations and corporate officials may be held liable, the ways in which corporations are likely to respond to regulation or litigation, and how various corporate activities are taxed (although the latter requires more advanced study as well). Such an understanding is valuable for litigators, government officials, prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, and legal services attorneys, not to mention investment bankers, business consultants and entrepreneurs. Additionally, non-profits (such as Harvard University) are organized as “corporations.”

Students who have no background in accounting and contemplate a career in corporate law should take Introduction to Accounting. Students with no background in corporate finance should also take Introduction to Finance Concepts. We would also recommend Business Strategy for Lawyers, which presents the fundamentals of corporate and competitive strategy and through both traditional lectures and business-school case discussions. Topics include competitive advantage, industry analysis, strategic positioning, incentives, corporate control, firm scope, network externalities, and innovation. For an introduction to financial statement analysis for business valuation, we would recommend taking Business Valuation and Analysis.

Business law practice varies substantially, even for “corporate lawyers,” and because practice is increasingly both specialized and changeable, it is difficult to give strong guidance about what courses to take beyond the basics. Students should know that many large law firms expect attorneys to spend almost all their time on corporate transactional work (this is what “corporate lawyer” means to most practitioners). Some firms specialize in deals involving large public companies, often heavily regulated by industry and always subject to extensive federal securities regulation. For this reason, Securities Regulation is often a useful course for students to take. Other firms primarily represent private or family-owned corporations, for which tax or estate planning often takes precedence over securities law. Corporations themselves offer full time, in-house legal practice involving transactional work and a variety of more general “corporate” legal questions, ranging from employment and labor law to intellectual property law to commercial law.

Students often will not know which type of practice they will end up pursuing. Students thinking of Wall Street law firms or investment banks may want more exposure to corporate finance, securities, and international issues. Students thinking of a law firm in a large or mid-sized regional city, or an eventual move “in-house,” may want more exposure to courses relevant to employment disputes, lending relationships, and real estate transactions. As noted, general tools like accounting, business planning, contract negotiation, valuation and basic statistics may benefit lawyers in a wide range of practice areas. The Analytical Methods course is an effective way for students to begin to build these skills.

HLS offers a variety of business law and related courses, and students should remain flexible to take advantage of special courses offered by visiting professors or in the Winter Term. Consultation with professors teaching in the field should be helpful in making course selections.

Intermediate Corporate Law Courses

Two important intermediate courses that build on Corporations are Securities Regulation and Corporate Finance.

Securities Regulation covers the federal laws and regulations governing the public offering, sale and trading of stocks and other types of securities, and thus is the primary course focusing on initial public offerings (IPOs) and the process of “going public.” The approach is primarily statutory and regulatory, covering the Securities Act of 1933, important elements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and an overview of the work of the SEC.

Corporate Finance provides a theory- and policy-oriented approach to important, advanced topics affecting corporations, including valuation (discounting, net present value, uncertainty), debtholders’ rights (protective covenants, debt/equity conflicts), reorganization and bankruptcy, and hostile takeovers. It examines advanced topics in corporate law from a perspective informed by economics and finance. The two principal areas of law covered in the course are (1) relations between corporate debtholders and equity holders, both in the solvent firm and in bankruptcy, and (2) mergers and acquisitions. Both topics are addressed in some depth, although not with as much attention as they would receive in entire courses devoted to corporate reorganizations or mergers and acquisitions. In addition, corporate finance provides a brief introduction to financial economics, including discounting, analysis of risk, pricing models, and market efficiency. This course is not a substitute for financial economics as this would be taught at the MIT Sloan or Harvard Kennedy School, however.

In addition, there are a number of courses that might be of interest to those studying business law offered throughout Harvard University. The Business School, for example, regularly offers courses on valuation and finance theory.

Advanced Corporate Law Courses

Each of the following courses covers advanced areas of corporate law practice in more detail, using a variety of methodological approaches. Not all courses listed below are offered each year.

Mergers and Acquisitions taught in different years (and under slightly different titles) by Professors Coates, Gordon, and Subramanian, covers corporate and securities law issues relevant to mergers and acquisitions of large public companies, including the Williams Act, proxy rules, state case law, and important forms of private ordering (such as poison pills, lockups, and earnouts). It also touches on basics of accounting, tax, and antitrust relevant to a lawyer working on such transactions. The approach is practical rather than theoretical, and the focus is on law, not finance. In addition, Negotiation Advanced: Deals, offered by Professor Subramanian jointly between HLS and HBS, focuses on the negotiation of corporate deals generally. Venture Law and Finance, taught by Professor Jesse Fried, deals with financial contracting, governance, and fiduciary-duty litigation in startups backed by venture capitalists. Antitrust Law is another valuable course in this area.

Corporate Theory, offered occasionally by Professor Kraakman and Professor Elhauge, Corporate Control, offered occasionally by Professor Coates, and Corporate and Capital Markets Law and Policy, offered by Professor Bebchuk, are similar discussion/reading seminars that focus on advanced, current or ongoing research on corporate legal issues. Topics vary from year to year but have included policy analysis of takeover law, limited liability, ownership and financial structure.

Corporate Governance of the Public Firm, offered in some years by Professor Roe, focuses on current academic thinking about corporate governance and ownership, divided among various topics.

Regulation of Financial Institutions covers broker-dealer regulation, insurance regulation and banking regulation.

Regulation of Financial Markets, offered in some years by Professor Jackson, covers the stock and commodities exchanges and the government agencies charged with regulating them. Corporate Finance should be taken prior to this seminar.

Advanced Taxation Courses

Taxation of Business Corporations is the advanced tax course taken most often by those who go beyond the basic Taxation course, which is a prerequisite. Corporations is strongly recommended as a preparation. The course covers the federal income tax issues involved in the organization, operation, and restructuring of U.S. businesses, whether structured as corporations, partnerships, or limited liability entities. Additionally, with the increasingly multinational nature of business activities, International Tax has become ever more valuable.

For those interested in being tax lawyers per se, you should certainly take every tax course offered (or nearly so), including Trusts and Estates. In addition, most tax practice is in connection with other activity, so it is important to take other courses such as Corporations and some more advanced offerings as well as courses in other areas ranging from pensions and family law to Law of Nonprofit Organizations.

Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Courses

Much business law practice, whether centered on corporations or real estate deals, is greatly concerned with financing. Accordingly, it is helpful to know the law pertaining to creditor-debtor relationships, both in the ordinary course of business (Commercial Law: Secured Transactions) and in the event of business distress (Bankruptcy; Corporate Reorganizations).

International/Comparative Law Courses

In addition to the basic and core U.S.-centered courses described above, HLS offers several courses on advanced corporate law topics with an international or comparative dimension.

International Finance examines policies and regulation affecting cross-border banking and securities transactions in three major markets, the United States, the European Union and Japan.

International Trade Law examines the fundamental principles of international trade rules, the relationship between trade and environmental concerns, and domestic remedies to international trade violations.

International Antitrust Law explores competition policy outside the U.S.

HLS offers a number of research, writing and discussion seminars on a variety of corporate law and related topics. Here is a sampling of the seminars and reading groups most directly related to corporate law: Capital Markets Regulation Reading Group; Comparative Corporate Governance; Corporate Governance Reading Group; Current Issues in Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance Seminar; Current Topics in Financial Regulation Seminar; Dispute Systems Design Seminar; International Finance Seminar; Law and Economics Seminar; Laws, Markets and Religions Seminar; Seminar on the Law and Finance of Start-up Companies; and Tax Policy Seminar.

Note that not all seminars and reading groups listed are offered every year.

HLS Business Skills/Concepts Courses

• Analytical Methods for Lawyers
• Business Strategy for Lawyers
• Business Valuation and Analysis
• Introduction to Accounting
• Introduction to Finance Concepts 3-Day Section
• Introduction to Finance Concepts 3-Week Section

Empirical Courses at Harvard

For students interested in pursuing empirical courses in some depth, the following provides guidance on the possible tracks to take. Note that not all courses are offered every year.

Track 1 (introductory)

• Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis (HLS)
• Applied Quantitative Analysis I (HLS)
• Advanced Quantitative Methods (HLS)
• Quantitative Analysis and Empirical Methods (API-201; HKS)
• Advanced Quantitative Methods I (API-209; HKS)
• Advanced Quantitative Methods II: Econometric Methods(API-210; HKS)
• Quantitative Methods in Sociology (Sociology 156)
• Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods (Sociology 202)
• Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (Sociology 203a)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

• Empirical Analysis of Law: Seminar (HLS)

OPTIONAL (TIME SERIES)

• Analysis of Longitudinal Data: Seminar (Sociology 203b)

Track 2 (intermediate)

• Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Economics (Statistics 104)
• Quantitative Methods for Political Science I (Government 1000)
• Advanced Quantitative Political Methodology (Government 1002)

Track 3 (advanced)

• Introduction to Probability (Statistics 110)  or  Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Economists (ECON 2110)
• Introduction to Applied Econometrics (ECON 2120)
• Econometric Methods (ECON 2040)
• Time Series Analysis (ECON 2142)

Clinical Offerings

Business and non-profit clinic opportunity.

The Transactional Law Clinic engages students in a wide range of transactional legal work including entity formations, contract drafting, sales and acquisitions, licensing, corporate governance, intellectual property matters, and many other kinds of hands-on practice-based legal experiences. Students are immersed in an applied learning context, counseling and representing transactional clients under the supervision of an experienced practitioner. Enrollment in the clinic is through the Clinical Program.

Associated Areas of the Law

Students interested in a possible career in corporate law should, as suggested previously, strongly consider one or more of the following related areas.

Negotiation/Mediation/ADR : A common and important function of corporate practitioners is to represent clients in negotiations and settlements with other corporations, employees, and government agencies. Students interested in corporate law should consider taking one of HLS’s many courses and workshops in negotiations and related fields.

Employment/Labor Law ,  Intellectual Property Law , and  International Law  (especially finance and trade) are areas of the law that all business lawyers encounter from time to time, and which some corporate lawyers encounter routinely. Students preparing for a business law practice should consider taking one or more representative courses in these fields.

Law and Economics : Economic analysis is also an important element of business. Students should consider taking one or more of the Law School’s law-and-economics offerings, such as taught by Professor Shavell. Also, as noted, economics-oriented seminars at HLS usually devote attention to corporate and related research topics.

Regulatory Law/Regulation : Although not limited to corporate law problems, Administrative Law is valuable to corporate lawyers who will find it important to understand the processes of law-making and application by the executive and independent regulatory agencies, as well as the forces that influence how regulators behave and the evolution of regulatory regimes

Advising Faculty

• Arevik Avedian
• Lucian Bebchuk
• John Coates
• Bala Dharan
• Jared Ellias
• Allen Ferrell
• Jesse M. Fried
• Tyler Giannini
• Howell Jackson
• Louis Kaplow
• Reinier Kraakman
• J. Mark Ramseyer
• Robert Sitkoff
• Steven Shavell
• Holger Spamann
• Kathryn Spier
• Guhan Subramanian
• Crystal Yang
• Alvin Warren

Joint Degree in Law and Business

Harvard Law School (HLS) and Harvard Business School (HBS) offer a joint degree program in law and business . Completion of the program leads to the degrees of Juris Doctor and Master in Business Administration (JD/MBA). The program is designed for students who have the background that will enable them to handle the rigorous and concentrated course of study. It allows students to gain expertise in both the law and general management practices. The program prepares students for careers in which an understanding of both legal and business principles is essential.

Professor Guhan Subramanian is the faculty director of the joint degree program at the Law School.

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The Online Business Analytics Program

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Earn a certificate on the cutting edge of data analytics and ai.

The Harvard Business Analytics Program (HBAP) is an online certificate designed by the top minds in AI and data analytics, and offered jointly by three renowned Harvard schools: Harvard Business School (HBS), the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

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HBAPers come from various backgrounds and industries, but they are brought together by their determination to positively upend business as usual.

HBAP students and graduates from Fortune 500 companies

HBAP students at the director level or above in their organizations

Industries represented

Average years of work experience of students in the program

Average student age

Based on self-reported data from enrolled students across 2020 cohorts.

A True Harvard Experience, Delivered Online

Our innovative approach to teaching business analytics online features a mix of live, virtual classes and seminars, self-directed coursework, and two in-person immersions. Every component of the program ties into the cornerstone of our curriculum—the hallmark Harvard case study—preparing you for real-world business analytics challenges.

Rigorous Curriculum Meets Interactive Learning

Learn to leverage data analytics tools like predictive analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to uncover game-changing business insights, improve operations, and advance your organization’s position in the global market. 

You will engage with course topics by examining case studies, watching lectures, and collaborating in group projects. During live, face-to-face classes, you will discuss coursework with fellow HBAPers and esteemed faculty.

• six courses  • two seminars  • 7–11 hours of coursework per week 

Explore the curriculum.

Convene on Our Historic Campus

After building close connections with classmates and faculty online, you will meet during two immersions at Harvard Business School’s campus in Boston . During the immersions, you will have the opportunity to cement friendships, learn from industry-leading guest speakers, tour the Harvard campus, and network at evening events.

Learn more about the hybrid learning experience.

Work Smarter: Master Analytics for Business

Earn your certificate in as few as 10 months full time or 24 months part time.

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Demand for Business Analytics Across Fields

The disruption of big data in the global economy has placed analytics technologies and skills at the forefront of business success. As more data becomes available and demands evaluation and management, analytics-focused leadership is essential to gaining a competitive edge in any industry.

That’s where you come in. As a graduate of the program, you will be able to meet modern demands for data analytics expertise in any field. And with the AI and machine learning knowledge you will gain throughout the program, you’ll be ready to pivot as the industry changes. HBAP students apply their new knowledge in more than 13 industries, including consulting, pharmaceuticals/health care, manufacturing, technology, financial services, and petroleum/energy.

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In the 21st-century business world, it’s not enough to simply incorporate data analytics into your organization; you must have an in-depth understanding of technologies like AI and machine learning, too . Our online business analytics certificate is designed to give executives and leaders a comprehensive understanding of useful tools and emerging technologies like data mining, predictive analytics, machine learning, data aggregation, blockchain analytics, and AI —so that they can improve strategy, production, marketing, and operations throughout the supply chain. You will learn not only how to understand analytics for business but how to translate your findings and effectively communicate them to your teams.

This certificate program will help you develop a strategic mastery of languages and platforms, such as:

Learning Outcomes at a Glance

HBAP courses are designed and taught by Harvard faculty who are actively shaping the future of business analytics. Informed by their insights, our courses equip you with the business analytics expertise that you need to enhance your leadership for years to come.

Competing in the Age of AI: Learn about new AI-based business strategies and operating models.

Foundations of Quantitative Analysis: Discover how to use statistical approaches to solve business problems, make sound decisions, and become an effective manager.

Programming and Data Systems: Add AI skills to your data analytics toolkit and gain the skills you need to make technological decisions—all of this through technical instruction, discussion of case studies, and weekly programming projects.

Data-Driven Marketing: Examine how technologies like AI and machine learning have revolutionized marketing, and learn how you can use these technologies to succeed in the now data-driven field.

Learn more about courses on the Curriculum page .

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“I am no longer restricted to one method of analysis: I use multiple methods to make strategic decisions because of this remarkable program.” – Ruby Arce, HBAP ’21

More Than a Certificate—A Community

To get the most out of your Harvard certificate, you need the long-lasting connections that enable you to grow and share your analytics expertise. That’s why the HBAP experience hinges on community. 

When you join Harvard’s business analytics program online, you don’t simply earn a certificate. You become an HBAPer for life: a transformed global business leader with a strong network of classmates who feel like family.  

Networking opportunities are embedded in the curriculum, too. You will find them in lively class discussions, collaborative coursework, and on-campus immersions. Beyond connecting with peers who are just as driven as you are, you will have access to resources that further support your growth as a business analytics leader: our highly engaged faculty, professional development tools, and continued learning opportunities during and after the program.

Faculty You’ll Know on a First-Name Basis

Students agree that being able to connect with Harvard faculty is what makes HBAP a priceless experience. Faculty not only teach every single class—they become people you know on a personal level. They are readily available during live classes, virtual office hours, and in-person networking events held during and after the program.

Start getting to know your future teachers and mentors now: Meet our all-star faculty.

Support for Your Career Goals

The Career Success team is your resource for discovering your professional path and confidently achieving your goals. They offer:

• self-paced courses through a Virtual Career Center • expert, dedicated career coaching • group coaching sessions in our Virtual Career Studios • informational professional development webinars

Never Stop Learning: The HBAP Forum

The discussion doesn’t have to end when classes are over. As a student, you can participate in HBAP Forum short courses, guest speaker webinars, and Tech Talks to dive deeper into the business analytics topics that fascinate you.

Become Part of Our Data-Driven Community

The final deadline for the September 2024 cohort is July 15, 2024.

Apply to Join the HBAP Brain Trust

Our business analytics program is defined by the diversity of backgrounds our students bring to the classroom. Our admissions requirements are intentionally broad to continue to cultivate unique cohorts and perspectives. Learn more about admissions and application deadlines.

• Bachelor’s degree required • Significant professional experience preferred

“HBAP gave me newfound confidence, knowledge, and [a] supportive network so that I can dream big and push my career forward. My salary increased by 39% and I was listed as top talent for next-level roles in a $18 billion dollar company.” – Annie Wang, HBAP ’22

Make history with the Harvard Business Analytics Program.

Commencement 2024

Howard Gardner Named 2024 Convocation Speaker

Celebrated psychologist and originator of the theory of multiple intelligences will address HGSE graduates on May 22

Collegiate Recovery

For one master's student, education brings a clean start

Crack the Code for Girls

Current student empowers girls in low and middle-income countries through digital literacy

A Place to Thrive

Explore how you can connect, grow, deepen your work, and expand your horizons at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Degree Programs

Through a rich suite of courses and co-curricular experiences, along with the mentorship of exceptional faculty, a degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education prepares you to make a difference in education today.

Residential Master’s in Education

Immersive campus experience for aspiring and established educators, leaders, and innovators, with five distinct programs to choose from and rich opportunities to personalize your study and deepen your interests.

Online Master's in Education Leadership

Part-time, career-embedded program, delivered online, for experienced educators looking to advance their leadership in higher education or pre-K–12.

Doctor of Education Leadership

Preparing transformative leaders to have the capacity to guide complex organizations, navigate political environments, and create systemic change in the field of education.

Doctor of Philosophy in Education 

Training cutting-edge researchers who work across disciplines, generate knowledge, and translate discoveries into transformative policy and practice.

Professional Development

For early childhood professionals.

Programs designed to support the learning and development of early childhood professionals working in diverse settings.

For K-12 Professionals

A robust portfolio of programs serving teachers, school leaders, district administrators, and other education professionals.

For Higher Education Professionals

Leadership and career development programs for college and university administrators.

Ideas and Impact

From world-class research to innovative ideas, our community of students, faculty, and alumni are transforming education today.

Phase Two: The Reach

Reach Every Reader on its impact and the project’s next phase

The Power of Learning

The Intellectual Contribution Award recipients for the Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology Program reflect on their time at HGSE and look toward the future

Long, Hill Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences

They are among the 250 thought leaders inducted as new members of the academy in 2024

Faculty in the Media

With deep knowledge of the education field, HGSE faculty members influence current conversations in the media, giving educators and students a much-needed voice for positive change.

"Every child has the right to read well. Every child has the right to access their full potential. This society is driven by perfectionism and has been very narrow-minded when it comes to children who learn differently, including learning disabilities."

• Academics /

Strategic Management Graduate Certificate

Help contribute to the big picture at your organization using key business and management principles.

Get Started

No Application Required

Online and On Campus Options

What You'll Learn

• Align the basic direction and goals of an organization; analyze an environment’s social, political, technological, economic, and global factors; evaluate industry and market structure; and assess organizational strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand the essentials of business management in a global economy, such as corporate responsibility and ethics; organizational efficiency; and decision-making frameworks for competing strategic priorities.
• Leverage knowledge in corporate sustainability strategy, human resource management, strategic resource allocation, crisis management, and marketing management.

Our Community at a Glance

It may seem daunting to tackle schoolwork while maintaining a job, but you won’t be alone. You’ll bring challenges you face at work or in your community into the classroom to consult with faculty and peers on new, innovative solutions. Test a fresh concept or framework in the workplace and see immediate results.

Download: Strategic Management Graduate Certificate Fact Sheet

Average Age

Working Full Time

Students Outside the U.S.

Average Time to Complete

Certificate Courses

The professional graduate certificate in Strategic Management requires five courses:

• Economics, Accounting, or Finance course (choose one course from select group)
• Marketing course (choose one course from select group)
• Organizational Behavior course (choose one course from select group)
• Elective (choose one course from select group)
• Strategy course (choose one course from select group; this is your final certificate course)

Search for Courses

You can browse courses by term — fall, spring, or summer — in the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.

Upcoming Term: Summer 2024

Summer course registration is open through June 20. Learn more about how to register →

Fall 2024 courses and registration details will be live in June.

Earning Your Certificate

To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:

• Complete the  five certificate courses for graduate credit .
• Earn at least a  B grade  in each course.
• Complete the courses within three years .

Learn more about  pursuing a certificate  and the process of  requesting your certificate .

The experience I had at HES was truly world-class, shaping and transforming me in ways I never thought possible.

Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.

This graduate certificate stacks to the following degrees:

• Management Master’s Degree Program

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Critical Financial

16 American Universities Where Graduates Have the Most Debt

Posted: May 16, 2024 | Last updated: May 16, 2024

America boasts some of the world’s highest-ranked universities, including MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. But many universities leave their students with tens of thousands of dollars of debt, which has ballooned in recent years. Here are 16 U.S. universities with the highest student indebtedness.

New York University (Stern School of Business)

The New York University Stern School of Business, famous for its high-ranking MBA program and for providing students and alums with extensive business and networking opportunities, had an average debt in 2019 of $108,594, according to Poets and Quants .

Cornell University (Johnson Graduate School of Management)

Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management is well known for its strong focus on sustainable global enterprise and for offering diverse MBA programs. Graduates had an average student debt of $108,059 in 2019.

Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)

The Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University emphasizes personalized education and is renowned for its career opportunities and professional network. But in 2019, the average graduate had a student debt of $103,602.

UCLA (Anderson School of Management)

John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, or UCLA Anderson, named for the American billionaire and established in 1935, is known for offering a wide range of MBAs, business analytics, and PhD degrees. The average student debt in 2019 was $98,818.

Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper School of Business)

The Tepper School of Business was originally named the Graduate School of Industrial Administration when it was founded by William Larimer Mellon in 1949. But after receiving a record $55 million donation from billionaire alumnus David Tepper, it was renamed the David A. Tepper School of Business. The school is known for combining analytics, business, and technology in its curriculum and had an average student debt of $98,433 in 2019.

Columbia Business School

Established in 1916, Columbia Business School is located in New York City’s business hub and is one of six Ivy League business schools. The school is known for having one of the world’s most competitive MBA programs and offers a variety of executive education programs. It had an average student debt in 2019 of $98,036.

Virginia Darden School of Business

The Virginia Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, named for the former governor of Virginia, Colgate Whitehead Darden Jr., is known for using the case teaching method. Established in 1955 and ranked among the top business schools in the country, the average student debt in 2022 was $114,043.

Yale School of Management

Established in 1976, Yale’s private research university conducts research in behavioral economics, entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior, among other areas. Famous for its focus on a cross-disciplinary approach and its global network of alumni, it was reported by Poets and Quants to have an average indebtedness of $104,882 in 2022.

UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business

The first business school at a public university in the U.S., Berkeley Haas’s notable faculty include Nobel laureates in economics, former Federal Reserve Chairs, and a Google chief economist. The average student debt in 2022 was $110,102.

Harvard Business School

Known for publishing the monthly Harvard Business Review , Harvard’s graduate business school in Boston, Massachusetts, was established in 1908. The school has a long list of famous alumni, with Business Insider quipping, “If you want to be an executive, billionaire, or U.S. president, it’s a good idea to graduate from Harvard Business School.” In 2022, the average student debt was $88,757.

Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Established in 1920, the Kelley School of Business offers personalized career coaching and is known for boasting a strong alumni network. A Business Insider report from 2020 revealed that graduates earned an average post-graduation salary of $110,000 to $120,000. The average student debt at the school in 2022 was $53,265.

Maine Maritime Academy

Maine Maritime is a public college located in Castine, Maine, focused on maritime training. Established in 1941 by the 90th Maine Legislature, it’s one of six non-federal marine training colleges in the U.S. According to an article from U.S. News , the class of 2019 had an average debt load of $56,897.

University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan’s largest Catholic university. Founded in 1877 and sporting three campuses, the university offers over 100 academic degree programs. In 2019, the average student indebtedness was $55,097.

Alabama State University

Alabama State University is a historically Black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867 during the Reconstruction Era, notable alums include former Chicago mayor Eugene Sawyer and Jesse White, the former Secretary of State for Illinois. The average graduate had a $54,177 debt in 2019.

Carthage College

Carthage College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Founded by Lutheran pioneers in 1847, Carthage offers a B.A. in over 40 areas of study and had an average student debt of $52,809 in 2019 .

University of New England

Situated in Maine with campuses in Portland and Biddeford, the University of New England was established in 1831 and is the largest private university in Maine. UNE is also the largest educator of healthcare professionals in the Pine Tree State. The average student indebtedness in 2019 was $52,073.

While it’s easy for younger generations to feel like they’re steeped in slang, Boomers know that some of the best phrases have been passed down for years. Think you’re hip to all of them? Read on for 18 popular phrases of Baby Boomer slang.

18 BABY BOOMER SLANG PHRASES THAT MAKE MILLENNIALS SCRATCH THEIR HEADS

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When it comes to aging, there’s no need to fear the big 6-0! In fact, it’s a cause for celebration! In this post I highlight the 17 things that make being 60 absolutely amazing — from newfound wisdom to retirement adventures. Let’s embrace our 60s together!

23 THINGS PEOPLE THINK YOU STOP DOING IN YOUR 50S BUT YOU DON’T

As we enter midlife, there’s a common misconception that we have to “settle down” and “act our age.” However, we’re here to debunk this myth! So, check out this post as we list 23 things that people think you stop doing in your 50s but you don’t have to!

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Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML)

A joint program of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS), powered by HBS Online.

Associated Schools

Harvard Business School

Harvard Graduate School of Education

HGSE Professional Education

What you'll learn.

Engage in case-based learning with HGSE and HBS faculty on topics that include education, business, and policy

Watch virtual case studies featuring leaders from a representative cross-section of U.S. schools and businesses, and analyze the leaders’ experiences, insights, and best practices

Engage in interactive activities to learn and network with a diverse group of participants who hold school leadership positions worldwide

Reflect on your practice, knowledge, skills, and understandings—and identify opportunities to apply course learnings to your unique context

Gain first hand experience with the case-based and inductive learning model

Learn in a flexible, online platform that creates a powerful peer-to-peer learning experience adapted to fit your busy schedule

Course description

The Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) , a multi-course certificate program for PreK-12 school leaders, is an innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS). Bridging the fields of business and education, CSML integrates expertise in managing teams and organizations with best practices in school and instructional leadership, to provide school leaders with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to effectively lead and drive change improvement in schools.

Hosted on the highly interactive HBS Online platform, CSML offers participants the opportunity to reflect on and apply the course learnings to their unique context, while interacting with and learning from a global network of school leaders.

The CSML certificate will be comprised of the following four courses, which can be taken independently or completed together in any order to earn a comprehensive certificate:

- Leading Change  (Running July 20 - August 17, 2022) 

- Leading School Strategy and Innovation  (Running July 20 - August 17, 2022) 

- Leading People  (Running July 20 - August 17, 2022) 

- Leading Learning ( Running July 20 - August 17, 2022) 

Instructors

Mary Grassa O’Neill (HGSE)

Monique Thompson

Allen Grossman (HBS)

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Family Engagement in Education: Creating Effective Home and School Partnerships for Student Success

Design family engagement practices that are directly connected to student learning. Increase your capacity to engage staff, families, and your community to improve student outcomes.

Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Questions: Best Practices in the Question Formulation Technique

This workshop will provide an in-depth exploration of key components to successfully apply the Question Formulation Technique (QFT).

Teachers Mentoring Teachers: Practices for Powerful Professional Communities

Explore mentoring relationships at different stages of a career in teaching, aiming to uncover practices that are specific to the teaching profession and to name what makes them so effective

Partner Sites

Inspiring and informing your business school journey

The 10 best schools for finance in the world.

Stanford Graduate School of Business is among the best schools for finance worldwide ©Stanford GSB / iStock

What are the best schools for finance across the globe? Find out the top destinations to study finance including the likes of Oxford Saïd and Harvard

By  Fay Nyberg

Fri May 10 2024

For those seeking the competitive advantage of attending a business school that’s highly-acclaimed for finance education, the annual QS MBA by Career Specialization Rankings places nine out of the top 10 best finance schools in the world in the US.

Read on to find out which business schools rank at the top of this year's list, and explore some of the unique characteristics that make the top business schools for finance stand out.

The 10  Best Schools For Finance

10. university of michigan ross school of business.

The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is a top 10 ranking b-school when it comes to finance. With a fast-track finance MBA program, the accelerated course prepares ambitious students for summer internship positions at the end of the first year. 

The curriculum includes valuation, corporate financial policy, and financial modeling. There’s also a student-run MBA Investment Banking Club to support applications for internships and help Michigan Ross financiers’ careers progress. Ross MBA graduates are hired by the likes of Goldman Sachs, Barclays and BlackRock. 

9. Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management

The Johnson School is part of the University of Cornell, one of the largest universities in the US Ivy League. It ranks among the 10 best finance schools at number nine in this year's list. 

The two-year MBA course incorporates a summer internship and students can focus on finance by choosing a semester-long corporate finance immersion, which includes a mix of theory and practice.

Leading S&P 500 companies across a wide range of industries including finance hire Johnson’s MBA students for internships, including the likes of American Express and Bank of America.

Check out the  Cornell Johnson MBA Class Profile

8. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University offers a full-time MBA with a finance major. All MBA students begin their studies by looking at the basic tools and skills needed for a finance career. 

They can then hone their finance skills further by selecting electives such as value investing, or experiential learning courses with simulation elements such as impact investing and sustainable finance.

Faculty members here serve as editors of leading professional publications. Some like Professor Dean Karlan are founders of nonprofits dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global poverty issues.

Check out the  Northwestern Kellogg MBA Class Profile

7. University of Oxford Saïd Business School

If you’re looking to study a top finance MBA outside of the US, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School is a top 10 ranking school that's based in England. The MBA curriculum includes core courses examining the foundations of business, plus elective options like corporate valuation and financial management for banks and insurers. 

MBA students at Oxford Saïd can apply to the MBA Finance Lab for the opportunity to work through case studies. The school also offers a DPhil in Finance and MSc in Financial Economics, with an option to combine a master’s degree with a one-year MBA. 

Find out how to successfully  apply to the Oxford Saïd MBA

6. University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Just missing out on the top five in this ranking of the best finance schools, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business offers both an MBA in Analytic Finance and a  Master in Finance Program. Following up on the MBA with a concentration in finance means you select four finance-focused courses from options such as portfolio management and financial markets and institutions.

Esteemed faculty members here include Nobel Prize winners like Professor Eugene F. Fama , who is widely considered the ‘father of modern finance' and fellow Nobel Laureate,  Professor Lars Hansen . 

Find out how to successfully  apply to the Chicago Booth MBA

5. NYU Stern School of Business

The NYU Stern School of Business is number 5 in the QS MBA’s rankings of the best finance schools for 2023. The school takes a ‘flexible first’ approach to its MBA program, which is highly customizable. 

MBA students following the finance curriculum can select up to three specializations in related fields like financial systems and analytics, accounting, or supply chain management. There are also opportunities for real-world learning through participation in programs like the Michael Price Student Investment Fund, which offers hands-on asset management experience. 

Read the  NYU Stern MBA  Jobs & Salary Review

4. Columbia Business School

New York’s Columbia Business School has the lure of being located in the city that’s the center of global financial markets. Beyond the nearby bustle of Wall Street, this Ivy League school has more guest lectures and speaker visits to its campus than any other top business school. 

The MBA’s core finance elements focus on the foundational topics of value, financial accounting, and corporate finance. There are over 300 electives to choose from, with recommended courses to follow for a finance career path. The school also offers an MS in Financial Economics and a Finance PhD.  

Read the  Columbia MBA  Jobs & Salary Review

3. Stanford Graduate School of Business

Studying a finance MBA can give you a broad range of opportunities both within finance and beyond. For those who aspire to work with the biggest names in tech, Stanford's Graduate School of Business campus is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in California.

The first-year MBA curriculum includes the foundations of finance, financial accounting, and microeconomics. Those following a finance pathway can select year two electives including economics of the private equity industry, money and banking, and angel and venture capital financing for entrepreneurs and investors. 

Check out the  Stanford GSB MBA Class Profile

2. Harvard Business School 

Boston-based Harvard Business School has a dedicated finance MBA curriculum and boasts a busy calendar of seminars delivered by top global names in finance.

The MBA program’s core modules in finance develop student’s ability to make financial and managerial decisions. Year two electives include investment management and field courses such as value creation in small and medium firms.

Among the key factors that make this Ivy League school standout are its award-winning faculty members. For example, professor Lauren J.Cohen was invited to brief US congress on policy matters and delivered a keynote address at the launch of Nigeria’s Central Bank digital currency.

Dive into the  Harvard MBA Notable Alumni

1. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Wharton is the leading school for an MBA for finance in the QS list, coming out on top against the other best finance schools in the US.

The b-school has been a leading name in finance education and research for over 120 years. Global names in finance hire Wharton MBA students as staff and interns, including the Bank of America, Barclays, and Goldman Sachs & Company.

The Wharton MBA curriculum includes core modules such as corporate finance and macroeconomics, and the global economic environment. 

The wide variety of electives means you can customize the program to support a financial career pathway. Examples of options include international financial markets and cryptocurrencies or data science for finance. 

Read the  Wharton  MBA  Jobs & Salary Review

• Best Business Schools

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• Resources >

UB School of Management celebrates career partners for impact on student success

Release Date: May 15, 2024

By Alexandra Richter

Related Links

• 3/19/24 Career Resource Center
• 1/20/23 Internships and Experiential Learning

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Career Resource Center — an exclusive resource for nearly 4,000 students in the University at Buffalo School of Management — hosted a celebration at The Mansion on Delaware Ave. on May 8 to honor several recruiting and internship partners for their considerable impact on student success and career development.

Caroline Organ, MBA ’07, chief human resources officer at Brock, Schechter & Polakoff LLP was named CRC Alumnus of the Year for her dedication and support of students’ professional and career development, and for her deep involvement with the school. Championing UB within her firm for more than 15 years, Organ and members of her team engage in panel discussions, networking events, programs in collaboration with the UB Accounting Association and Beta Alpha Psi, and more.

Carey Petruso, group talent manager, Enterprise Mobility and Jody Giarrusso, talent acquisition manager, Enterprise Mobility were named Recruiting Partners of the Year for their commitment to promoting a strong recruiting partnership with the school.

On the internship side, the CRC honored two pairs of Interns and Supervisors of the Year. The awards recognize productive, meaningful collaborations between students and their mentors — and are chosen based on their nominations of one another. Interns often write about how they grew professionally by completing challenging assignments and hearing about their supervisor’s career path. Meanwhile, supervisors frequently share how impressed they were with their intern’s work, dedication and integrity.

This year’s Interns and Supervisors of the Year were: Claire Ritchie, BS ’24, and Melissa Boland, BS ’07, owner, Casa Bella Management LLC; and Akshay Prabhakar Koltewar, MBA ’24, and James Luciani, associate director of business reporting, Linde.

West Herr Automotive Group was recognized as 2024’s Outstanding Internship Organization for the design, breadth and depth of internship opportunities as well as the quality of learning objectives and mentoring provided to students. Since the start of West Herr’s Internship Experience Program in 2023, 16 students have interned and multiple students hired into part-time roles. Mary Borgognoni, director of internships and career development, and Scott Bieler, president, West Herr Automotive Group, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

“Students described our partners at West Herr Automotive Group as welcoming, informative, supportive, and interested in their success, from training to completion,” says Carrie Gardner, director of internships and experiential learning in the School of Management.

Techtronic Industries was honored with the New Recruiting Organization of the Year award for the organization’s dedication to the recruitment of students and alumni as well as their commitment to building a strong partnership with the UB School of Management. Representatives are a regular presence in the school for information sessions, on-campus interviews, working with student clubs and more. James Burke, territory manager, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

For ways you or your company can engage with the UB School of Management’s Career Resource Center, visit management.buffalo.edu/career . 

Now in its 100th year, the UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school also has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit management.buffalo.edu .

Media Contact Information

Contact Alexandra Richter Assistant Director of Communications School of Management 716-645-5455 [email protected]

Do you have questions or comments for the Office of the Provost? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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A campus-wide, student-centric effort to ensure that UB’s PhD programs remain among the strongest in the world.

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