phd in management harvard university

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• AB/AM, AB/SM (1)
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• Master of Engineering (ME) (2)
• Master of Science (SM) (4)

GRE Requirement

• Not Accepted (28)
• Optional (28)
• Required (14)

African and African American Studies

American studies, anthropology, applied mathematics, applied physics, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, bioengineering, biological and biomedical sciences, biological sciences in public health.

Management Development Program

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Gain critical skills and strategies that can help you navigate complex higher education landscapes – particularly as you assume new leadership responsibilities.

Upcoming Sessions

• Jun 9, 2024 - Jun 14, 2024 Application Deadline: Apr 16, 2024 Tuition: $6,150.00

Higher education managers face a wide array of leadership and managerial challenges — from planning and implementing strategic action to allocating financial resources and enacting the vision of senior leadership. To succeed, administrators need skills that enable them to work throughout the institutional hierarchy while staying true to their own personal and professional identities.

The Management Development Program (MDP ), a five-day program held on Harvard’s Cambridge, Massachusetts campus, helps higher education managers acquire the knowledge and insight needed to think more strategically, balance competing demands, and engage in more forward-thinking leadership.

"MDP changed the way I think about leadership. The program broadens your horizons and makes you consider the larger purpose behind your job. I’m not prone to hyperbole, but MDP was a life-changing experience." Hari Rajagopalan, Dean, School of Business Francis Marion University (SC)

Program Details

Designed for early-career leaders, MDP provides participants with the critical skills and mindsets needed to navigate complex institutional environments. Topics will include leadership effectiveness, negotiation tactics, fiscal decision-making, equity and inclusivity, ethics, and strategic planning.

A combination of case studies, small group discussions, interactive presentations, and immersive experiences will help you learn how to incorporate broader strategic considerations into your management decisions.

Throughout MDP, you will have the opportunity to learn and network with a diverse and dynamic cohort, deepen your working relationships through regular roundtable discussions, and continue these connections through a post-MDP participant webinar.

Learning Goals

• Develop the capacity for you and your team to build greater individual and group effectiveness.
• Learn the frameworks, tools, and skills to manage negotiations effectively.
• Navigate fiscal decision-making by becoming familiar with higher education financial structures and economic concepts.
• Take proactive steps to transform colleges and universities into truly inclusive institutions, foster success for all students, and support faculty and staff from a range of backgrounds.
• Explore characteristics of effective and ethical leadership.
• Gain skills for planning, implementing, and evaluating a strategic direction for your department or unit.
• Establish connections and develop a lasting network with peers from around the world and throughout the United States.

Who Should Attend

• Deans (also associate/assistant deans)
• Department chairs
• Program directors
• Managing directors

Faculty Chairs

Eduardo Ramon Contreras Jr

Liya Escalera

Liya Escalera, Ed.M.’09, joins HGSE as a lecturer on education in 2024. Currently serving as the vice provost for student equity, access, and success at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Escalera brings a vast knowledge and expertise in navigating shared governance, strategic planning, and resource development — especially in open access public institutions of higher education.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance is available for this program on a need and application basis. Tuition assistance is granted based on participant and institutional needs. Requests for tuition assistance do not affect an applicant's prospects for admission. You may access the tuition assistance application after you have submitted your program application. Tuition assistance applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the final application deadline.

Considering this program?

Related programs.

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Organizational Change In Uncertain Times: A Leadership Program for Higher Education

Bravely confronting racism in higher education, institute for educational management.

• Jul 11, 2024 - Jul 18, 2024 Price: $8,950.00

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Harvard Ph.D. Program in Health Policy

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The Harvard PhD in Health Policy, awarded by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, is a collaborative program among six Harvard University faculties: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

While the program is interdisciplinary in nature, students specialize in one of five concentrations:  decision sciences, economics, management, methods for policy research, or political analysis.

Approximately 110 faculty members from schools within the University are involved with the program, and students are free to take classes throughout the University. A hallmark of the program is the accessibility of faculty members to students and the commitment of faculty to students enrolled in the program.

The program started in 1992, and there are 67 students currently enrolled and over 250 alumni.

PhD Program in Health Policy Concentration Areas:

Decision sciences.

Methods for Policy Research

Political Analysis

Overview of the PhD Program

For specific information on the Environmental Science and Engineering PhD program, see the navigation links to the right. 

What follows on this page is an overview of all Ph.D. programs at the School; additional information and guidance can be found on the  Graduate Policies  pages. 

General Ph.D. Requirements

• 10 semester-long graduate courses, including at least 8 disciplinary.   At least 5 of the 10 should be graduate-level SEAS "technical" courses (or FAS graduate-level technical courses taught by SEAS faculty), not including seminar/reading/project courses.  Undergraduate-level courses cannot be used.  For details on course requirements, see the school's overall PhD course requirements  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Program Plan (i.e., the set of courses to be used towards the degree) approval by the  Committee on Higher Degrees  (CHD).
• Minimum full-time academic residency of two years .
• Serve as a Teaching Fellow (TF) in one semester of the second year.
• Oral Qualifying Examination Preparation in the major field is evaluated in an oral examination by a qualifying committee. The examination has the dual purpose of verifying the adequacy of the student's preparation for undertaking research in a chosen field and of assessing the student's ability to synthesize knowledge already acquired. For details on arranging your Qualifying Exam, see the exam policies and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Committee Meetings : PhD students' research committees meet according to the guidelines in each area's "Committee Meetings" listing.  For details see the "G3+ Committee Meetings" section of the Policies of the CHD  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Final Oral Examination (Defense) This public examination devoted to the field of the dissertation is conducted by the student's research committee. It includes, but is not restricted to, a defense of the dissertation itself.  For details of arranging your final oral exam see the  Ph.D. Timeline  page.
• Dissertation Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, a committee chaired by the research supervisor is constituted to oversee the dissertation research. The dissertation must, in the judgment of the research committee, meet the standards of significant and original research.

Optional additions to the Ph.D. program

Harvard PhD students may choose to pursue these additional aspects:

• a Secondary Field (which is similar to a "minor" subject area).  SEAS offers PhD Secondary Field programs in  Data Science and in  Computational Science and Engineering .   GSAS  lists  secondary fields offered by other programs.
• a Master of Science (S.M.) degree conferred  en route to the Ph.D in one of several of SEAS's subject areas.  For details see here .
• a Teaching Certificate awarded by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning .

SEAS PhD students may apply to participate in the  Health Sciences and Technology graduate program  with Harvard Medical School and MIT.  Please check with the HST program for details on eligibility (e.g., only students in their G1 year may apply) and the application process.

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Strategic Management Graduate Certificate

Get Started

No Application Required

Online and On Campus Options

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

Remain competitive in today's global marketplace by building a solid understanding of the foundations of strategic management.

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.

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.

Health Economics

The study of health economics focuses on the economic behavior of individuals; providers; insurers; and international, federal, state, and local governments and actors as their actions affect health and medical care. This includes financing health care, provider payment systems, and restructuring health systems.

Primary Faculty in Health Economics

Vilsa Curto Anna Sinaiko Benjamin Sommers Meredith Rosenthal Joseph Newhouse

News from the School

Bethany Kotlar, PhD '24, studies how children fare when they're born to incarcerated mothers

Soccer, truffles, and exclamation points: Dean Baccarelli shares his story

Health care transformation in Africa highlighted at conference

COVID, four years in

Performance Management

The University's approach to performance management is based on the understanding that regular, meaningful conversations between managers and employees lead to better results and higher engagement for everyone. All administrative/professional and support staff at Harvard are encouraged to meet with their managers as frequently as they choose to discuss their work priorities, performance, and developmental needs and aspirations. Managers are expected to proactively schedule and structure these meetings throughout the year to minimize the stress associated with one-time, high stakes, end-of-year performance appraisals.

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Engineering Management Graduate Students Awarded Best Paper at Respective 2023 Conferences

By Keelin Kelly

Two graduate students in the School of Engineering’s Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology were recognized for their collaborative research work with best paper awards at national conferences for their research areas. 

Adedayo Aruwajoye

While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria, Aruwajoye developed a strong interest in the confluence between business, engineering and technology.

“I wanted to deepen my speciality in this particular mix to understand how an engineer manages different processes and people,” Aruwajoye said.

He graduated from the University of Lagos in 2019 and led operations for a supply chain and technology consulting firm for two and a half years before he discovered UD’s engineering management master’s degree program. 

“It checked a lot of boxes for me: it was a master’s program for two years in engineering management, and it incorporated the specifics I was looking for,” he said. “Following that up with my conversations with the graduate coordinator at the time, it seemed like a great choice for me.”

Dr. Henry Lester, Aruwajoye’s research advisor, is an associate professor and program director of the systems engineering program in the Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology at UD. 

In October 2023, Aruwajoye and Dr. Lester traveled to the University of Colorado, Boulder for the American Society of Engineering Management 2023 International Annual Conference and won the Merritt Williamson Best International Annual Conference Paper Award.

The research detailed in their paper titled “Analysis of Power System Resilience to Extreme Events” examines past hurricanes in the U.S. and the responses of power systems in affected areas. It includes an extensive data collection and analysis for over 500 counties across six states: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

“It’s impactful because in this part of the world and even beyond, every other critical societal infrastructure is connected to power systems,” Aruwajoye said. “We are trying to develop some form of metric from this data to ensure subsequently developed power systems can bounce back to optimal functionality in the least amount of time possible and maintain operation regardless of high-impact disruptions they encounter.” 

Esther Adeyemi

After four years in the construction industry as a civil engineer, Adeyemi became interested in the business side of engineering and discovered UD’s engineering management master’s degree program.

“I pursued engineering management because I felt there was a need for me to develop myself even more in order to manage people,” Adeyemi said. “Coming to UD has helped me to be more open minded and outspoken.” 

Her initial plan was to pursue only her master’s degree in engineering management, but she has decided to continue at UD to pursue her Doctor of Engineering, Systems Engineering and Management degree. 

“The community here has been like a home away from home for me,” Adeyemi said, who is originally from Nigeria. “One person here who makes that possible is Dr. Bommer. I can’t imagine our paths not crossing.”

Dr. Sharon Bommer is an associate professor and the director of the Human Performance and Cognition Lab within the Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology.

In October 2023, Adeyemi and Dr. Bommer participated in the 2023 Industrial Engineering and Operations Management International Conference that was held at the Lawrence Technological University in Detroit, Michigan and won best paper in the human factors and ergonomics track.

Titled “A Pilot Study on the Impact of Colors on Human Performance Within a Multitasking Simulation Environment,” their paper describes their pilot investigation into improving the experimental design for assessing the impact of different colors using the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s Multi-Attribute Task Battery simulation software.

Adeyemi and Dr. Bommer conducted their experiment in the Human Performance and Cognition Lab which aims to expand the possibilities of human performance and well-being through the investigation of mental workload analysis. Adeyemi looks forward to mentoring other students in the lab this summer and hopes to further its mission by opening the lab up to the entire engineering department.

“Dr. Bommer wants to make me better, and when someone is really invested in your success, it only makes sense that you try to give your all,” Adeyemi said. “The least I can do for her is work hard and make sure the lab grows.”

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When Dr. Sidaard (Sid) Gunasekaran ’12 ’16 won the prestigious KEEN Rising Star Award, the organization awarded him a sleek electric guitar, worthy of a rock star. He is a rock star among students and faculty in the School of Engineering and in the aerospace engineering world.

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PhD in Management

Application deadline: Apr 26, 2024 at 11:59 PM

Call for Applications

• Call for applications
• PhD Programme Table

Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2024

Riccardo Fini

Coordinator of the PhD Course in Management

Dipartimento di Scienze Aziendali

Via Capo di Lucca 34 Bologna (BO)

[email protected]

Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation

In Harvard Kennedy School’s Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation online executive program, you will explore how to align mission and strategy through performance measurement.

Associated Schools

Harvard Kennedy School

What you'll learn.

Aligning mission and organizational performance management: Linking organizational performance, mission, and impact; comparing what is being measured and what is being delivered; developing a theory of change and logic model

Challenges and obstacles to managing organizational performance: Building a performance-based culture; developing capacity within the organization; implementing a performance management strategy

Innovation through measurement: Designing experiments to develop new interventions and improve existing programs; fostering a learning mindset

Collaborating with partners: Using data to communicate social and environmental outcomes to key stakeholders; dealing with the forces that shape the nonprofit environment

Sustainable performance management systems: Understanding and overcoming implementation challenges; institutionalizing continuous improvement in your organization; assessing communication issues

Course description

Performance measurement is essential for organizational innovation, learning, and success. Nonprofits, however, must evaluate social or environmental outcomes as well as financial performance, and the ideal metrics are not always easy to identify. Indeed, to improve the effectiveness of a nonprofit organization—especially when tackling society's toughest challenges—senior executives and board members must prioritize assessment of organizational performance. 

In Harvard Kennedy School’s Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation online executive program, you will explore how to align mission and strategy through performance measurement. Through live presentations led by Faculty Chair Dutch Leonard and other Harvard faculty, along with case studies and group discussions, you will learn to think conceptually about performance measurement and prepare to lead performance-focused initiatives that will empower your organization and drive new levels of success.

This virtual program features sessions on innovation and organizational learning; generating evidence about an intervention's effectiveness; building a culture of performance measurement; and managing for collective impact amid the challenges of today's rapidly changing world. Join us to learn how to align your organization’s mission, strategy, and performance—and how to develop a culture of learning and innovation at your nonprofit. You will also discover how to assess and communicate outcomes to partners and stakeholders. And you will find out how to identify key metrics, and institute and sustain organizational performance measurement.

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Art and Practice of Leadership Development

This highly interactive and experiential executive program is designed to train executive leadership development professionals from around the world, including consultants, teachers and trainers.

Nonprofit Financial Stewardship: Concepts and Techniques for Strategic Management

This 4-week Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education online program is designed to help managers in nonprofit organizations understand the tools, techniques and concepts of good financial management.

Nonprofit Financial Stewardship Webinar: Introduction to Accounting and Financial Statements

The Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Statements webinars provide a great opportunity to learn the basic principles of nonprofit accounting.

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New Visiting Researchers Program brings Postdoctoral and PhD Student Fellows to Harvard's Center for International Development

By CID Staff

The Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard University launched the  Visiting Researcher Program this academic year. With sponsorship from UniCredit Foundation, this program brings postdoctoral and PhD student researchers from the UniCredit Bank’s extensive European network to Harvard CID. Program participants have the opportunity to join CID’s vibrant research community and learn from leading Harvard faculty and researchers.

Over a three-year period, the support from UniCredit will fund postdoctoral fellowships for researchers whose research focuses on education related to a UniCredit country: Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In addition, visiting fellowships at CID will be awarded to PhD students from institutions in UniCredit territories listed above. CID welcomed the first two PhD students this spring and will welcome two postdoctoral candidates in fall 2024. The call for additional PhD students for fall 2024 is currently open.

“Through this new program, we are thrilled to bring early-stage researchers to the CID community at Harvard University. We hope to build new relationships that spark innovative ideas and translate into research that will have a significant impact on education and economic development,” said Eliana La Ferrara, CID Faculty Affiliate and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School who is overseeing the program. 

Andrea Orcel, CEO of UniCredit and chairman of the UniCredit Foundation, visited CID on November 28, 2023 to launch the program alongside CID leadership. He noted the importance of investing in the education of the next generation of scholars. CID faculty and fellows discussed global trends and challenges on education. 

“Education is the bedrock upon which we build our future, and we are proud of UniCredit’s commitment to supporting educational development through our Foundation,” Orcel said. “This program will act as a further tool to better understand educational needs enabling researchers to generate new evidence about the countries where we operate.”

“We are delighted to welcome these visiting researchers to the CID community,” shared CID’s Faculty Director Asim I. Khwaja. “Building and investing in the talent of the next generation of researchers is one of our top priorities at CID. We want to support and grow their research and watch the ripple effect as they advance learning on critical development issues. I am grateful to the UniCredit Foundation for helping us get this incredible initiative off the ground.”

Award recipients

The CID Visiting Researcher Program welcomed its inaugural cohort of PhD students in spring 2024:

The CID Visiting Researcher Program will welcome two postdoctoral candidates in fall 2024:

How to Get Published in Economics: Harvard Faculty and Colleagues Share their Advice

By Justin Chin

Business Administration

Harvard Business School offers a two-year, full-time MBA program with a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice. Becoming a student at HBS means joining a global community that propels lifelong learning and career support alongside peers, faculty, and staff who will both challenge you and cheer you on as you find and accelerate your path. Learn about joint degree programs.

Jointly administered by HBS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Ph.D. in business administration grounds students in disciplinary theories and methods and trains them to apply these theories and methods in academic research on important business problems. The program has four areas of study: accounting and management, marketing, strategy, and technology and operations management. The program prepares students for a career in academia at top business schools and research institutions around the world.

7-Week SSP & 2-Week Pre-College Program are still accepting applications until April 10, or earlier if all course waitlists are full. 4-Week SSP Application is closed.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

8 Time Management Tips for Students

Don't let a hectic schedule get the better of you with these time management tips.

Lian Parsons

College can be a stressful time for many students and time management can be one of the most crucial — but tricky — skills to master.

Attending classes, studying for exams, making friends, and taking time to relax and decompress can quickly fill up your schedule. If you often find yourself wishing there were more hours in the day, this guide will offer time management tips for students so you can accomplish what you need to get done, have fun with your friends, and gain back some valuable time for yourself. 

1. Create a Calendar

Don’t be caught by surprise by an important paper due two days from now or a dinner with your family the same night you planned for a group study session. Create a calendar for yourself with all your upcoming deadlines, exams, social events, and other time commitments well in advance so you can see what’s coming up. 

Keep your calendar in a place where you can see it every day, such as in your planner or on your wall above your desk. If you prefer a digital calendar, check it first thing every day to keep those important events fresh and top-of-mind. For greater efficiency, make sure you can integrate it with your other tools, such as your email.

Digital calendar options include: 

• Google Calendar 
• Outlook Calendar
• Fantastical

2. Set Reminders

After you’ve created your calendar, give yourself periodic reminders to stay on track such as to complete a study guide in advance or schedule a meeting for a group project. Knowing deadlines is important; however, staying on top of the micro tasks involved in meeting those deadlines is just as important. You can set an alarm on your phone, write it down in a physical planner, or add an alert to your digital calendar. The reminders will help to prevent things from slipping through the cracks during particularly hectic days.

Make sure you’ve allotted enough time to study for that big test or write that final paper. Time management is all about setting yourself up for success in advance and giving yourself the tools to accomplish tasks with confidence. 

Read our blogs, Your Guide to Conquering College Coursework and Top 10 Study Tips to Study Like a Harvard Student , for more suggestions.

3. Build a Personalized Schedule

Each person’s day-to-day is different and unique to them, so make sure your schedule works for you. Once you’ve accounted for consistent commitments such as classes or your shifts at work, add in study sessions, extracurriculars, chores and errands, and social engagements.

Consider your personal rhythm. If you typically start your day energized, plan to study or accomplish chores then. If you fall into an afternoon slump, give yourself that time to take a guilt-free TV break or see friends.

Having a schedule that works for you will help maximize your time. Plus, knowing exactly when your laundry day is or when your intramural volleyball practice is every week will help you avoid trying to cram everything in one day (or running out of clean socks!)

Explore summer college courses.

4. Use Tools That Work For You

Just like your calendar and schedule, the tools you use to keep you organized should be the right fit for you. Some students prefer physical planners and paper, while some prefer going totally digital. Your calendar can help you with long-term planning, but most of these tools are best for prioritizing from day to day.

Explore what best suits your needs with some of the following suggestions:

Planners can help you keep track of long-term deadlines, such as important essay deadlines, upcoming exams, and appointments and meetings. They often provide a monthly overview each month, as well as day-to-day planning sections, so you can stay ahead. 

• Papier – Offers a 20% student discount 

If your schedule is jam-packed and you have trouble figuring out what to do and when, scheduling day by day—and sometimes even hour by hour—can help you slot in everything you need to do with less stress.

• Structured app

Note Taking

From class to study sessions to errands, keeping track of everything can feel overwhelming. Keeping everything in one place, whether on the go or at your desk, can help keep you organized.

• Bullet journals

5. Prioritize

Sometimes there really is too much to do with too little time. In these instances, take just a few minutes to evaluate your priorities. Consider which deadlines are most urgent, as well as how much energy you have. 

If you are able to complete simple tasks first, try getting them out of the way before moving on to tasks that require a lot of focus. This can help to alleviate some of the pressure by checking a couple things off your to-do list without getting bogged down too early.

If you are struggling to fit everything in your schedule, consider what you can postpone or what you can simply say no to. Your friends will likely understand if you have to meet them for coffee another time in order to get in a final library session before a challenging exam. 

6. Make Time to Have Fun — And For Yourself

Time management isn’t just about getting work done. It’s also about ensuring that you can put yourself and your mental wellbeing first. Consistently including time for yourself in your schedule helps to keep your mental health and your life in balance. It can also be helpful to have things to look forward to when going through stressful periods.  

Whether it’s going for a bike ride along the river, spending time with your friends and family, or simply sleeping in on a Sunday, knowing you have space to relax and do things you enjoy can provide better peace of mind. 

7. Find Support 

Preparation and organization can sometimes only get you so far. Luckily, you have plenty of people rooting for your success. Keep yourself and your classmates on task by finding an accountability partner or study buddies. Remind your roommates when you need extra space to work on a paper. 

Your school’s academic resource center is also there to support you and point you in the right direction if you need additional help. Getting—and staying—organized is a collaborative effort and no one can do it on their own. 

8. Be Realistic and Flexible 

Sometimes unforeseen circumstances will come up or you simply may not be able to get to everything you set out to do in a given day. Be patient with yourself when things don’t go exactly to plan. When building your calendar, schedule, and priorities list, be realistic about what you can accomplish and include buffer time if you’re unsure. This can help to reduce obstacles and potential friction.

Time management isn’t just about sticking to a rigid schedule—it’s also about giving yourself space for change.

Learn more about our summer programs.

About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

Managing Stress in High School

Our reasons may vary, but everyone experiences stress. Here are some of the common reasons high school students feel stressed, and what they can do about it.

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.

• Harvard Business School →
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Accounting & Management

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

Accounting & Management

Curriculum & coursework.

Our programs are full-time degree programs which officially begin in August. Students are expected to complete their program in five years. Typically, the first two years are spent on coursework, at the end of which students take a field exam, and then another three years on dissertation research and writing.

Students in the Accounting and Management program must complete a minimum of 13 semester-long doctoral courses in the areas of business management theory, economic theory, quantitative research methods, academic field seminars, and two MBA elective curriculum courses. In addition to HBS courses, students may take courses at other Harvard Schools and MIT.

Research & Dissertation

Students in accounting and management begin research in their first year typically by working with a faculty member. By their third and fourth years, most students are launched on a solid research and publication stream. In Accounting and Management, the dissertation may take the form of three publishable papers or one longer dissertation.

Recent questions students have explored include: the ways in which managers use retail-level marketing actions to influence the timing of consumer purchases in relation to their firms’ fiscal calendars and financial performance as well as those of their competitors; the role of accounting information in strategic human resource decisions; the evolution, consequences and institutional determinants of unregulated financial reporting practices; the effects of adopting rolling forecasts on forecast quality.

Elliot Tobin

“ I’m constantly inspired to look into new research angles by the brilliant people I run into on campus every day. ”

Current HBS Faculty

• Brian K. Baik
• Dennis Campbell
• Srikant M. Datar
• Aiyesha Dey
• Susanna Gallani
• Gunther Glenk
• Brian J. Hall
• Jonas Heese
• Robert S. Kaplan
• V.G. Narayanan
• Trung Nguyen
• Joseph Pacelli
• Lynn S. Paine
• Krishna G. Palepu
• Ananth Raman
• Edward J. Riedl
• Clayton S. Rose
• Ethan C. Rouen
• Tatiana Sandino
• David S. Scharfstein
• George Serafeim
• Anywhere Sikochi
• Robert Simons
• Eugene F. Soltes
• Suraj Srinivasan
• Adi Sunderam
• Charles C.Y. Wang
• Emily Williams

Current Accounting & Management Students

• Yaxuan Chen
• Ji Ho Kim
• Botir Kobilov
• Yiwei Li
• Trang Nguyen
• Konstantin Pavlenkov
• Ria Sen
• Terrence Shi
• Albert Shin
• Elliot Tobin
• Wenxin Wang
• Yina Yang
• Siyu Zhang

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, wilbur chen, 2022, alexandra scherf, 2021, jody grewal, 2019, andrew jing liu, 2018, hashim zaman, 2022, wei cai, 2020, matthew shaffer, 2019, jee eun shin, 2018, patrick ferguson, 2021, jihwon park, 2020, carolyn deller, 2018, aaron yoon, 2018.

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Unlocking potential through staff performance management training

Article by Human Resources Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson March 27, 2024

HR continues to offer workshops through April

In today’s higher education landscape, organizations must seek ways to enhance performance and gain a competitive edge. A critical aspect is to effectively manage and develop our employees who support UD’s mission “to cultivate learning, develop knowledge and foster the free exchange of ideas.”

Human Resources (HR) new Staff Performance Management and Merit Pay Program and associated training equips employees and managers with the skills and tools necessary to set clear expectations, provide effective feedback, identify areas for growth, and recognize achievements. Since mid-March, HR has completed over 35 training sessions.

HR’s Talent and Organizational Development team continues to offer and facilitate live, in-person, and virtual training workshops. Staff self-appraisals must be completed and shared with managers by April 12, and all performance assessments must be completed by May 3.

Performance management training represents a strategic investment in organizational excellence. By empowering employees and managers to manage performance effectively, we can continue to chart a course toward sustainable growth in today’s dynamic environment.

For more information on the new program, training and supporting resources, visit HR’s website .

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