The application for Summer 2025 is now open.
What You’ll Learn
Are you passionate about justice and human rights? Take courses that allow you to explore your inner humanitarian this summer. Learn about the impacts of global and gender justice, apply ethics to human and environmental issues, and understand the nuances of how inequality and justice appear in America.
The 7-week Secondary School Program allows you to take two courses instead of one, so you can use your summer to focus your studies on topics you are excited about or evaluate a potential field of study in college. Explore these Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights subjects you can study at Harvard and design your own human rights summer program by choosing two courses.
Featured 7-Week SSP Courses
Global Perspectives
- The Human Market: The Global Traffic in Human Beings (ANTH S-1662)
- Global Gender Justice (HUMA S-185)
- Law in War (LSTU S-136)
Justice in America
- Birth Control (SWGS S-1235)
- Readings in Black Radicalism (AAAS S-125)
- Indigenous Literatures (ENGL S-238)
- Race and US Politics (GOVT S-1315)
Ethics and Political Philosophy
- Introduction to Political Philosophy (GOVT S-10)
- Justice: Ethics in an Age of Pandemic and Racial Reckoning (GOVT S-1045)
- Human Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy (PHIL S-18)
Explore More Government, Sociology, and Anthropology Courses
Interested in finding more courses like this? Browse our course catalog to find the ones you’ll enjoy.
High school students interested in taking justice, ethics, and human rights courses must first apply and be accepted into the Secondary School Program. These courses are also open to adult and college students over the summer. Adults and college students should complete these steps to register.
FAQs
How long are the Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights classes?
These courses run the full length of the 7-week term. 4-credit courses are in session 2 days/week and 8-credit courses are in session 5 days/week (Monday-Friday). On class days, you will meet for 3 hours.
Do I earn college credit from these courses?
Yes. At the completion of the program, you may request a transcript listing your coursework, grades, and number of credits earned. Students participating in the 7-Week Residential program earn 8 credit hours, either taking two 4-credit courses or one 8-hour course, while SSP Online or Commuting students may choose to take either 4 or 8 credit hours during the 7-week summer session.
Are these classes online or in-person?
Some courses are available on-campus only, while others are available in a flexible format for 7-week SSP Online or Commuting students. Learn more about which courses are available depending on your program format.
Are my college credits transferable?
Harvard Summer School credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities at the discretion of the home institution. You can request a copy of your transcript after completing your courses. Because degree requirements vary among schools, you should check your home school’s transfer policies before you register.