Learn more about the course and register today to secure your spot! You’ll receive an email from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning soon with more information.
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
Online short course
8 weeks of online weekly modules
8-10 hours of self-paced learning per week
Earn a digital certificate from Harvard Derek Bok Center
Multiple payment options available
Upskill
You have little or no background in education and want to receive formalized knowledge around effective teaching practices in the higher education context.
Grow Your Career
You’re aiming for a promotion, or want to progress within the ranks of academia, and would like to refine your own unique teaching philosophy and raise your institutional profile.
Validate Your Knowledge
You want proof of your knowledge and abilities in the form of a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX.
Review Selection and Pricing
You’ll be taken to your cart on GetSmarter, Harvard Derek Bok Center’s online education partner.
Create an Account
Create a student profile on GetSmarter, then add your billing details.
Complete Registration
Choose your preferred payment option to register and pay for the course.
“This course provided much-needed pause and reflection as an integral part of my professional development. I refined my skills as an experienced educator, I added new tools to my repertoire as a practitioner, and I connected with professionals working in similar fields. We spent countless hours giving each other feedback and offering perspective on materials presented by the instructors. The platform was easy to navigate and well-designed, utilizing the latest evidence-based principles for teaching and learning in the information age.”
–– Octaviano M. | Lead Trainer, OHSU Center for Diversity and Inclusion
We offer accessible financing options so that nothing stands in the way of your success.
Payment Options
Pay in full before course starts
Split payment plan
You may opt for a two-part payment plan, with the first installment due prior to the course start date.
Get sponsored by your employer
Of our past students, 37 percent of our students have received employer assistance, and you can too. All you need to register is your sponsor’s name, email, and billing address. They’ll receive an email with instructions.
Need help asking your boss? Check out our guide here.

Every course is broken down into manageable, weekly modules, designed to accelerate your learning process through diverse learning activities:
Work through your downloadable and online instructional material.
Interact with your peers and learning facilitators through weekly class-wide forums and reviewed small group discussions.
Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including video lectures, infographics, live polls, and more.
Investigate rich, real-world case studies.
GetSmarter, with whom Harvard’s Bok Center is collaborating to deliver this online course, provides a personalized approach to online education that ensures you’re supported throughout your learning journey.
Head Tutor
A subject expert who’ll guide you through content-related challenges.
Success Advisor
Your one-on-one support is available during University hours (8am–5pm EST) to resolve technical and administrative challenges.
Global Success Team
Available 24/7 to solve your tech-related and administrative queries and concerns.
Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and HarvardX are collaborating with online education company GetSmarter to create a new class of learning experience that is higher-touch, intimate, and truly transformative. According to the late Professor Robert Lue, the now former faculty director of Harvard’s Bok Center, when an online learning model has a focus on quality content and is built on human mentorship and performance coaching, administrative and academic support, individualized assessment feedback, and rich social interaction with peers, it "leads to much more impactful and significant learning outcomes."