We encourage Harris students admitted into our graduate degree programs to explore  opportunities to prepare for their fall enrollment.  

Our non-degree Credential Programs enable you to gain specific skills that can bridge gaps in your portfolio and connect you with the UChicago community before starting your degree. 

“Transitioning from undergrad to master’s level was challenging when I made the jump a few years ago, and I didn’t want the same thing to happen at Harris. After completing DPSS, I felt much better prepared.” 

— Wrojensky Andre, AM Class of 2021 

Read Wrojensky’s full profile here.  

About Credential Programs 

Designed for students and working professionals from around the world, our non-degree programs range from five to seven weeks in length and cover topics such as R Programming, writing, finance, and more. These part-time programs are taught by UChicago faculty and are 100% virtual, offering flexibility–with your current studies or work. 

Explore your credential program options below:  

• Monetary Policy and International Policy Program with Peking University 

• Writing Persuasive Public Policy Program 

• Data and Policy Summer Scholar Program 

• International Policy Action Lab with Peking University 

Next Steps

Learn more about Credential Program opportunities: 

• Explore the Credential Program website  

• Attend an upcoming webinar or mini-class for your program of interest 

• Email the Credential Program Manager, Andie Ingram Eccles (andieingram@uchicago.edu) for additional details or questions

Please note, Admitted students who have accepted their admission (submitted their admission reply form and paid their deposit) before the start date of the credential program will receive a discount on the credential program fee, paying the same rate as current students.

Admitted students who have yet to accept their admission are still welcome to join a credential program but will not receive the incoming student discount.

We hope you will take this opportunity to start your UChicago Harris journey early.

Alumni Profiles

Read the profiles of Credential Program alumni:

• Jiuzhi (Simon) Zhang, DPSS'19, MPP Class of 2022—Zhang plans to leverage his background in applied mathematics at Harris to create evidence-based policies that will impact Asian development. 

• Xiaoyun Tang, DPSS’20, incoming MPP Class of 2023—Xiaoyun Tang pursued DPSS as a way to explore her budding interest in public policy and has now been admitted to the Master of Public Policy class of 2023.