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A Pathway That Builds Momentum
From credential to degree – explore potential pathways to a master's program.
For eligible learners, the PLC offers a structured pathway to apply to select master’s degree programs, building on the work you’ve already done. Admission through this pathway reflects Harvard’s rigorous academic standards and a review of each applicant’s experience and preparation. Whether you choose to pursue a degree or apply what you’ve learned immediately, the PLC is designed to move your leadership forward.
Degree Pathways Available
PLC to the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) at Harvard Kennedy School
For experienced professionals seeking to expand their leadership capacity and public impact, PLC capstone completers may apply to the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) through a dedicated PLC pathway.
If admitted and enrolled through this pathway, learners receive advanced standing that reduces the total time and cost required to complete the degree, while preserving the immersive, on-campus experience that defines the MC/MPA.
PLC to Harvard Extension School’s ALM in Government at Harvard Extension School
PLC completers may also use the credential as a pathway to the ALM in Government at Harvard Extension School. This option offers a flexible route to graduate study for learners seeking deeper academic grounding in government and public leadership.
Completion of the PLC credential does not automatically guarantee admission to the PLC degree pathway.
ALUMNI TESTIMONIAL
"Learning that the PLC was a pathway to a MC/MPA at HKS signified that the coursework matched the depth and rigor of a Harvard graduate-level curriculum. The PLC provided a solid academic foundation to confidently transition and thrive in my studies."
Ripsime Paronikyan, PLC Alumna 2022, MC/MPA 2024
The Public Leadership Credential to Master’s: Alumni Stories
Complete the Public Leadership Credential
- Successfully complete all six PLC courses and the capstone.
- Earn the PLC within three years of the start date of your first course.
Apply Through the PLC Pathway
- For the MC/MPA degree, apply to the degree program in the next application cycle after earning your credential. Indicate your intention to apply via the PLC pathway on the application.
- For the HES’s ALM degree, enroll in the ALM proseminar, earn a B or higher, and apply for the ALM.
Admissions Review
- Admission standards are the same for PLC alumni as they are for all applicants.
- PLC provides admissions teams with your course outcomes, capstone evaluation, and faculty feedback.
Enroll and Continue Your Journey
If admitted, the PLC credential is applied toward degree requirements.
- The PLC is a non-credit, registration-based program. Individual PLC courses do not carry academic credit. Credit is applied only after completing all six courses and the capstone.
- You must earn your PLC credential within three years of your start date.
- You must apply to degree programs through the PLC pathway in the next admissions cycle after completing the credential.
- Admissions requirements and standards for those who apply via the PLC pathway are the same as the requirements for any applicant of the HKS or HES degree programs.
If you choose the PLC pathway, the PLC program will provide admissions committees with:
- Your course and capstone outcomes
- A faculty evaluation of your capstone project
Completion of the PLC credential does not automatically guarantee admission into the PLC degree pathway or subsequent master’s program.
MC/MPA at Harvard Kennedy School
- The PLC counts as 12 credits that will be applied toward the degree.
- PLC capstone completers who are accepted and enroll in the MC/MPA program via the PLC pathway must be on campus for two parts of the year:
- They must participate in person in the MC/MPA summer program, which lasts about one month.
- They must complete the remaining five courses required for the degree in person during one semester (either fall or spring).
- Earning your MC/MPA via the PLC pathway costs less than earning the degree through the traditional MC/MPA program.
- For more information, please visit the MC/MPA page.
ALM in Government at Harvard Extension School
- After completing the PLC, learners can enroll in the proseminar for the ALM in Government (SSCI 100b – Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies and Scholarly Writing in the Social Sciences – Government and History) at Harvard Extension School (HES). If they receive a grade of B or better in the proseminar course, they will be eligible to apply for ALM admissions. If accepted, the completed PLC counts as 12 credits toward the 48-credit ALM degree.
- HES requires admitted graduate program students to complete a portion of their coursework in person.
- For full details, please visit Harvard Extension School’s website.
Designed for Flexibility and Possibility
Whether you pursue the PLC as a standalone credential or as a stepping stone toward a master’s degree, you’ll gain rigorous, practical training grounded in leadership, evidence-based decision-making, ethics, and policy design—skills that matter wherever your career leads.