Causal Diagrams: Draw Your Assumptions Before Your Conclusions
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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2027-06-11 | - |
Program Overview
Program Overview
The program "Causal Diagrams: Draw Your Assumptions Before Your Conclusions" is an online course offered by Harvard University.
Course Details
- Course Length: 9 weeks
- Time Commitment: 2-3 hours a week
- Featuring Faculty from: Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences
- Class Duration: Jun 11, 2025 - Jun 10, 2026
- Certificate Price: $149
Course Description
This course teaches graphical rules to improve design and analysis for causal inference. Causal diagrams have become a key tool for researchers studying the effects of treatments, exposures, and policies. By summarizing and communicating assumptions about the causal structure of a problem, causal diagrams help clarify apparent paradoxes, describe common biases, and identify adjustment variables.
Course Structure
The course is divided into two parts:
- The first part introduces causal diagrams and their applications to causal inference, covering topics such as causal DAGs, common forms of bias, time-varying treatments, and treatment-confounder feedback.
- The second part presents case studies highlighting the practical applications of causal diagrams to real-world questions from the health and social sciences.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to translate expert knowledge into a causal diagram
- Understand how to use causal diagrams to identify common biases
- Learn to use causal diagrams to guide data analysis
Instructor
The course is taught by Miguel Hernán, the Kolokotrones Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. Professor Hernán is interested in finding what works in medicine and public health and has used causal diagrams to answer questions about various diseases.
Enrollment Options
- Audit the course for free with access to select course material, activities, tests, and forums.
- Pursue a Verified Certificate for $149, which provides unlimited access to full course materials, activities, tests, and forums, and the opportunity to receive a certificate upon earning a passing grade.