File:Harvard shield-Continuing Education.png | |
Type | Private |
---|---|
Established | 1909 |
Dean | Michael Shinagel[1] |
Location | , , |
Campus | Urban |
Website | http://extension.harvard.edu |
Harvard Extension School (HES) was founded by Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell in 1909. Originally an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston community, the Extension School has since grown into one of the most largely participated and highly appraised continuing education programs in the world, and attracts students globally as do the other divisions of Harvard. Harvard University's Extension School offers undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degree programs to nontraditional students. The Extension School is part of the Division of Continuing Education, which itself is part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Degrees
The school currently awards the following credentials:
Undergraduate degrees
Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Bachelor of Liberal Arts (A.L.B.). Both undergraduate degree programs are primarily aimed at nontraditional learners who began college but did not complete their studies. Degree requirements are patterned after that of Harvard College as much as possible, and degrees issued by the extension school are, according to Harvard, Ivy League degrees[1]. And the degrees are awarded within one of three areas: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities. In recent years, the option of adding a major, or a Field of Study, to one’s primary field has been made feasible. Up to half of the coursework (up to 64 units) for the A.L.B. may come in the form of transfer credits from other accredited institutions; mostly these must be Liberal Arts courses. Students may petition to transfer outside credits once fully enrolled as an Undergraduate Degree student, but can not exceed a maximum of 64 transfer credits, total. For graduation, 64 credits must be completed at Harvard University; 52 credits must come from courses taught by Harvard faculty. Degree Candidates may apply for Special Student Status, which allows them to take up to two classes per semester at Harvard College or at Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Admission to this special program requires faculty recommendations and at least 3.3 GPA. Students applying to be degree candidates must first establish themselves as capable of handling the rigorous curriculum of Harvard by obtaining at least a ‘B-’ average in three Prerequisite courses. If additional courses are taken beyond the three prerequisite courses before a student applies, a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA must be maintained for a student to be eligible to apply.[2] When the above requirements are met, the student is given the opportunity to apply for the degree program formally. Although Harvard Extension School has a policy of open enrollment, potential students who would like to enroll in the Undergraduate Program must go through a formal application process, including formal essay submission. Like Yale University's Eli Whitney Students Program for nontraditional undergraduate students, the Extension School's standard for admission to its degree programs parallels that of the College's, while "relatively more weight is given to achievement" considering most of its applicants are adults [3]. In contrast to the former program, however, students do not need to submit SATs, or have a high school diploma or GED in order to apply to the Harvard Extension School Undergraduate Degree Program. In addition, the Extension School has no admissions cap; if students successfully complete their three prerequisite courses with a 'B-' or higher in each of them (and maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA with any additional courses taken), only extenuating circumstances would prevent them from being admitted.[4]
Graduate degrees
Master of Liberal Arts (A.L.M.). The degree is offered in the traditional arts and sciences fields such as government and biology, as well as relatively new fields such as information technology or business management. All fields require eight out of ten courses to be taught with Harvard faculty. In addition, the A.L.M. programs require a thesis, which must be written under the direction of a Harvard faculty member holding a teaching appointment in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the rank of senior lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or full professor, or an appropriate teaching appointment in another Harvard professional school, such as the Law School, Graduate School of Education, or Medical School. While courses for the A.L.M. meet at a separate time, they are often exact replicates in terms of their syllabi of the graduate courses taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students may exercise the option of taking courses in the GSAS for graduate credit, after applying for "Special Student Status." Because of the rather traditional nature of the coursework for the degree, most students use it as a stepping stone towards post-graduate study at Harvard or elsewhere. Admission to the program requires a ‘B’ or better in graduate proseminars, as well as two regular courses, one of which must be in the student’s proposed field of study. A formal application is also required after establishing academic standing, with a 3.0 or better in one’s graduate studies generally being required for consideration for admittance.
Professional degrees
Master of Liberal Arts (A.L.M.) degrees are award in the following areas: in Biotechnology, in Mathematics for Teaching, in Information Technology, in Environmental Management, in Journalism, in Educational Technologies, in Business Management, and in Museum Studies. These professional degree programs largely follow the same procedures as admittance to the graduate schools; however, some of the faculty may be adjuncts whose primary occupation may be in the corresponding industry. For instance, the Faculty of Journalism consists of editors of major publications such as the Boston Globe and the New York Times.
Professional certificates
Certificates may be earned in Business Management, Applied Sciences, Environmental Management, and Publishing and Communications. The certificates are conferred only if the matriculated student holds a ‘B’ cumulative average grade.
Student life
Established in 2001, Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA) serves over 13,000 students annually at Harvard Extension School. Its mission is to build and maintain a sense of community among students. In partnership with many other organizations on campus, HESA provides a variety of social activities, educational events, and forums that enrich student life and experience. All degree, cerificate, and diploma candidates in good standing at Harvard Extension School are voting members of HESA.
External links
- Harvard Extension School website
- Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA)
- Harvard Extension Alumni Association
- Harvard Extension Business Society
- Extension Student Discussion Forum
- Harvard, for Less: Extension Courses' New Allure
- Virtual Veritas Through hard work and commitment, Harvard Extension School students prove they can go the distance.
- Extension Students Seek Ivy Degrees With lower costs, Extension School education appeals to a broad crowd.
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