Harvard Extension School

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Harvard Extension School
Established:	1909
Type:	Private
Dean:	Michael Shinagel[1]
Location:	Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Campus:	Urban
Website:	http://extension.harvard.edu

Harvard Extension School (HES) was founded by Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell in 1909^[1]. Originally an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston community, the Extension School has since become one of the most participated in and highly appraised continuing education programs in the world. It now 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^[2].

Contents 1 Degrees 1.1 Undergraduate degrees 1.2 Graduate degrees 1.3 Professional degrees 1.4 Professional certificates 2 Admissions 2.1 Undergraduate Admissions 3 Student life 4 Controversy 5 External links 6 References

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 any degree issued by the extension school is, according to Harvard University, a recognized Ivy League degree^[3]. 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^[4]. 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^[5]. For graduation, 64 credits must be completed at Harvard University; 52 credits must come from courses taught by Harvard faculty^[6]. 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 3.33 GPA^[7].

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^[8]. All fields require eight out of ten courses to be taught by Harvard Univeristy faculty^[9]. In addition, 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^[10]. While courses for the A.L.M. often meet at a separate time, they very often are exact replicas of the graduate courses taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. HES 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^[11]. For admission, a formal application and two essays are required after establishing academic standing, with a 3.0 or better in one’s graduate studies generally being required for consideration for admittance^[12].

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^[13]. 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^[14]. The certificates are conferred only if the matriculated student holds a 3.0 cumulative grade point average^[15].

Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Students applying to be degree candidates must obtain 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.^[16] 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 and Columbia University School of General Studies 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 ^[17]. In contrast to the former program, however, students do not need to submit SATs in order to apply to the Harvard Extension School Undergraduate Degree Program.

Student life

Only degree candidates at HES are eligible for membership in HESA and for other opportunities at Harvard University. Established in 2001, Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA) serves over 13,000 students annually at Harvard Extension School. Its stated 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, certificate, and diploma candidates in good standing at Harvard Extension School are voting members of HESA^[18].

Controversy

In the past, a few Harvard Extension students have attempted to misrepresent themselves as Harvard College students. One such notable is pop icon Hilary Duff.^[19] Harvard College students and others have criticized the claims of HES students. One such case included an Extension student being criminally charged for stealing the identity of a Harvard College student. ^[20]The Extension administration claims these students are "extremely rare." Christopher Queen, dean of students for continuing education, has said: “Occasionally we get someone who wishes they were studying in Harvard College and simply doesn’t take advantage of what we have to offer. For someone to say they’re a Harvard College student when they’re really in the Extension School we think shows poor respect for both schools.”^[21] Part of the confusion exists because many in the public fail to understand that Harvard University is composed of twelve degree-granting schools (Harvard College being the most well known), including the Harvard Extension School.

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.

• Harvard Extension School is at coordinates 42°22′28″N 71°07′18″W / 42.3743, -71.1216 (Harvard Extension School)Coordinates: 42°22′28″N 71°07′18″W / 42.3743, -71.1216 (Harvard Extension School)

References

• [2]

v • d • e Schools of Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences: College • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences • Division of Continuing Education Faculty of Medicine: Medical School • School of Dental Medicine School of Public Health • Law School • Business School • Graduate School of Design Graduate School of Education • Divinity School • Kennedy School Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study (successor to Radcliffe College)