Harvard Extension School
Encyclopedia
Harvard University Extension School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University
and is part of the Division of Continuing Education
.
by President of Harvard University
Abbott Lawrence Lowell
. The school was originally an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston
community, but it has since expanded to offer undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degree programs to both traditional and non-traditional students, alike. It is the only Harvard school to offer an associate degree. It is also the only Harvard school to grant both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students who wish to earn degrees must be formally admitted to Harvard University through a detailed process that can take a year or longer from start to finish such that the student must enroll in three classes and finish with at least a certain letter grade such as EXPO-E25 requiring a B minimum.
Due to the direct academic engagement Harvard students have with Harvard College, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Engineering School and others (i.e. Special Student Status and enrolling in selective courses of the listed schools) combined with academic vigor of a Harvard school degree, graduates of Harvard Extension School programs have gone on to attend many of the most prestigious graduate programs and professional schools in the world, and have become leaders in fields such as business, medicine, education, law, and politics. On campus courses are held in and around historic Harvard Yard
, in the heart of the Harvard University campus.
as one of the thirteen schools of Harvard University.
(ALB) and the Associate in Arts (AA) in Extension Studies. Both undergraduate degree programs are aimed at both traditional and nontraditional students alike.
; or Humanities
and must pass 40 credits with B– in their chosen area of concentration.
Fields of study
Degree candidates have the option to pursue one of twenty 'Fields of study', (akin to a traditional 'major'). In order to successfully complete a field of study, students must earn a B– or higher in 32 Harvard credits in one field, and maintain a B average in the field.
Students can also earn a maximum of one liberal arts citation (similar to a minor). For example, a student pursuing a field of study in economics could earn a citation in government or mathematics. However students are not permitted to count a course toward both a field of study and a citation. In order to pursue a citation without a field of the study, the citation must be specific. For example, students cannot earn a citation in anthropology, English, history, or psychology, but they could earn a citation in Mesoamerican culture, Shakespeare, Boston history and culture, or animal cognition. Also students can earn a citation in skill areas such as a foreign language, public speaking, legal studies, and statistics
Professional programs, such as information technology, might require additional skills such as solid background in programming and mathematics. The Graduate Program in Management, offering a concentration in either General Management or Finance, requires a higher coursework GPA for admission than other ALM degree programs. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+) must be maintained while obtaining no lower than a B in three (economics, finance, general management) classes taken before being considered for admission.
. This is especially important for ALB undergraduates, who like their Harvard College counterparts, hold this as an opportunity to enroll in advanced level coursework.
and Bass Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and is part of the Division of Continuing Education
Harvard Division of Continuing Education
The Division of Continuing Education is a part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University responsible for various undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs that enroll approximately 20,000 students each year. The division has an open enrollment policy , and tuition on a per...
.
Origins
The Extension School was founded in 1910, one year after the founding of the Harvard Business SchoolHarvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
by President of Harvard University
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell was a U.S. educator and legal scholar. He served as President of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933....
. The school was originally an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
community, but it has since expanded to offer undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degree programs to both traditional and non-traditional students, alike. It is the only Harvard school to offer an associate degree. It is also the only Harvard school to grant both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students who wish to earn degrees must be formally admitted to Harvard University through a detailed process that can take a year or longer from start to finish such that the student must enroll in three classes and finish with at least a certain letter grade such as EXPO-E25 requiring a B minimum.
Due to the direct academic engagement Harvard students have with Harvard College, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Engineering School and others (i.e. Special Student Status and enrolling in selective courses of the listed schools) combined with academic vigor of a Harvard school degree, graduates of Harvard Extension School programs have gone on to attend many of the most prestigious graduate programs and professional schools in the world, and have become leaders in fields such as business, medicine, education, law, and politics. On campus courses are held in and around historic Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard is a grassy area of about , adjacent to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University...
, in the heart of the Harvard University campus.
Accreditation
Harvard Extension School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and CollegesNew England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
as one of the thirteen schools of Harvard University.
Undergraduate
The Harvard University Extension School offers two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Liberal ArtsBachelor of Liberal Arts
The Bachelor of Liberal Arts is the title of an undergraduate academic degree. Generally, it is awarded to students who major in liberal arts, pursue interdisciplinary studies, or design their own concentrations....
(ALB) and the Associate in Arts (AA) in Extension Studies. Both undergraduate degree programs are aimed at both traditional and nontraditional students alike.
Bachelor of Liberal Arts Requirements
ALB Degree candidates must successfully finish 128 credits (Harvard courses are usually 4 credits each) and maintain good academic standing (3.0 GPA) in order to graduate. Upon admission into the ALB program, candidates may petition to transfer up to a maximum of 64 credits from other accredited post-secondary institutions; these must be mainly Liberal Arts courses. However, 64 credits must be completed at Harvard University. (Extension School, Summer School, or the Faculty of Arts and Sciences). Students also select concentrating in one of three 'Areas of concentration': including Sciences; Social SciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
; or Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and must pass 40 credits with B– in their chosen area of concentration.
Fields of study
Degree candidates have the option to pursue one of twenty 'Fields of study', (akin to a traditional 'major'). In order to successfully complete a field of study, students must earn a B– or higher in 32 Harvard credits in one field, and maintain a B average in the field.
Students can also earn a maximum of one liberal arts citation (similar to a minor). For example, a student pursuing a field of study in economics could earn a citation in government or mathematics. However students are not permitted to count a course toward both a field of study and a citation. In order to pursue a citation without a field of the study, the citation must be specific. For example, students cannot earn a citation in anthropology, English, history, or psychology, but they could earn a citation in Mesoamerican culture, Shakespeare, Boston history and culture, or animal cognition. Also students can earn a citation in skill areas such as a foreign language, public speaking, legal studies, and statistics
Associate in Arts Requirements
AA Degree candidates must successfully finish 64 credits (courses are usually 4 credits each) and maintain good academic standing in order to graduate. Upon admission into the AA degree program students cannot transfer any credits from other accredited post-secondary institutions and all credits must be completed at Harvard.Undergraduate Admissions
Although many classes allow enrollment under open admissions, undergraduate degree programs require a formal application process. Students applying to be undergraduate degree candidates must successfully complete three 4-credit liberal arts courses exclusively at Harvard with at least a B grade or higher; obtain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, including a specific course in Expository Writing, EXPO E-25; and be proficient in English in order to be considered for admission. (These criteria reflect a change in admissions guidelines initially announced during the spring 2010 semester and are currently in effect: The admission policy can be found at http://www.extension.harvard.edu/programs/undergrad/admission/).Graduate
Harvard Extension School's Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies includes 19 Liberal Arts Programs and seven Professional Degree Programs. ALM candidates must complete a thesis or capstone project pending on their degree program, which must be crafted under the direction of an instructor or 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 at another Harvard graduate studies school.Graduate Admissions
While classes are open to the public, the graduate degree programs require formal admission. Admission to the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies (ALM) program requires completion of three pre-admission courses with A's and B's and a minimum of 3.0 GPA* and an A or B in the Proseminar or equivalent required course. Some programs require specific classes to be part of the initial three before formal admission. Students will be denied admission indefinitely if they fail to earn a grade of B after twice enrolling in the course. Candidates must also write two essays to demonstrate critical thinking abilities. The admission committee also requires a resume and undergraduate transcripts from all ALM applicants.Professional programs, such as information technology, might require additional skills such as solid background in programming and mathematics. The Graduate Program in Management, offering a concentration in either General Management or Finance, requires a higher coursework GPA for admission than other ALM degree programs. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+) must be maintained while obtaining no lower than a B in three (economics, finance, general management) classes taken before being considered for admission.
Special Student Status
Undergraduate and graduate students of the Harvard Extension School who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.33 or 3.5 respectively (3.7 for those enrolled on the Graduate Program in Management), and have completed the required course credits at the Harvard Extension School, may apply, with the required recommendations, for Special Student Status. If granted, Special Student Status allows a student to take two 4-credit courses per semester, for a total of four courses per academic year in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and SciencesHarvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is the academic unit responsible for many post-baccalaureate degree programs offered through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University...
. This is especially important for ALB undergraduates, who like their Harvard College counterparts, hold this as an opportunity to enroll in advanced level coursework.
Distance Education
The Harvard Division of Continuing Education is greater Harvard University's only school to offer degree candidates the opportunity to earn course credits and complete specific degrees requirements on campus or off-campus by attending recordings of the on campus course. The courses offered via off-campus distance method are taught by Harvard faculty and industry professionals. For example, Harvard College and Harvard Graduate School of Education lectures are provided for credit via Harvard Division of Continuing Education.Student Life
Harvard designed the Extension School for the commuter population. Extension students do have access to Harvard University's Housing Apartment Listing and ALB candidates enjoy access to Harvard College's Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH). Harvard Extension students can attend athletic events, join many Harvard College student groups, and attend other events. Degree candidates at HES are eligible for membership in the Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA) and for other opportunities at Harvard University. Established in 2001, the association's 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 and diploma candidates in good standing at Harvard Extension School are voting members of HESA. Upon graduation, students are eligible for membership in the Harvard Extension Alumni Association (HEAA), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and any of the Harvard Alumni Clubs. Graduates also take part in the commencement ceremonies with all other schools of Harvard.Academics
Harvard Extension School maintains a rigorous academic environment. The ALB program is intended to be "equivalent" to the traditional Harvard AB in terms of academics, while the ALM program is "in every way as challenging as that of graduate degree programs in other Harvard schools" For those students registered in individual courses, the school offers an opportunity to experience an Ivy League classroom. Students are allowed to explore subjects that interest them or build skills to advance their career. The Extension School has almost six-hundred course offerings, taught by Harvard instructors including Nobel Laureates, a Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics, Roy J. GlauberRoy J. Glauber
Roy Jay Glauber is an American theoretical physicist. He is the Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics at Harvard University and Adjunct Professor of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona...
and Bass Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel.
Admission Policy
The Harvard Extension School is one of the thirteen schools that make up Harvard University. A student does not have to be officially admitted into a program in order to register for individual courses. However, in order to be admitted into a degree-granting program, a student must meet specific requirements and officially apply for admission to the university. Harvard Extension School's aim, as President Lawrence A. Lowell deemed it to be, is "systematic popular education". As a result of the school's aim of accessible education, the Extension School has enrolled more than 500,000 students and currently enrolls about 14,000 per year in individual courses.Notable Alumni
- Mark PlotkinMark PlotkinMark J. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist and a plant explorer in the Neotropics, where he is an expert on rainforest ecosystems...
, ALB ’79 - Ethnobotanist; President, Amazon Conservation Team - Sarah BuelSarah BuelSarah M. Buel is an American attorney and domestic violence activist. In 1994 she was designated a Women's History Month Honoree by the National Women's History Project....
, ALB '87 - Attorney - Allan CriteAllan CriteAllan Rohan Crite Allan Rohan Crite Allan Rohan Crite (March 20, 1910 – September 6, 2007 was a Boston-based African-American artist born in North Plainfield, New Jersey.He has won several honors, such as the 350th Harvard University Anniversary Medal.-Personal life:...
, ALB '68 - Artist - Kumiki GibsonKumiki GibsonKumiki Gibson is a lawyer of Japanese and African American descent, originally from Buffalo, New York. She was previously the Chief Counsel to 45th Vice President of the United States Al Gore and formerly the Vice President and General Counsel of Johns Hopkins University.Prior to serving as a State...
, ALB'85 - Chief Counsel to 45th Vice President of the United - Bradley Jones Jr, AA ’87, ALB ’88 - Massachusetts House Minority Leader
- Ann RomneyAnn RomneyAnn Romney is the wife of American businessman and Republican Party politician Mitt Romney. From 2003 to 2007 she was First Lady of Massachusetts....
, ALB '75 - Former First Lady of Massachusetts - Jenny AllardJenny AllardJenny Allard is a former All-American softball player at the University of Michigan and the current head coach of the Harvard University softball team. Allard played for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 1987-1990 where she was named an All-Big Ten player four straight years. She was a...
, ALM '99 - Sportswoman - Álvaro UribeÁlvaro UribeAlvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
, CSS ’93 - 56th President of Colombia - Francisco Santos CalderónFrancisco Santos CalderónFrancisco Santos Calderón also known as Pacho Santos born 14 August 1961 in the city of Bogotá, is a Colombian politician and journalist. Santos was elected as Álvaro Uribe's second runner up and became Vice President in the Colombian elections of 2002...
, CSS - Vice President, Republic of Colombia - Rory Cowan, ABE ’79 - CEO, Lionbridge Technologies Inc
- Linda Attiyeh, ABE ’61 - Director, McKinsey & Company Inc
- Latanya Sweeney, ALB ’95 - Associate Professor of Computer Science, Technology, and Policy, Carnegie Mellon University; Editor in Chief, Journal of Privacy Technology
- Robert J. Allison, ALB - Professor of History, Suffolk University
- Suzanne Koven, ALM '08 - Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
- Sal Perisano, ALM ’87 - CEO and Chairman, iPartyIPartyiParty is a chain of more than 52 retail stores in New England and the Tampa Bay Area of Florida that specialize in selling party-related merchandise as well as seasonal items such as Halloween costumes, Christmas garland, and Easter baskets during the appropriate time of year. In total, the number...
- Shawn H. O’Day, ALM ’04 - Major, US Air Force
- John Sullivan, ALM ’01 - Associate Professor of Administrative Sciences, Boston University
- Robert Maginn, ALM ’81 - CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jenzabar Inc
- Richard Peisch, ABE ’76 - Founder and President, Medical Data Processing, Inc
- Levani Lipton, CSS ’05 - Executive Director, Ananda Foundation
- Elias Reichel, AB ’82, CSS ’99 - Vitreoretinal Surgeon
- Charles Harper, CSS ’97 - Executive Director and Senior Vice President, John Templeton FoundationJohn Templeton Foundation"The John Templeton Foundation is a philanthropic organizationthat funds inter-disciplinary research about human purpose and ultimate reality. It is usually referred to simply as the Templeton Foundation...
- Martha Rose Reeves, CSS ’98 - US Administrative Law Judge
- Bruce Berg, CSS ’04 - Director of Development Research, Northeastern University
- Janice Shields, ALM ’05 - Managing Director and Co-Founder, Shields and Company, Inc
- George Krupp, ALB ’95 - Co-founder, The Berkshire Group
- John Vermilye, ALB ’80 - Founder and CEO, Travel Sentry, Inc
- Todd Rideman, AA ’99, ALB ’02 - Entrepreneur
- Francesca Aguilar, CSS ’98 - Manager, Global Sports Partnerships, The Coca-Cola Company
- Matthew Ruggiero, AA ’82, ALB ’84 - Bassoonist, Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Jane Margolis, ALM ’85 - Author
- T. Rose Holdcraft, CSS ’95 - Conservator and Administrative Head of Conservation Department, Harvard University Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
- Marian Woodward, ALB ’00 - Miss Black USA 1995–96; Miss North America 1999