Harvard University Extension School
Established	1910[1]
Type	Private
Dean	Michael Shinagel[1]
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Campus	Urban
Website	http://extension.harvard.edu

Harvard Extension School is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University and is part of the Division of Continuing Education, which Harvard University houses in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences^[2].

It was founded in 1910^[1] 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. Harvard University's Extension School offers undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degree programs to nontraditional students and is the only Harvard school to offer an associate degree and is the only Harvard school to grant both undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, it primarily offers courses to more than 14,000 students annually. Through its online course offerings the Harvard Extension School now attracts students globally.

Contents 1 Undergraduate 1.1 Admissions 1.1.1 Selectivity 2 Graduate 2.1 Graduate Admissions 3 Student life 4 Pre-admissions and open enrollment classes 5 Notable alumni 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Undergraduate

The Harvard University Extension School offers two undergraduate degrees: the Associate in Arts (A.A.) in Extension Studies and the Bachelor of Liberal Arts (A.L.B.) in Extension Studies. Both undergraduate degree programs are aimed at nontraditional students. Harvard Extension students complete requirements in three areas: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or Humanities. There is also an option of adding a major, or a Field of Study, to one’s transcripts, which includes his or her primary field^[3]. 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^[4]. For graduation, 64 credits must be completed at Harvard University; 52 credits must come from courses taught by Harvard Instructors^[5].

[edit] Admissions

Although classes are open to the public, undergraduate degree programs are not and require a formal application process. According to Harvard's website, 33 is the average age of Harvard Extension students, so Harvard does not view SAT scores and high school grades as relevant indicators of success. Students applying to be degree candidates must successfully complete three 4-credit liberal arts courses with at least a B− grade or higher, obtain at least a 2.5 GPA, earn at least a C- in Expository Writing E-25, and be proficient in English in order to be considered for admission. ^[6]

[edit] Selectivity

Because the admissions process requires prerequisite courses and satisfactory grades before applications are accepted, it is difficult to ascertain what percentage of people who initially desire admission are later admitted. Dean Michael Shinagel has stated that only three percent of those who enroll in coursework for credit will apply, be admitted, and eventually graduate.^[7] At Harvard College the admissions rate is seven percent.^[8]

[edit] Graduate

Master of Liberal Arts (A.L.M.) in Extension Studies, offers fields of study in arts and science, such as government and biology, as well as relatively new fields such as information technology and management^[9]. Most 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, including the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Pharmacy School^[10]. Some A.L.M. programs offer a capstone course. Some seminar courses for the A.L.M. use a similar syllabus when the course is taught by the same professor in another Harvard school. Most A.L.M courses are large, lecture-style classes with non-credit auditors and undergraduates as well and all students take the same exams; graduate credit students usually just write an additional paper. HES students with "Special Student Status" may exercise the option of taking courses in the GSAS for graduate credit. Admission to the A.L.M. program requires a ‘B’ or better in graduate proseminars, as well as three regular courses, all of which must be in the student’s proposed field of study^[11]. Other admission requirements include a formal application and two essays.^[12]

Harvard Extension School allows many fields of study in which an A.L.M. in Extension Studies student can have noted on their transcripts, but not on the actual diploma, which includes the following: Anthropology and Archaeology; Biology; Foreign Literature, Language, and Culture; Government; History; History of Science; Linguistics; Medieval Studies; Middle Eastern Studies; Psychology; Celtic Languages and Literature; Dramatic Arts; English; Literature and Creative Writing; Religion; Biotechnology; Mathematics for Teaching; Information Technology; Sustainability & Environmental Management; Clinical Psychology; International Relations; Visual Arts; Journalism; Management; and Museum Studies^[13].

[edit] Graduate Admissions

While classes are open to the public, the graduate degree programs also require formal admission. Admission to the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies (ALM) program requires completion of three 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. 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, may require additional skills such as solid background in programming and mathematics.

For the ALM in management, candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.33 by obtaining no lower than a B in three (economics, finance, general management) classes to be taken before acceptance.

[edit] Student life

Harvard designed the Extension School for the commuter population ^[14]. While there is no campus housing for Extension students, Extension students do have access to Harvard University's Housing Apartment Listing ^[15] 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 ^[16][17]. 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^[18]. Upon graduation, students are eligible for membership in the Harvard Extension Alumni Association (HEAA), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA)^[19], and any of the Harvard Alumni Clubs. Graduates also take part in the commencement ceremonies with all other schools of Harvard^[20].

[edit] Pre-admissions and open enrollment classes

Harvard University Extension School has a policy of open enrollment for nearly all its courses, which means that a student does not have to be officially admitted into a degree program to take a class at Harvard Extension.^[21] Harvard Extension School's aim, as President Lawrence A. Lowell deemed it to be, is "systematic popular education."^[1] In addition, the Harvard Extension School has among the lowest cost of schools in the Boston area. ^[22]As a result of the school's aim of popular education and its low cost, the Extension School has enrolled more than 500,000 students--currently the school enrolls about 14,000 per year.^[23]

[edit] Notable alumni

Education and academia

• Robert Allison, ALB - Chair of the Department of History at Suffolk University^[24]
• Bruce Berg, CSS ’04 — Director of Development Research, Northeastern University
• Sarah M. Buel, AB ’87 — Clinical professor at the University of Texas School of Law; Adjunct Professor at Harvard Medical School
• Suzanne Koven, ALM ’08 - Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
• John Sullivan, ALM ’01 — Associate Professor of Administrative Sciences, Boston University
• Latanya Sweeney, ALB ’95 — Professor at Carnegie Mellon University; Visting Professor at MIT and Harvard^[25]

Arts and entertainment

• Charles Coolidge, CSS ’01 — Sculptor, School of Museum of Fine Arts
• Kirsten Gould, ALM ’98 — Drama Department Chair, the Fenn School; Concord, Massachusetts
• Matthew Ruggiero, AA ’82, ALB ’84 — Bassoonist (retired), Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Kris Snibbe, ALM ’07 — Photographer, Harvard University
• Marian Woodward, ALB ’00 — Miss Black USA 1995–96; Miss North America 1999; read an Alumni Bulletin article on Marian Woodward

Politics and Government

• Álvaro Uribe, CSS ’93 — 56th President of Republic of Colombia.
• Bradley H. Jones Jr., AA ’87, ALB ’88 — Massachusetts House of Representatives
• James A. Aloisi, Jr., ALM ’98 — former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation.

Law

• Carol Avard-Hicks, ABE ’71 — Partner, Avard Law Offices
• Mark Gold, ALM ’05 — Partner, Grinnell, Dubendorf, & Smith, LLP
• John Jewett, CSS ’01 — Managing Director, House Counsel, LLC
• Martha Rose Reeves, CSS ’98 — US Administrative Law Judge, Social Security Administration

Business

• Francesca Aguilar, CSS ’98 — Manager, Global Sports Partnerships, The Coca-Cola Company
• Linda Attiyeh, ABE ’61 — Director, McKinsey & Company
• James Stillman, CSS ’99 — Financial Analyst, McKinsey & Company
• Henry Berry, ALM ’99 — Chief Executive Officer, H. T. Berry Company Inc.
• David Fleming, CSS ’05 — Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Warren Resources
• Rachel Griffiths, CMS ’00 — Owner, Teaching Creatures
• Gregory Michaud, ALM ’97 — Executive Vice President, Watts Water Technologies
• Sal Perisano, ALM ’87 — Chairman and CEO, iParty
• Michael Richard, CSS ’98 — Associate Principal, The Hale Group
• Mark Canha, CSS ’98 — Venture Partner, Prism VentureWorks
• Richard Peisch, ABE ’76 — Founder and President, Medical Data Processing, Inc.
• Todd Rideman, AA ’99, ALB ’02 — Real Estate Development, Rideman Investments
• John Vermilye, ALB ’80 — Founder and CEO, Travel Sentry, Inc.
• Barbara Augusta, CSS ’97 — Vice President, Business Process and Technology, Fidelity Investments
• Maliz Beams, CSS ’83 — Executive Vice President, TIAA-CREF
• George Krupp, ALB ’95 — Co-founder, The Berkshire Group
• Joseph Muratore, CSS ’03 — Principal, Centerra Capital
• Craig Poler, CSS ’97 — Senior Vice President, NuCoastal Trading Co.
• Janice Shields, ALM ’05 — Managing Director and Co-Founder, Shields and Company Inc.
• Charles Harper, CSS ’97 — Executive Director and Senior Vice President, John Templeton Foundation
• Levani Lipton, CSS ’05 — Executive Director, Ananda Foundation

Healthcare and Biotechnology

• Kenneth Corroon, ALM ’97 — Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Harmony Pharmacy
• Roanna London, CAS ’99 — Scientist, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
• Elias Reichel, AB ’82, CSS ’99 — Vitreoretinal Surgeon, New England Eye Center
• Joy Thompson, CSS ’98 — President, Nara Luxury Medical Spa Consulting
• Carolina Vallucci, CSS ’98 — International Field Marketing Manager, Genzyme Corp.

Information technology

• Rory Cowan, ABE ’79 — CEO, Lionbridge Technologies Incorporated
• John Elms, ALB ’95 — President and CEO, Azalea Networks
• Robert Maginn, ALM ’81 — CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jenzabar, Inc.

[edit] External links

• Official Website

Coordinates: 42°22′27″N 71°07′18″W / 42.3743°N 71.1216°W / 42.3743; -71.1216

[edit] References

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