The new Harvard Extension School 2006-2007 catalogue is out. There are some interesting history selections, including two courses on Chinese history: China: Traditions and Transformations (one of the instructors is Henrietta Harrison, whose research interests include the history of Chinese nationalism, and is author of China: Inventing the Nation), and Contemporary China: The People's Republic and Taiwan in the Modern World (taught by Bill Kirby, the former FAS dean). Unfortunately, these two classes are online only. I recognize that the professors are leaders in their fields, and putting them online allows a much larger group of students to take part, but the all-important classroom discussions and back-and-forth with the faculty will be limited in an online setting.
Here's another interesting element of the 2006-2007 catalogue: A new ALM program in Management. This is a master of liberal arts, not an MBA, although clearly the Extension School is tapping into the interest in management degrees. The online description of the program is sparse, and from the course listings it seems that the focus is on a limited number of areas. Not sure if a thesis is required. Anyone have other details, or, if you've enrolled in an MBA before, can you give an opinion based on the public materials the Extension School has provided?
2 comments:
As a fellow ALM candidate (government), I too scanned the new course catalog this week. Like you, I was disappointed in how many online/distance ed. courses they offer this year - quite an increase (and money saver, I suspect since Conti. Ed. departments are always ultimately about income). There's also a clear decline in graduate seminars and writing-intensive courses in government. Some fellow students will find it harder to graduate 'on time' with these changes -- since once you wade into the degree, there are lots of specific types of courses one must take to finish. My very educated guess (having experience as an administrator in higher ed.) is that these changes are about making money as much, if not more than, making the courses available to more students.
Did you notice that auditing fees have jumped on some classes? I hope this is out of the recognition that auditors in the classroom, if you're a grad. student, can often be a distraction and water down the intensity of a course. Other schools have a policy whereby an auditor may sit in but cannot participate in the class - I wish Harvard would consider that.
How's the thesis coming?
Diana
Thanks Diana. I'm in a really tough stage with my thesis right now, but hopefully can announce some progress in a few weeks' time.
I'll reply to your other comments in a separate post.
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