I just got the latest print edition of the Extension School catalogue. It's a different format than the glossy versions from past years -- it's taller and narrower, with a matte finish -- but as always, reading the course descriptions is a lot of fun. There are always new, interesting classes, and invariably, a pang of regret knowing that one cannot take them all.
(That is, unless you are a Harvard employee, in which case you can take most classes for credit or as an auditor for a nominal fee -- it was $40 per semester per class when I worked at the University.)
One thing I noticed with this year's catalogue is the huge number of online courses. It's very apparent in the listing of history classes. Nine out of 23 are online only or have an online attendance option. This compares with just two out of 13 history classes in the 2003-2004 catalogue. I like the in-class learning experience, but I can see the appeal of the online classes, not only because it is more convenient and allows out-of-state students to take part, but also because of the instructors -- many have not taught at the Extension School in the past, and/or would otherwise be unavailable to teach in person. Most of the online instructors are Harvard professors, many with named chairs.
I won't be taking an online course for my last class. I have a writing-intensive elective requirement to fill, and the one that I will probably end up taking is an in -person offering. I'll talk more about this in a future post -- classes don't start for another six weeks.
11 comments:
I live in California and took a distance History at HES last Fall (WWII, Prof. Maier). It was a great experience. I particularly enjoyed working with my teaching fellow, a very bright 4th year grad student. I just wish there was a way for us distance students to pursue a master's degree.
Hi, Ian - like the person above, I took Prof. Maier's class online last fall, sounds like we both had Nick Kapur for TA who was great! It was my first online class and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Online means the prof. has to overcome some structural difficulties - it is not the same as being there together in the classroom. Prof. Maier got it right. I noticed last summer that the # of online classes skyrocketed. Clearly it's a money maker (that's a primary driver for any Conti. Ed. division) but it does make the courses accessible to more students. I too have one class left (just starting my thesis) but it must be 'Harvard Instructor' so it narrows my options. There are only a couple of classesI haven't already taken that fit the bill in the catalogue so I may take Int. Law w/Beth Simmons next summer. I also took another class this spring online. Great subject, highly respected Harvard faculty, good TA but the class workload was really heavy, several students thought it was over the top, and the exam was a bit odd. I advise prospective students to look over the syllabus of any online class very carefully! I note that the class is not being offered again (it was their first time). This is a new experience for many of the faculty teaching this way so there are 'bugs' in the process.
Thanks, folks, for the comments. It's very interesting to me that we are seeing this large addition of online course offerings, and a corresponding shift in the number of distance ed students. I am curious to see if the virtual classroom experiments being carried out in Second Life by the Extension School and Berkman Center will be expanded to a larger number of classes at some point, perhaps even displacing the asynchronous distance education model based on streaming video.
Also, for the second anonymous poster, there is an exclusion for the "Harvard Instructor" requirement -- all Summer School classes are considered "Harvard instructors for the purpose of fulfilling degree and certificate requirements."
Do you still happen to have the 2007-2008 Extension School Catalogue? They changed the degree requirements for the Management Degree midway through 2007-2008 by adding a residency requirement. Before, the residency requirement wasn't stated because the classes weren't available to complete the degree entirely online. You still can't complete the degree online, but you can complete it with one semester/summer. Because of this, they added a residency requirement stating that you have to complete 1/2 the degree on campus (3 semesters/summers). When they added the residency requirement, they added it online, so the version available in the online archive has the residency requirement in it. The hardcopy does not. I need to petition the Dean, but the Extension school refuses to photocopy and fax me a copy of the hardcopy which they verbally acknowledge doesn't have a residency requirement listed. If anyone has it, want to help me out? If anyone is willing to attend at the school and fax me the relevant pages, I will definitely pay you for your trouble.
I have the old catalog. I will send the info to Ian shortly.
Sarah - Well, the 2008-2009 catalog does't list the residential requirement either. In fact, it refers one to the website for additional requirements. Best of Luck!
I forgot to leave my e-mail address, so here it is: draper at fas dot harvard dot edu. Richard, is there anyway you could scan and send me the Management Degree Requirements page from the old catologue?
In case anyone was interested, here is an update. I used http://web.archive.org/collections/web/advanced.html to look at the earlier version of the 2007/2008 catalogue. I am not sure if you can access it directly, but if you can here it is: http://web.archive.org/web/20080127093513/www.extension.harvard.edu/2007-08/programs/management/masters/reqs/
Since the residency requirement was secretly added mid-2008, we did not receive a Management Program Update, like our e-mail from Dean Andrews April 3, 2009. That e-mail advised that any inquiries about program changes should be directed to Laura Wilcox. Ms. Wilcox adamantly denied that the residency requirement was added, and advised that it was in place for "at least three years."
A quick view of Harvard's own archive indicates that this is far from the truth. As noted in my previous post, you can view the archives to view the requirements. There is no residency requirement for 2007, 2006, 2005, etc. The 2007-2008 version was edited when the residency requirement was added (you can easily tell by viewing the broken list in the source code). I printed a copy of the requirements when I started from the website, but the web archive version from mid 2008 clearly shows that the residency requirement had yet to be added.
Mr. Wilcox left me with the impression that she thought I was trying to pull the wool over her eyes with this residency requirement. She was just shy of calling me a complete liar. As if I would enter a degree there was no way I could complete due to a residency requirement, invest tens of thousands of dollars, and just try and trick them into allowing me to graduate? Anyways, thanks for your blog, thanks for the help of your users, and THANK YOU internet for your wonderful resources!!
Hello Sarah,
Well, as you pointed out, it's pretty clear that the school now has a residency requirement, and it did not specify one before. Regardless, is your issue with the fact that there now is such a requirement, or that you believe the school was not upfront about announcing them last year?
Ian
My issue has to do with changing the requirements and having them apply retroactively unless the student fights for their rights. I carefully researched all post-graduate programs available both online and in my area (Rotman School of Business, Schulich School of Business – which both rank highly and have weekend and/or evening options), found this program at Harvard which did not include a residency requirement (some extension programs did so I checked everywhere to ensure that it did not), thoroughly researched the program itself, determined that only two requirements required attendance on campus (2nd OBHR credit, cap stone), and began my studies. After investing a considerable amount of money, the program completely changes to include a residency requirement for half of the degree. This change is unannounced and is actually denied by representatives of the school, who erroneously advise that there has always been a residency requirement, or has been one for at least three years. The degree requirements was an offer, enrolling was my acceptance, in exchange for my money, Harvard provides me with an education – we have a contract. They are free to change the degree requirements of course, it is up to the students entering into their own contracts with Harvard at that time as to whether completing those new requirements are something they would like to / are able to do. It is completely inequitable to unilaterally change the terms.
I also think the residency requirements speaks volumes as to Harvard’s perception of the learning experience gained from their online courses. Clearly the educational experience is lacking and not up to Harvard standards for the school to require on campus courses before granting their stamp of approval. Hopefully, I am getting my money’s worth.
I am preparing my letter to the Dean requesting confirmation that the residency requirement added after the commencement of my studies does not apply to me and will let you know how it goes.
Sarah, I'm in the ALM in IT program at HES.
When I was accepted into the degree program, I received a course evaluation listing all the requirements of my program, the completed courses satisfying those requirements, and the number of credits remaining for any requirements not yet met.
This includes all requirements--residency, Harvard instructors, thesis, etc.
Did you receive something similar when you were accepted to the ALMM program?
I think this would be a better document to present the dean rather than an old catalog.
Good luck!
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