The prestigious Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University has entered the world of DL. They now offer the Global Master of Arts Program utilizing Internet technology. This program is highly selective and does require residencies, but I think it's always good news when a very traditional school such as Tufts jumps into the DL fray. David Noble surely must be tearing his hair out. Bruce
Incredible program, legendary faculty.. but at the paltry sum of $48,000, how are they going to keep the riff-raff out?
This is a "back door" into Harvard being that Fletcher students can attend Harvard graduate classes. From the Fletcher Handbook: Full-time Fletcher students may cross-register for courses at Tufts University and Harvard Graduate Schools, subject to the approval of the Fletcher faculty advisor, the Tufts or Harvard course instructor, the Fletcher Registrar, and the host school Registrar. Please keep in mind that some Harvard courses are limited in class size. Thus, Fletcher cross-registrants may find some classes closed either due to space limitations or pre-requisites set by the instructor.
If what you're saying is that persons who complete the Masters program at Fletcher have an excellent chance of acceptance into a Harvard PhD program then I would agree with you. I would guess that this has always been the case. BTW, I would also guess that they walk right on in through the front door. There's nothing "back door" about getting into Harvard by earning a Tufts degree. Jack
That is not what I meant at all. My statement was meant to show that Harvard may be testing the waters through Fletcher concerning distance education. (I know someone will mention Harvard Extension, a fine program, but I don't think their actions will have as much impact as a major graduate school's program). By the way, I don't know what the situation is today, but in 1993 when I graduated from Harvard - Fletcher was still a Harvard Graduate School. However, a review of the website doesn't mention a direct Harvard relationship.
OK, my misunderstanding. There are, however, a couple of other points. The first is that there is no indication that the courses that you might cross register for at Harvard are DL courses. In that case, since the student would be sitting in a Harvard classroom and since the eventual degree offered would be a Tufts degree, it doesn't really seem like Harvard easing in to DL world. In fact, the GMAP web site doesn't mention Harvard or cross registration anywhere that I could see. The GMAP program seems very tight - one year, trimesters, eight courses and a thesis - not much wiggle room for cross registration. I'm guessing that the cross registration with Harvard is strictly for the Fletcher residential degree programs and does not apply to the GMAP degree program at all. Of course, I could be mistaken. Jack
I would agree with that. Most likely, the cross-registration is going to apply to full-time, residential students in the Ph.D. and M.A.L.D. (Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy, a different degree from the straight M.A.) programs. Any way you look at it, I think it's still great that such a prestigious school (Fletcher) would offer any sort of DL program. Bruce
