Harvard Extension School's new graduate program offerings

Can check it out here

https://extension.harvard.edu/

New graduate programs I noticed they offer now

1) Computer Science
2) Biology
3) IO Psychology
4) Systems Engineering

of course all are still worded as 'ALM in Extension Studies'

cost also went up to $3,220 per course

used to be $2800 last year iirc

 

Is there a significance to the new figure? Old Blues: "I got a 32.20 - built up on a .45 frame..."

 

Computer Science and Systems Engineering are new this year. (Meanwhile, Software Engineering and Information Management Systems retired this year. Biology and IO Psychology aren't new.)

A big change this year is that every HES Master of Liberal Arts program now requires only one course with a physical on-campus experience. The length of this short residency varies by program: The longest is either one three-week course or one course with two weekend residencies, the shortest is one weekend.

 

I'm a few months late to the party. Sorry.

Occasionally, a debate will pop up on these pages regarding how people list their degrees. The general rule-of-thumb is to represent things accurately without confusion, but minor deviations are often not material. For example, when Union was the Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities, the PhD program was run by the Union Graduate School, while the degrees were awarded by UECU. Still, it was common for people to list their PhD as being from UGS. Not a material difference and certainly less confusing (and fewer syllables).

Not so with this program.

Harvard University has 12 degree-issuing colleges, including Harvard Med, Harvard Law, the graduate school, and Harvard College (undergrad). And, relevant here, Harvard Extension Studies. With all the other schools besides HES, it's common to see the degree listed like this: Master of Education, Harvard University. This is also technically true since it is the university actually awarding the degree. But no one insists it be listed as "Master of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education." Well...

Not with Harvard Extension. The master's degree awarded by HES is a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies - (Concentration). They expect you to list it that way. And if you don't include the "Extension Studies" part, they want you to list it as being from HES. (Even though Harvard University awards the degree.)

I speculate that they're trying to protect their "Harvard" brand, but instead they're cheapening the degrees earned at HES. Being admitted to Harvard College, or one of the other constituent schools, is exclusive. But anyone can get into HES because they have an open admissions system where you "earn" your way in by completing three courses (each with a B or better) before being admitted to the program. But the prestige should come from the quality and rigor of the degree, not who they're successful in excluding.

If they don't want to award Harvard degrees, then they should change the name.

 

HES is the only school at Harvard to offer the Master of Liberal Arts. The Harvard Graduate School of Design does offer the Master of Landscape Architecture, abbreviated MLA. Harvard offered the first professional course in landscape architecture in 1893 and the first complete program in 1900 (predating the HES Master of Liberal Arts, which was introduced in 1979).

 

I agree, but Harvard apparently doesn't. HES is the only Harvard school to do this.

(BTW it's "ALM" not "MLA.")

 

Is that Latin stands for Artium Liberalium Magister?

 

I agree, it is weird that the degree is in Extension Studies. George University uses Professional Studies for Masters "Master of Professional Studies" to distinguish it from other schools.

 

100% correct. Harvard U - or HES - please award this scholarly gentleman 3 large credits in Latin. Way to go, TEKMAN!

 

The issue has been debated at Harvard, with people saying how dumb the "in Extension Studies" part of the degree title is. The logic: you don't study "extension studies." It would be like saying I have an MBA in Night School from National University.

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/11/25/extension-school-degree-names/

Others elsewhere make the point that it is Harvard who is making this distinction to protect their traditional school's "brand." I have to believe that's the case.

The degree is awarded by Harvard University, btw. And Harvard Extension is the only Harvard school that awards a Master of Liberal Arts.

If I earned one of these degrees, I would list it as: Master of Liberal Arts (History), Harvard University. Maybe that would draw a letter from someone with a JD from Harvard Law?

 

Or we can simply think of "in extension studies" as an affected way of saying "by means of extension studies."

 

At graduation, do they get to wear . . .


(Wait for it)


. . . extension cords?

 

Which no one else does. Anywhere.

 

Pretty much. That's what I like about it - original thinking. @Jonathan Whatley Good work!

 

Definitely. Steve and Jonathan - good thinking, both. Whatever works ...

 

We are talking about Harvard University. It wouldn't be their first or most distinctive affectation.

 

LOL