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Help/FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Additional program-specific questions are answered in the FAQs for individual liberal arts, professional, certificate, and diploma programs. For information about Extension School courses available via the Internet, see the Distance Education website.


Open-Enrollment Courses

What is the Extension School's connection with the rest of Harvard?

Harvard Extension School is part of the Division of Continuing Education, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. One of 12 degree-granting schools at Harvard, the Extension School is distinguished by its program of open admission, part-time study, evening courses, and low tuition.
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Is the curriculum as rigorous as it is for Harvard College and graduate students?

Harvard Extension School courses, a number of which are the same as those taught at Harvard College and Harvard graduate schools, are known for the high quality of instruction. Harvard arts and sciences faculty teach at the Extension School alongside instructors from the Boston community who have rich real-world experience. Students are held to the same grading standards as Harvard College students.
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The course I am interested in is available for undergraduate and graduate credit; what's the difference?

Normally, graduate-credit students must complete additional or longer assignments that often require independent research. Graduate-credit students are held to higher academic standards. Candidates in graduate degree and certificate programs must take courses for graduate credit.
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Can I enroll in a course even if I don't have the prerequisite?

Prerequisites are listed in individual course descriptions. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are adequately prepared for the courses for which they register.
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Do I have to take a placement test?

Placement tests are required for all Institute for English Language (IEL) courses and for certain economics and mathematics courses. They are listed with other prerequisites in individual course descriptions. See IEL courses for more information.
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Do I have to submit undergraduate transcripts to take a course for graduate credit?

No. Extension School courses are open admission.
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I already have a bachelor's degree. Does that mean I have to take a course for graduate credit?

No, you should consider how you want to use the course credit and what other credit options are available. If, for example, you are interested in an Extension School graduate degree or certificate, you should enroll for graduate credit. You must enroll for credit--undergraduate or graduate--if you want to receive a grade and academic credit.
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Can I audit an Extension School course?

Though courses cannot be audited, the Extension School does offer students the option to enroll in some courses for no credit. See Credit Status for more information. There is no difference between credit and noncredit tuition for Extension School courses in which both options are available.
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Can I take a course pass/fail?

Extension School courses cannot be taken pass/fail. Students who are more interested in attending class for personal enrichment than for transferable credit may consider enrolling at the noncredit status.
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Do Extension School courses close?

Some courses have limited enrollment and will close when the limit is reached.
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If I am on a waitlist, can the professor agree to let me into the course?

No. Professors do not control who is admitted to their courses. Waitlists are managed by the Registrar's Office. See Limited-Enrollment Courses and Waitlists for more information.
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Do you have programs for youth?

Harvard Summer School offers high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors a chance to sample college through the Secondary School Program (SSP). See the SSP website for more information.
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Does the Extension School offer distance-learning courses?

Yes, the Extension School offers a number of distance education courses via the Internet in which videos of course lectures along with other course-related material can be viewed by students with Internet access from anywhere in the world. For information see the Distance Education website.
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Does the Extension School offer English as a second language?

The Extension School offers intensive, noncredit language classes through the Institute for English Language (IEL) Programs. For information on these programs, refer to IEL courses.
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Can I take a course without taking the lab? Can I take only the lab section of a course?

Labs must accompany courses because they are an integral part of the curriculum.
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Certificate Programs and Degrees

How does a Harvard Extension School degree compare to a traditional Harvard degree?

Extension School degree programs are designed for the adult student, the average age ranging from 30 to 80. Courses are held at night, and students have the option to attend full or part time. Many Extension instructors have other Harvard affiliations, teaching at Harvard College or graduate schools. Extension School graduates attend Commencement Day in Harvard Yard with the University's entire graduating class.
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Can I take Extension School courses and then transfer to Harvard College?

No. Harvard Extension School and Harvard College are two separate schools within Harvard University.
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Do you accept transfer credit?

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts (ALB) Program accepts up to 64 units of C- or higher liberal arts coursework completed elsewhere, if the college or university is fully accredited. Other Extension School degree and certificate programs do not accept transfer credit.
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Can I transfer Extension School courses toward degrees at other universities?

Harvard Extension School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; however, each university has its own transfer credit policy. Check with the school to which you want to transfer credit.
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Can I earn a degree or certificate online?

The Extension School does offer some distance education courses but we do not offer any online degrees or certificates. Although a substantial portion of the Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology courses may be taken via the Internet, the program requires a minimum residency of one semester at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School.
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How long will it take to earn a degree or certificate?

It depends on the number of courses you take each term and, in the case of the ALB Program, the amount of transfer credit accepted. Attend one of the program information sessions for the liberal arts, professional, certificate, or diploma program you are interested in at the beginning of each term, and meet with a program advisor to discuss your academic plans.
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Is housing available for degree students?

The Extension School does not provide student housing. Degree and certificate candidates with photo ID cards can check listings at the Harvard Real Estate Housing Office.
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Does the Extension School offer courses in the summer?

No, but the Harvard Summer School offers courses that may count toward Extension School degrees and certificates. The Summer School catalogue is available in February, and courses are listed on the Summer School website. To determine whether a summer course will fulfill degree or certificate requirements, contact a program advisor.
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Registration

Why won't the downloadable registration form print?

If you have carefully followed the instructions on the Registration Form page and can download and view (but not print) the application, try downloading an Adobe postscript Printer Driver (the most reliable available) from the Adobe Customer Service - Downloadable Files site.
Also, if you are printing from your web browser window (instead of from the Acrobat application), make sure you use the print button inside the Acrobat window (not the default browser print button or menu selection).
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Can I register online?

Yes. See Registration for more information, or download a registration form.
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Will I get a student photo ID card once I am officially registered?

Only Extension School degree and certificate students are issued photo ID cards.
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Financial Information

Is financial aid available?

Financial aid is available for admitted degree, certificate, and health careers candidates. See liberal arts, professional, certificate, or diploma programs for more information.
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Does the Extension School have a deferred payment plan?

No. Payment must be made in full by the deadlines.
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Can my company be billed?

Yes, in certain cases. See Payment for information on company billing.
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Do I get my money back if I drop a course?

If you drop a course according to official procedures during the course withdrawal period, you will receive a refund, the amount of which is dependent on the date the course is officially dropped. See Course and Credit Status Changes, Course Withdrawal for more information.
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Grades, Transcripts, and Online Services

Will my grades be mailed to me?

Grade reports are not mailed to students; instead, they will be available via Extension School online services beginning June 9. See Grades Online for more information.
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How do I request a transcript?

Transcript requests must be made in writing. See Transcripts for more information.
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Why do I need a personal identification number (PIN) to access online services?

Your PIN serves as a secure means of authenticating your identity when using Extension School online services to register for courses, update your personal data, or view your grades. For more information about online services and PIN, refer to the frequently asked questions at online services .
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Resources

Can I use the Harvard libraries?

All Extension School students can use Grossman Library, a reserve reading and study library in Sever Hall. Stacks access in other libraries may be available. Degree and certificate candidates who register for courses receive Harvard Extension School photo ID cards. These cards provide borrowing privileges at many Harvard University libraries.
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I have an e-mail account at work or at another institution. Can I access it from Harvard?

In many cases you can. If you have a Unix account at another school or business, you can use any computer on the Harvard network to access it by running a secure shell (SSH) client and entering the host name or IP address of that system at the prompt.
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What is my e-mail address?
Your e-mail address is your FAS username, followed by @fas.harvard.edu. For example, if your username were jharvard, your address would be jharvard@fas.harvard.edu.
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I can't remember the password to my FAS account. What should I do?
Go to the Science Center Help Desk, and a user assistant will help you create a new password for your account. You must bring a photo ID and proof of registration.
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How long will my FAS account be active? Will my e-mail be forwarded when I leave?
Your account will remain active for the duration of the term in which you are registered for a course. If you are an Extension School degree or certificate candidate, your account will remain active for the duration of your participation in the program. If you are a registered student in the health careers program, your account will remain active for the duration of the term in which you are registered. E-mail is not forwarded once your account is terminated. You should notify all necessary parties several weeks before your account is due to expire.
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Do I have to use Pine to check my e-mail?
No, you can access your e-mail via the Web at http://webmail.fas.harvard.edu. If you have Internet access via an off-campus ISP, you may also use software such as Eudora or Netscape Mail to check your e-mail. Under Settings, enter imap.fas.harvard.edu as the IMAP server. Students connecting from an off-campus location must contact their ISP for a server that will accept outgoing mail (SMTP server). Set the outgoing and reply-to address to [your FAS username]@fas.harvard.edu.
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Can I forward my Harvard e-mail to another account?
You can forward all e-mail addressed to your Harvard account to another existing account. See the FAS Computing website. On-screen instructions will guide you through the process of setting up a forwarding address.
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How do I find my Harvard University ID (HUID) number?
Your HUID number is printed on your first registration confirmation of the term. You may also find your HUID number by logging in to the Extension School online services website and selecting "Check Computer/E-Mail Account Access" from the Personal and Computer Account Info menu.
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How do I access my course website?
Every Extension School course website follows the same general format: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~extxxxxx, where the xxxxx is your course's 5-digit course reference number (CRN). CRNs are listed in parentheses after course titles in the Courses section of the catalogue and website.
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How do I contact the Extension School office?

Call (617) 495-4024 or send e-mail to extension@hudce.harvard.edu.
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How do I find out more about...

Have a question not answered here? Please help us make this page more useful by calling (617) 495-4024, or e-mail us with your question and suggest it be added to this list.

Privacy of Online Data

How do you protect the personal information that I submit online?

When you browse or enter information on our website, we store that information on a different system apart from where our website resides. Once you register for courses, the privacy of your educational record is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
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Will you give my e-mail address to a third party?

We do not sell, trade, or rent any of your information to others.
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What about "cookies"?

"Cookies" are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. Our cookies do not contain any personally identifying information.




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