This page contains content from the 2008–09 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
Applying Online Credits to a Degree or Certificate
Can I earn a degree or certificate online?
Currently, you can complete two certificate programs, mentioned below, entirely online.
Online Courses Support On-Campus Studies
To take complete advantage of being a candidate in a Harvard Extension School degree program, you need to be immersed in the Harvard community, be able to enroll in small seminars and classes on campus, and use the many campus resources. However, the following degrees allow you to supplement your on-campus studies with distance education.
Bachelor of Liberal Arts
To earn the degree, you complete four on-campus-only courses (16 of the 128 credits required for the degree). See the Bachelor of Liberal Arts residency requirement outlined on Undergraduate Distance Education.
Master of Liberal Arts
To earn the degree, you complete five on-campus-only courses (20 of the 40 credits required for the degree). Two of these courses must be the proseminar and field seminar. You are expected to spend at least two semesters in residence at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School. See the Master of Liberal Arts residency requirement outlined on Enrollment and Residency.
Master’s Degree in Biotechnology
To earn the degree, you complete four on-campus-only courses (16 of the 40 credits required for the degree). One of these courses must be the proseminar. You are expected to spend at least two semesters in residence at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School. See the biotechnology program requirements.
Master’s Degree in Environmental Management
To earn the degree, you complete at least one on-campus-only course (4 of the 40 credits required for the degree). You are expected to spend at least one semester in residence at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School when you enroll in the proseminar or the capstone course. See the residency requirement for the environmental management program.
Master’s Degree in Information Technology
To earn the degree, you complete at least one on-campus-only course (4 of the 40 or 48 credits required for the degree). You are expected to spend at least one semester in residence at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School.
If you are in the mathematics and computation concentration, the digital media arts concentration, or the thesis track of the software engineering concentration, we recommend completing your residency after your master’s thesis has been approved. If you are in the information management systems concentration, we recommend you complete your residency while enrolled in the capstone course. See the residency requirement for the information technology program.
Master’s Degree and Certificate in Management
To earn the degree, you complete six on-campus-only courses, 24 out of the 48 credits required for the degree. To earn the certificate, you complete four on-campus-only courses, 16 of the 32 credits required for the certificate. These courses can be taken in residence at Harvard Extension School or Summer School. See the management degree requirements or the management certificate requirements.
International Students
International candidates with I-20 certificates must enroll full time during the residency semester (16 credits during the fall or spring term, and 8 credits during the Summer School session). See International Students for more information.
Programs that Can Be Completed Entirely Online
Programs with Limited Distance Education Options
The following programs offer most of the courses only on campus: