This page contains content from the 2008–09 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
New ALM concentrations announced for 2009–10
NOTICE
April 28, 2009
The Harvard Extension School announces four new concentrations in its Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) program beginning with the 2009–10 academic year. The new concentrations include:
They were selected upon careful consideration of Extension School course offerings, the number of Harvard instructors teaching these courses, and repeated requests from students to create the concentrations.
Dean Schopf“Some of these concentrations are distinctive at Harvard, since they are being structured as liberal arts fields and not as professional programs. As such, they will engage with history, theory, criticism, and current research topics within an interdisciplinary context. We expect them to have a broad appeal because of this,” says Sue Weaver Schopf, associate dean of University Extension and director of the ALM program.
International Relations
One of the most frequently requested concentrations, international relations, has a fresh appeal because of the many critical worldwide issues that now confront us. This burgeoning field studies relationships among the world’s governments, political economies, laws, and multinational corporations, as well as global issues such as poverty, genocide, and the environment. Certain to appeal to new master’s degree candidates, this unique offering at Harvard will also be of interest to those employed in various Washington offices, military personnel, and students taking government courses.
Legal Studies
With a wide range of courses to support it, the interdisciplinary field of legal studies will introduce students to legal theory, history, ethics, and the impact of legal issues on a variety of fields and institutions, from museum law to mental health law. Inquiries for this concentration have come in from law enforcement personnel, paralegals, and people working for various advocacy groups. “Some might use this concentration to test the waters before applying to law school,” says Schopf, “but many people are simply interested in learning more about how the law functions within diverse segments of society, how concepts of justice have evolved, and the rhetoric of legal discourse.”
Visual Arts
A retooling of the previously offered concentrations in history of art and architecture and studio arts and film, the new combined concentration in visual arts will offer students more courses and a wider pool of instructors from which to choose. Students will be able to select from art and architectural history (both ancient and modern), film studies, digital media, photography, and other aspects of visual culture for their research. This concentration will provide a stepping stone for further graduate study or advancement opportunities to those involved in various activities within the arts community, and thus will attract a range of students from aspiring doctoral degree applicants to gallery owners, from museum docents to practicing artists.
Clinical Psychology
Another frequently requested concentration is clinical psychology, a field that emphasizes research on psychopathology, empirical assessment, and psychological intervention, and applies the knowledge gleaned from academic research directly to individuals in distress. This concentration includes a field placement course that would have both a classroom and a lab-based or human-services-based component, requiring 150 hours in a Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences or Harvard Medical School lab or in a research facility, social services agency, or hospital setting.
While graduates would not be eligible for psychology licensure in the Commonwealth based on this master’s degree, the field placement experience would enhance the likelihood of securing in-field employment, as well as admission to further graduate study. “We are responding to a particularly serious issue in our society at this time,” says Schopf. “With more than 360,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with head injuries and suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder, the healthcare industry is in need of persons with basic clinical training for a host of mid-level jobs in VA hospitals, nursing homes, drug treatment centers, and other therapeutic settings. We believe that this new concentration can assist in qualifying people for such work. It will also be useful to family members of veterans, who seek a better understanding of the psychological implications of such injuries.”
The ALM program will continue to offer its 15 traditional fields of concentration as well, but says Schopf, “We also want to keep the curriculum fresh and responsive to emerging areas of study and changing needs within our society.”