Master of Liberal Arts

Information Session

Plan ahead and learn more about the Master of Liberal Arts Degree Program.

January 12, 6–7:30 pm

More Information

Overview

Welcome from the Director


Dear ALM Candidate or Applicant,


Dean Sue Schopf

For over 20 years, it has been my great pleasure to work with the graduate students in this program, to watch them develop as scholars in their own right, and to share in their sense of accomplishment when they submit the bound copy of their thesis. Adult students often ask, “Do you think it’s too late for me to (a) undertake graduate study, (b) change careers, (c) develop an academic specialty, (d) pursue a field of concentration purely for personal enrichment?” My answer is always a resounding “No!” It’s never too late, whatever your reasons for seeking knowledge.

What attracts people to graduate study in the liberal arts? First, this mode of learning is derived from a revered academic tradition of philosophical thinking, questioning, reasoning, and examining ideas from multiple perspectives, as well as the view that important connections exist across the arts and sciences.

Secondly, this kind of knowledge, which John Henry Newman described as “knowledge for its own sake,” leads to an enlargement of mind, an increased ability to approach the problems of the world—and the workplace—with a finer understanding. Surveys of numerous employers have demonstrated the value they place on the more broadly educated individual who can think analytically and write persuasively and correctly.

When students enter the ALM Program, they pursue this broader understanding within one of our fifteen fields, ranging from biology, government, and history to psychology, English and American literature, and Middle Eastern studies. But because the degree is interdisciplinary in nature, they are also able to choose courses outside the field of concentration, which introduce alternative or complementary perspectives. Students’ work here may ultimately lead them to a doctoral program, medical school, law school, a teaching career, advancement within their existing profession, or enhance their skills as a researcher. Or they may simply gain a better understanding of global politics or human development.

Regardless of the path they choose, all leave the program as well-informed citizens of the world. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the program for students is the opportunity to make a genuine contribution to the knowledge in their field of study through the research and writing that they will do for the thesis. Many of our students go on to publish their work in important professional journals or as books.

What kinds of students come to the ALM Program? Every kind you can imagine: a scientist who wants to study religion, a major in the US Army who loves Chaucer, a high school Spanish teacher who enjoys foreign culture, a physician who wants to write a novel, a computer programmer with a desire to read ancient literature, a museum docent interested in Russian history, a display designer at the Science Museum wishing to study anthropology, a researcher in a biotech lab keeping up with the latest developments in genetics, an FBI agent who wants to study government, an environmentalist interested in behavioral psychology, a stay-at-home mom drawn to Celtic mythology, a flight attendant who wants to study linguistics. In other words, some have very pragmatic, professional goals while others want only to pursue a personal passion.

Our students range in age from 22 to 80. Some have only recently completed their bachelor’s degrees, while others have been practicing a profession for 30 years or more. Some graduated from prestigious Ivy League schools, while others have come from state universities or small liberal arts colleges. Most of our students are from the United States, but 25 percent are international students coming from five different continents and 22 countries. Students commute from New York, Washington, Chicago—and even come from as far away as Texas and California. As diverse as their backgrounds and goals may be, they are drawn to this program by a common set of desires: the hunger for knowledge and for intellectual growth; the wish to be in a community with others who like to ask questions and engage in discussions about ideas; and to spend time learning from world-class scholars and researchers.

For over 29 years, the ALM Program has combined a Harvard tradition of scholarship with a democratic admissions policy. Convenient part-time study, evening classes, and surprisingly affordable tuition make the earning of a graduate degree from this prestigious institution the best bargain in the academic marketplace. We welcome you to this community of ambitious women and men who seek the challenge of an environment that encourages excellence and offers unparalleled resources to its students.

In the following webpages you will find:

You will also be introduced to the friendly and helpful advisors in our program, who will assist you with your candidacy from the application process to the thesis. We look forward to working with you in the days ahead and wish you every success in the pursuit of your academic goals.

Sue Weaver Schopf, PhD
Associate Dean, Harvard Extension School
Director of the ALM Program
Lecturer in Extension