This page contains content from the 2007–08 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
Distance Education
See Also
dce-distance-ed@harvard.edu
(617) 495-4024
Distance education allows students living around the world to experience Harvard through a variety of Extension School courses. Lectures conducted on campus are videotaped, then made available online along with course-related material. Local students may attend lectures in person or watch them online and frequently enjoy the benefits of doing both. In some cases, courses are available only online. All students complete the same coursework.
Much of the communication between faculty and students occurs by e-mail and course websites. Many courses also have a bulletin board or chat room to foster dialogue among students and the teaching staff.
Credit toward degrees and certificates. You may earn a degree or certificate through a combination of online and on-campus courses. Some programs do require a minimum residency, however. Only the Certificate in Environmental Management and Certificate in Applied Sciences may be completed entirely online. See Applying Online Courses Toward a Degree or Certificate for more information.
The Distance Education Experience
Before enrolling in a Harvard Extension School online course, many students wonder what the experience might be like. Watch one of our videos to hear from students who have taken distance education courses, or learn how a lecture goes from the classroom to the Internet. Or, experience distance education yourself with sample lectures.
