Harvard Division of Continuing Education
Encyclopedia
The Division of Continuing Education is a part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS)
at Harvard University
responsible for various undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs that enroll approximately 20,000 students each year. The division has an open enrollment policy (the degree programs require a formal University admissions process), and tuition on a per course basis. This enables part-time undergraduate and graduate students, undergraduates at other colleges and universities, and adults in the Boston area access to Harvard's faculty, laboratories, library system, and facilities.
The Harvard Summer School, founded in 1871, is the first academic summer session established in the United States. Each summer more than 5,000 students of all ages come to Harvard from across the U.S. and more than 100 foreign countries to study for seven weeks with faculty from Harvard and other major American and foreign universities. The Summer School offers approximately 300 daytime and evening classes in more than forty disciplines in the sciences, humanities, writing, economics, computer science, and over a dozen foreign languages.
The Harvard Extension School, founded by Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell in 1910 as an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston community, now additionally serves students worldwide through its online course offerings. The Extension School features open enrollment (the degree programs require a formal admissions process), part-time evening classes, instructors drawn mainly from Harvard, and an opportunity for personal enrichment, career advancement, or study leading to a degree. The school currently awards the degrees of Associate in Arts (AA), Bachelor of Liberal Arts
(ALB), Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in 19 liberal arts fields, and Master of Liberal Arts in mathematics
for teaching, biotechnology, sustainability and environmental management, museum studies, information technology
, journalism, and management.
The Harvard Institute for English Language Programs (IEL) was founded in 1950 to meet the language needs of post-World War II
immigrants to the United States. During the academic year, the Institute offers part-time day and evening programs to non-native English speakers living in the greater Boston area. During the summer, the Institute offers intensive daytime programs for international students and evening classes for local students, at a variety of levels, from beginning to advanced.
The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, created in 1977, offers retirees and other older adults an opportunity to pursue intellectual interests and explore new areas of knowledge in peer-taught study groups. Each year, approximately 500 people, ranging in age from their fifties to their nineties, participate in the Institute's programs.
Part of the Harvard Summer School, the Harvard Summer Secondary School Program offers high school seniors, juniors, and sophomores a unique chance to sample college. Students take college classes taught by Harvard and non-Harvard faculty, meet students from around the world, and take part in social, recreational, and college preparatory activities: a college fair, trips to other colleges, intramural athletics, dances, a trivia bowl, music groups, and a talent show.
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the seven faculties that constitute Harvard University.Headquartered principally in Cambridge, Massachusetts and centered in the historic Harvard Yard, FAS is the only division of the university responsible for both undergraduate and...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
responsible for various undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs that enroll approximately 20,000 students each year. The division has an open enrollment policy (the degree programs require a formal University admissions process), and tuition on a per course basis. This enables part-time undergraduate and graduate students, undergraduates at other colleges and universities, and adults in the Boston area access to Harvard's faculty, laboratories, library system, and facilities.
Programs
Currently, the Division of Continuing Education comprises five major programs:- The Harvard Summer SchoolHarvard Summer SchoolThe Harvard Summer School is the summer session school of Harvard University.-Origins:Harvard Summer School was founded in 1871. It is the first academic summer session established and the oldest summer school present in the United States...
- The Harvard Extension SchoolHarvard Extension SchoolHarvard University Extension School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University and is part of the Division of Continuing Education.-Origins:...
- The Harvard Institute for English Language Programs
- The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement
- The Harvard Summer Secondary School Program
The Harvard Summer School, founded in 1871, is the first academic summer session established in the United States. Each summer more than 5,000 students of all ages come to Harvard from across the U.S. and more than 100 foreign countries to study for seven weeks with faculty from Harvard and other major American and foreign universities. The Summer School offers approximately 300 daytime and evening classes in more than forty disciplines in the sciences, humanities, writing, economics, computer science, and over a dozen foreign languages.
The Harvard Extension School, founded by Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell in 1910 as an academic program designed to serve the educational interests and needs of the greater Boston community, now additionally serves students worldwide through its online course offerings. The Extension School features open enrollment (the degree programs require a formal admissions process), part-time evening classes, instructors drawn mainly from Harvard, and an opportunity for personal enrichment, career advancement, or study leading to a degree. The school currently awards the degrees of Associate in Arts (AA), Bachelor of Liberal Arts
Bachelor of Liberal Arts
The Bachelor of Liberal Arts is the title of an undergraduate academic degree. Generally, it is awarded to students who major in liberal arts, pursue interdisciplinary studies, or design their own concentrations....
(ALB), Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in 19 liberal arts fields, and Master of Liberal Arts in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
for teaching, biotechnology, sustainability and environmental management, museum studies, information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, journalism, and management.
The Harvard Institute for English Language Programs (IEL) was founded in 1950 to meet the language needs of post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
immigrants to the United States. During the academic year, the Institute offers part-time day and evening programs to non-native English speakers living in the greater Boston area. During the summer, the Institute offers intensive daytime programs for international students and evening classes for local students, at a variety of levels, from beginning to advanced.
The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, created in 1977, offers retirees and other older adults an opportunity to pursue intellectual interests and explore new areas of knowledge in peer-taught study groups. Each year, approximately 500 people, ranging in age from their fifties to their nineties, participate in the Institute's programs.
Part of the Harvard Summer School, the Harvard Summer Secondary School Program offers high school seniors, juniors, and sophomores a unique chance to sample college. Students take college classes taught by Harvard and non-Harvard faculty, meet students from around the world, and take part in social, recreational, and college preparatory activities: a college fair, trips to other colleges, intramural athletics, dances, a trivia bowl, music groups, and a talent show.