7/19/11

How to Get a Harvard Degree Via Distance Education

Are you interested in distance education? Are you interested in a Harvard degree but unable to move to Massachusetts to enroll at Harvard? Well, fear not because Harvard Extension School has distance education opportunities. In recent years, distance education has become a popular option for many universities. Harvard has joined this trend. Hence it is now possible to pursue the Harvard degree of your dreams at least partially via distance education from any location worldwide. The following article is about how to get a degree from Harvard via taking distance education courses to meet some of the course requirements.

1. Apply to the undergraduate program at Harvard Extension School if you are interested in taking undergraduate courses via distance education in order to complete a degree. At least four courses (16 credits) must be taken on campus. However, at this time, the remaining courses (114 credits) can be taken via distance education. In this program, there are students from 46 states and 118 countries.

2.Apply to one of the graduate programs at Harvard Extension School if you already have an undergraduate degree and are interested in graduate distance education courses. There are a number of graduate programs which allow students to take courses via distance education. For example, there is the master's degree in liberal arts, biotechnology, information technology, journalism, management, mathematics for teaching, museum studies, and sustainability environmental management. Each graduate degree has its own rules. Of note, 250 individuals who completed the master's degree at the Harvard Extension school have gone on to get degrees at Harvard (including 30 doctoral degrees).

3.Know the rules for the major you are interested in. Some graduate majors require four courses on campus and then the rest of the requirements can be taken via distance education. Other majors such as information technology only require one course taken on campus while the remaining courses can be taken online via distance education. Residency requirements are also a factor because often you have to spend either one or two semesters in residency at Harvard Extension School.

4. Purchase the necessary equipment in order to be able to participate in courses offered via distance education. For example, you will need to purchase a computer that has a sound card to participate in the distance education courses. Please note that Harvard does not automatically include internet access for students. Thus, you will need to purchase your own internet access. Cable internet access or DSL internet access is recommended. Also required is a computer screen with resolution of at least 1024 X 768.

5.Once enrolled, follow the rules and complete the degree you are interested in. Please note that they do allow for proctored exams. Thus, it is possible for you to take proctored exams in the city you live in. Of course, if it is feasible for you to come to campus to take the exams in person, that is encouraged. (source: ehow.com)

Ivy League Distance Learning Programs

If you have ever dreamed of attending an Ivy League school like Harvard, now is your chance. Thanks to the advent of the Internet and online learning, even the most prestigious institutions of higher education are offering online courses, certificates and degree programs. Ivy League colleges and universities are recognized as the top schools in many different fields of study. Aside from Stanford and a few other institutions like UC-Berkeley, Ivy League schools rank among the best in nearly every academic category.

Columbia University

Columbia University in New York City offers distance education courses through its Columbia Interactive campus, its version of online education. Columbia's courses are offered in five primary areas of study: education, business and finance, medicine, applied science and engineering and religion and philosophy. Columbia offers both certificate and degree programs, although most degree programs require a combination of online courses and courses taken on-campus. In the field of education, certificates are offered in areas like cognition and technology and designing interactive media instruction. In the area of religion, Columbia's Jewish Theological Seminary offers online master's degrees. The engineering school offers several online master of science degrees and post-doctorate study programs. In participation with Cardean University, Columbia offers seven different online courses that count toward a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree.

Columbia University
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
212-854-1754
ci.columbia.edu

Harvard University Extension School

Harvard offers one of the most extensive arrays of online degree programs among the Ivy League institutions. Its online distance learning programs can lead to a bachelor's degree in liberal studies with over 20 different areas of possible concentration. Some of these areas include anthropology and archaeology, environmental studies, philosophy and ethics and international relations. At the graduate degree level, Harvard offers master of arts programs in various fields like history, literature and creative writing, Middle Eastern studies and Celtic languages and literature. In addition to these degree programs, Harvard also offers professional studies in biotechnology, sustainability and environmental management, information technology, museum studies, journalism, teaching mathematics and management.

Harvard University Extension School
51 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-4024
extension.harvard.edu

Cornell University

Cornell University offers distance education primarily in the areas of business and leadership. Cornell's distance education programs in these areas are geared toward the completion of certificate programs. Cornell offers certificates in the areas of hospitality and food service management, leadership and strategic management, human resources management, management essentials, systems design and project leadership and financial management. The program at Cornell offers students a wide variety of course options. Basic leadership courses include studies in Developing an Agenda for Change, Executive Decision Making, Unlocking Your Leadership Potential and Tactics and Skills for Negotiating.

eCornell Offices
950 Danby Rd.
Suite 150
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-330-3200

Distance Education Courses

As college tuition gets higher and student loans harder to repay, students turn to distance education as a way to get an education and save on the massive fees involved with campus studies. In the U.S., distance education has gained a stronghold in the education industry because it gives students an opportunity to study at a reasonable price.

Types of Diploma Courses in Distance Education

Today, you can opt for any diploma in any field of your choice. There are thousands of programs out there offered by reputable institutions. The type of diploma you go for will determine the number of credits you should have. For instance, associate's degrees require courses worth 60 credits, while for bachelor's degrees, this number rises to 120.

Computer Studies in Distance Education

Offered by hundreds of universities across the United States, computer studies are one of the most popular distance education courses. A diploma in computer studies can not only help you get into IT-related jobs but also ease your path to operations and management positions.

Business Management Diplomas

Available as either associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees or master's degrees, business management diplomas are worth a lot of money. Distance learning courses for business management include entrepreneurship, finance, portfolio investment, strategic management, marketing management and more.
Diploma Courses in Medical Specialties

Today, one of the highest-paying industries is the health and medical industry. Distance learning diploma courses in counseling, behavioral studies, healthcare office management, occupational therapy, medical assistant study, massage therapy and patient care are likely to not only help you achieve personal satisfaction but also earn well throughout your career. (source: ehow.com)