Harvard University online degree

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious and most respected schools in the country. A degree from Harvard often means more than a degree from another university. Many people make Harvard their dream. However, today, many students who would love to attend Harvard, and are qualified to do so, are unable because of their schedules, etc. Like many other schools, in order to aid students that want to attend the school, earn a degree, etc. but can't, the school created the Harvard University extension school. The need for flexibility and convenience for the students and teachers caused several universities to start offering online classes, and Harvard is no exception. It is now possible to get a Harvard University degree online.

Harvard noticed the demand for online courses from traditional students, and created a set of online classes to help meet those needs. Of course these classes offer the flexibility of online schooling, but are not any easier than a traditional class from Harvard, after all, they still have a reputation for higher education to uphold.

Harvard University online degrees are not easy to get, and are going to require a great deal of work. Students that participate in the Harvard University extension school must have a desire to learn the material on their own and spend a lot of time in front of their computer, and in their books. The students have access to their coursework 24/7 and this allows them to fit their schooling around their work and personal schedule, but they still have to do the work to get the degree. While this may seem obvious, far too many people drop out because they think it is going to be easier than traditional Harvard classes, and come to find that it is not the case.

Because many people have a warped idea of what online degrees mean, and think it is a fast track way to get a degree without putting in the work, Harvard University extension school tries to weed out the serious students from those that are procrastinators, and thus their online courses are fairly different from the typical online class. Students must participate in different tests, quizzes, discussions, etc. Many degrees also require students to take pre-requisite courses before they are accepted to the online class. The loose time constraints of online classes are a large benefit, but they can also be detrimental to students who are not self motivated, thus students of Harvard University's online programs have to be as dedicated to learning as those that attend Harvard's traditional classes on campus.

With this clear, let's take a look at what it takes to get a degree from Harvard University online:

What does Harvard University have to offer by way of online classes?
Obviously, the online selection of degrees is limited compared to the traditional campus coursework. Thus, before you even apply, you should know what there is to offer, and what tools they provide for you to help you get that degree.

The Harvard University extension school offers over 600 courses in 65 different fields. So, in many cases, as a student of Harvard, you can take some of your classes online and others through their traditional campus courses. The Harvard University online degree was made to help students that are unable to be at the campus all the time, not to replace campus classes all together. Thus, even with online degrees, students will be required to visit the campus and participate in tests and other coursework. International students can benefit from the Harvard University online degree because several courses have been designed to further the English studies of students, but without visiting the campus they will not earn a degree. The most common online degree earned from Harvard University is a Master of Liberal Arts degree, but this requires classes in the traditional setting as well as online.

Like many other online colleges, Harvard's online classes offer streaming video feeds and email communication to help students correspond with teachers and get the help they need. However, if you are seeking a degree from Harvard University, you will need to combine online classes with traditional classes. The exams and quizzes for online classes generally need to be taken on campus in a testing center.

So, is it possible to get a degree without attending traditional classes?

Harvard does offer online certifications for Applied Sciences and Environmental management. However, those are the only 2 online certifications you can earn without attending the campus for some classes or tests. This will probably increase in the future, but currently these are the only two accredited programs. However, for many of the other degrees, most of the online course work can be done off campus, making campus visits not as often. Harvard University extension school also offers certificates for Management, and Publishing and Communications, which require some, but not as much on campus time.

Thus, to summarize, there are a lot of classes that can be taken online for Harvard, but the online certificate programs offered from the Harvard University Extension School are for Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. The Applied Sciences certificate can be completed entirely online, but students must have a regionally accredited bachelor degree before they can enroll. In addition to that, students must participate in 3 graduate courses through the Harvard extension school before they can apply for admission. Thus, you could be spending money and not even get accepted. The Applied Sciences certificate includes certification in several fields, including: mathematic, physics, and computer science. This is a graduate level credit.

What do you have to do to take Harvard University online classes?

In order for students to participate in online classes, they must have a high-speed internet connection and good computer skills, which are obvious, but true none the less, do not plan to simply use the library.

Harvard has open enrollment courses that are available to anyone, and are taken mostly by working adults that want to earn a degree. The certified courses and certificates, however, are based on an admission process, and require that you take at least 3 open-enrollment courses and obtain a B or higher in the class. The admission requirements from there vary some based on which course you are applying to. These, again, are for graduate level credit, and can't be taken without a BA or BS.

Harvard University highly screens their applicants, and applicants for the online school must meet the same expectations as traditional students.

What is the cost?

One thing most people know about Harvard is that it is Ivy League, which means great education, but high cost. The tuition rate for the Harvard extension school varies with each course, and whether or not it is for credit, and what level of credit is offered: noncredit, undergraduate, or graduate credit level. However, for a general idea of what it would cost to get a Harvard University online degree, you would want to plan on an average rate per course of around $800-$1975. This is per class, not per degree. Students seeking a degree or a certificate can apply for financial aid if they are unable to pay for their schooling. And since it takes several classes to fulfill a degree or certificate, it is a wise idea to at least try and get some sort of financial aid.

One common thought about online classes is that they will be cheaper from traditional ones. However, despite the fact that it is on the internet, there are several costs required to produce and maintain appropriate online classes, and in many cases they simply are not any less expensive, and in some cases actually cost more. You pay for convenience. Harvard University charges by the course and informs students at the beginning that their online school is not cheap, and will cost the same as traditional tuition if you were to earn a full degree. It is not meant to be a less expensive option, rather a more convenient one, allowing students to learn at their own pace.

So, if it costs the same or more as a traditional Harvard education, why would you want to attend Harvard University online?

For one, taking courses online helps students who live close but not close enough for daily attendance to attend Harvard University and save on the room, board, and other fees that come with traditional campus life. The Harvard University extension school was created with those students in mind, and for the non-traditional students, that want a great education, but are not as interested in the campus experience.

Why attend Harvard University online to get a degree?

The reasons are personal, but the fact is that the online classes allow students to experience the Harvard classroom experience, plus get the benefit of flexibility. Most of the courses offered online provide links to lectures conducted on campus that are videotaped and then stream-lined to the online class. In addition, you have the option as an online student to attend classes and lectures on campus if you wish or have time.

The coursework for the online class and the traditional class are the same, and thus you are not going to get ripped off on your education. However, in addition you have access to bulletin boards and chat rooms that discuss information about the class and the professor. You can contact your professor and get help any time you need as well.

One of the reasons you should consider Harvard University for an online degree is that there are tons of online schools out there and it can be hard to find a legitimate and good one. Harvard's prestige, combined with the flexibility of online courses, make it great, as long as you take accredited courses.

Lastly, the prestige is often a great way to get the career of your dreams. Just any online degree won't make as big of an impression as one from Harvard.