Graduate Degree Options - WGU vs. Harvard

Until this weekend, I had a firm idea of what my plans were going to be after graduating from WGU's undergrad program in IT. I was full steam ahead for the MSISA at WGU, until I discovered Harvard University's Extension School.

They offer a master's degree in Information Management Systems for an incredible $2,000 a course. Now, comparing WGU to Harvard is an apples to oranges debate as far as the quality of education goes, but overall, the difference in cost would likely be less than $15,000, depending on the number of required semesters at WGU. 4 semesters at WGU @ 3,000 vs. 12 courses at Harvard @ 2,000/course.

Coming from the IT - Sec undergrad, the M.S. at WGU would be roughly 28 credits, seeing as I would most likely be able to transfer in the CCENT. The degree at Harvard is 48 credits, with 5 (20 credits) elective courses for an emphasis. Enrollment for the Harvard program is based on an accredited undergraduate degree and a total GPA for 3 introductory courses, no standardized test scores required.

I'm looking to graduate from WGU in the next 2-3 months, and I really need to figure out what my plans are here. Outside input would be sincerely appreciated.

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ajs1976

Is there some type of residency requirement for the Harvard program? Like spend 4 weeks on campus?

dover

Through online and evening courses, you can balance school and other commitments. One on-campus course is required.

N2IT

If you can swing it Harvard all day everyday, and I graduated from WGU (masters). If someone ask you were you went to college and you drop Harvard you'll stun them in a good way.

MSP-IT

dover wrote: »

Through online and evening courses, you can balance school and other commitments. One on-campus course is required.

Which could be a challenge to swing, but would also be quite rewarding.

zxbane

I agree with others, if it is something that is realistic for you to accomplish then it is really no comparison, Harvard's name recognition alone would be very beneficial.

tombosauce

There is a requirement to take one course on campus for Harvard. You can do it during a summer session to minimize the time you spend there, and if you search around online, you'll find people who fly/drive up to MA once a week to take their course at night then head back home for the rest of the week. If you go the capstone track, you have to do that specific course on campus, and it isn't offered during the summer. I don't think that applies to the thesis track.

I took one course through the extension school before I determined that I wasn't going to be able to do the on campus residency. The Communication Protocols and Internet Architectures class by Len Evenchik is great. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed it and felt like I learned a lot.

Also keep in mind, you're not getting a MS in Information Systems. You're getting a MS in Extension Studies with a concentration in Information Management Systems. I can't find it now, but there used to be an FAQ page that stated you can't label on your resume that you earned a MIS.

ratbuddy

The fine print wrote:

On your résumé, the degree may be listed Master of Liberal Arts, Information Technology, Harvard University Extension School. Include concentration (such as software engineering) and graduate awards when applicable.

Still, if I had the cash, I'd go with this over WGU.

pram

Yeah it's not an MIS degree, or even an MS, You're getting a MLA degree in 'Extension Studies'

The degree is awarded by Harvard University. It is the Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies in the field of information technology

Akaricloud

This is a pretty cool option, I wish I were able to pursue it myself!

If you can swing the on-campus time(for one class plus the capstone) I'd say go for it!

emerald_octane

keep in mind there are alot of politics involved in the extension degree. For one, having to tiptoe around the naming:

Bachelor of Liberal Arts [Associate in Arts], in Extension Studies, Harvard University.

Bachelor of Liberal Arts [Associate in Arts], Harvard University Extension School

Fake Harvard? (Just some opinions)

MSP-IT

I couldn't find much information regarding the title of the degree itself, so this is news to me. That seems a bit strange that it's considered a Liberal Arts degree. I'll have to look further into this.

I've been trying to see how you could swing the title, even though it is a "Harvard" degree, I'm a little worried about how it would be titled. Unfortunately, I doubt that an M.L.A. wouldn't be held in the same regard as a M.S.

I wonder if you could go with something like...

M.L.A. - Information Management Systems Emphasis
Harvard University - Extension School.

Plantwiz

IMHO,

If one can afford a school (and that reads - debt free) then it is worth it to go to a brick-n-mortar school. The networking that is gained from the on campus experience is not matched anywhere else.

If one cannot afford a school, but can afford an accredited online experience, there is still 'some' networking that happens, but not as much. A degree of most any type will trump a non-degree applicant.

I personally watch for the play-on names and such as this has really blossomed the past decade. School names that 'sound' like the real thing, but are a less costly alternative, or in the worst case a paper-mill diploma school. I would not accuse your Harvard Extension route to be a paper mill by any means. However, it is NOT the same as "Harvard" and one should not be fooled into thinking it is the same.

Learn all you can. Focus on being able to perform in the field and being able to work with others rather than what the stamp on the diploma states. Just do not be fooled into thinking it is 'more' valuable than it truly is. The privilege of graduating from an Ivy league school is about the networking connections, not so much the paper. The paper helps, but many successful entrepreneurs attended briefly and dropped out (for a number of reasons) from Ivy League schools. If you are ambitious and smart and maybe even a little lucky, you will be successful.

Building vs. Online vs. Certs Only. => Is the applicant qualified?

MSP-IT

Plantwiz wrote: »

However, it is NOT the same as "Harvard" and one should not be fooled into thinking it is the same.

For locals, you can attend courses that are taught by Harvard professors on the Harvard campus. Upon acceptance, you receive Harvard identification and according to the school itself, you are a Harvard student. When you graduate, you're considered both an alumnus of Harvard and of Harvard Extension School.

That being said, would it be wrong to say you received a master's degree from Harvard?

Cisc0kidd

Pretty sure the diploma says HES so that is what you need to put on your resume.

the_Grinch

Cisc0kidd is right, your diploma will say Harvard Extension School. What that means name wise is anyone's guess, but I suspect at most jobs you would be alright (just watch out for the Harvard on campus grads haha).

asurania

Personally I would stick with WGU.....

stryder144

A simple work around would be this: take the five courses ($2k each) for the Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management. When you put that on your resume, you would put a line such as this: Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management, Harvard Extension School, Harvard University. Very good bang for the buck, if you will.

demonfurbie

just putting this out there ... you CAN complete a masters at wgu in one term if you work it hard, it would be a ton cheaper that way... it would leave you extra cash to do a mit cert or harvard one

MSP-IT

demonfurbie wrote: »

just putting this out there ... you CAN complete a masters at wgu in one term if you work it hard, it would be a ton cheaper that way... it would leave you extra cash to do a mit cert or harvard one

Money isn't much of a factor in my decision. I'll most likely proceed with my goal for the Stanford certificate in ACS and WGU's M.S.

tombosauce

I think it really depends on what the overall reason is for getting your degree. If it's a check in the block to move up in your career, then do it the quickest and least expensive way possible. If you're doing it to increase your level of knowledge, then I wouldn't worry too much about what the degree is actually named. I'm not trying to knock WGU, I haven't attended it, but from what I understand, it's most, if not all, self study and tests. I enjoyed the lecture and weekly sections of HES, and I feel like I got my $2k worth in education. If you're worried that you'll have to write MLA in extension studies on your resume, you can always put a bullet underneath with your capstone project/thesis title that shows the "pinnacle" of your degree was IT related.

neo9006

Man, can you spread the love around MSP-IT since money is no opinion lol.

tpatt100

I think Harvard will generate more popular keyword hits for your resume even if some people might question the "extension school part". If anything due to the on campus requirement that might scare away a lot of potential students. I also think that the extension school part might be a positive thing for you as a conversation piece during interviews that might make you more memorable to possible employers. They might view it as taking a bit more initiative to plan for the on campus requirement.

benbuiltpc

This is a liberal arts degree designed to lure in the tech minded. Don't get me started on the higher education debate ....

"That being said, would it be wrong to say you received a master's degree from Harvard? "

Except that Harvard does not want you to say you did - it's a different school, and clearly labeled as such.

This will be fun to research though.

MSP-IT

the_Grinch wrote: »

Cisc0kidd is right, your diploma will say Harvard Extension School. What that means name wise is anyone's guess, but I suspect at most jobs you would be alright (just watch out for the Harvard on campus grads haha).

It actually doesn't even mention the Extension School. I don't think the university takes as much of a negative stance against HES students as many of you seem to believe.

diploma.jpg

mokaiba

MSP-IT wrote: »

It actually doesn't even mention the Extension School. I don't think the university takes as much of a negative stance against HES students as many of you seem to believe.

Hmm, it says extension studies in the middle but Harvard in giant letters at the top, but that's not a big issue. I have been thinking about finishing a masters at wgu in six months then taking my time over the following five years to take the software engineering masters from the Harvard extension school (with hopes to take the on-campus course during the winter accelerated class (3 week one - so far only the mobile one is during that time), which could cover 2 weeks of vacation time with one week of personal (or 2 weeks paid while losing one week of pay, if job at the time does not have personal time pay)).

EDIT:
BTW, if you want to easily pass those three recommended Online Option courses (CSCI E-10a, CSCI E-10b, and CSCI E-22) -->

As in my case, I don't know java or data structures. A simple way to resolve this is to teach myself java and take the oracle exams for associate and professional. In my understanding, if I am already a certified java programmer, I should be able to pass two courses on java ( Introduction to Computer Science Using Java I | Harvard Extension School and Introduction to Computer Science Using Java II | Harvard Extension School ). As for the data structures class ( Data Structures | Harvard Extension School ), taking a course at a local community college during the summer should be good enough to allow you to pass the Harvard one (if you're going to fail it, you might as well fail it for less than $400 instead of failing it for $2,050).Plus, all the courses are open to view aka you can see what you need to learn to pass them ( Choosing Courses | Information Technology Program ).

For example:

Software engineering

Five required courses:
- One theoretical/mathematical foundations course (required for admission)
  - CSCI E-124 Data Structures and Algorithms
    - Requires CSCI E-22 as prerequisite
- One data communications course
  - CSCI S-40 Communication Protocols and Internet Architectures
    - Prerequisite: some programming and Internet experience
- One distributed computing course
  - CSCI E-55 Java for Distributed Computing
    - Prerequisite: substantial experience with another programming language, preferably an object-oriented language.
      - Could take an object-oriented language at a community college
- One systems programming course
  - CSCI E-28 Unix/Linux Systems Programming
    - Requires CSCI E-22 as prerequisite
- One software design course
  - CSCI E-97 Software Design: Principles, Models, and Patterns
    - Requires CSCI E-22 as prerequisite
Four electives
- CSCI S-75 Dynamic Web Applications
  - Prerequisite: multiple years of programming experience in any language; comfort with HTML and CSS.
- CSCI E-68 Mobile Operating Systems Internals
  - January session (3 weeks) --> Would meet on-campus requirement
    - Chance of being cancelled due to low enrollment
- ENSC E-105 Engineering Innovation with Information Technology
  - No Prerequisite
- CSCI E-45a Understanding and Securing the Cyber Infrastructure
  - No Prerequisite
A master’s thesis
- Master's Thesis | Information Technology Program
- Most likely, the most stressful part of the degree

tartarus80

Is anyone attending or has attended Harvard Extension School for ALM, concentration in Information Management Systems? It would be nice to hear their experience. I am communicating with my enrollment coach now via email but it has taken her awhile to respond, I am assuming due to high volume of interest. My concern is I am not that technical, my background and focus are mainly project management and risk management, if I have to take a coding course or database management course I will probably struggle and probably will not peak my interest. They have great cyber security courses and IT management courses that I can take as my electives but those technical courses are a cause for concern.

The reason I am interested in this program is because the classes are taught by actual Harvard professors. It is really the best bang for your buck in my opinion. Of course the trip up there over some weekends and winter/summer on campus classes will be tough while juggling family and full-time work.

Christian.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Harvard states (link) you need to list your degree as:
- Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Harvard University Extension School
- Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Extension Studies, Harvard University

I found cases of people that were interviewed and got into an ugly situation because the recruiter told them they were mislead into believing they went to Harvard, not to HES. Even if you list your resume correctly, you may get into that situation by someone who reads your resume too fast.. or even if you are hired and someone in upper management hears you went to Harvard.. but then he finds out you didn't even if you never said you did, but just because someone mentioned you went there. Maybe that won't happen, but I would stay out of it. I wouldn't want to put myself into that situation or having to clarify it was done through the extension campus.

I'm doing research into CS Masters (I want to continue after I'm done with WGU, hopefully by the end of the year) and I found several options where the degree is granted through the actual university without having to specify weird things, or having to get a transcript through another institution. For instance, you have Stanford.. Columbia.. Johns Hopkins.. UCLA.. Illinois.. NYU.. UMass.. Pennstate.. Michigan.. Boston U.. Northwestern.. Carnegie.. etc. There is a big list.

No_Nerd

That sums it up right there...

Christian. wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Harvard states (link) you need to list your degree as:
- Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Harvard University Extension School
- Bachelor [or Master] of Liberal Arts, Extension Studies, Harvard University

I found cases of people that were interviewed and got into an ugly situation because the recruiter told them they were mislead into believing they went to Harvard, not to HES. Even if you list your resume correctly, you may get into that situation by someone who reads your resume too fast.. or even if you are hired and someone in upper management hears you went to Harvard.. but then he finds out you didn't even if you never said you did, but just because someone mentioned you went there. Maybe that won't happen, but I would stay out of it. I wouldn't want to put myself into that situation or having to clarify it was done through the extension campus.

I'm doing research into CS Masters (I want to continue after I'm done with WGU, hopefully by the end of the year) and I found several options where the degree is granted through the actual university without having to specify weird things, or having to get a transcript through another institution. For instance, you have Stanford.. Columbia.. Johns Hopkins.. UCLA.. Illinois.. NYU.. UMass.. Pennstate.. Michigan.. Boston U.. Northwestern.. Carnegie.. etc. There is a big list.

tartarus80

I read though countless blogs and articles around this very topic. I understand there could be some misunderstanding situations. Of course if one careful read the resume and read the timeline correctly, it would be obvious that the diploma was obtained through part-time program. The education is Harvard education, taught by the same professors. Of course if I manage to finish the program, I would never considered myself Harvard alumnus because in most cases, being accepted to Harvard is not purely based on academic... unless I attend the program on-campus full-time which has more perks than distance learning.

AverageJoe

I think it would definitely have a wow factor. Harvard University is made up of several colleges, so I don't see any shame in identifying which one of the Harvard University schools you earn a degree at... it's still Harvard University. If money isn't an issue, this sounds like a great way to go.

Just my 2 cents.