Frequently Asked Questions

All questions about application requirements, necessary tests, admitted student profiles, deadlines, and schoolwide information are best directed to the Admissions Office.

• How do I apply?
• Where can I get additional information about TIE and the Harvard Graduate School of Education?
• How long do students take to complete the program?
• Do you offer a doctoral program?
• What kinds of jobs do TIE graduates obtain?
• How many courses do students take to complete the program?
• Do I have to write a thesis or complete a final project in order to graduate from the TIE master's program?
• Do you offer courses via distance education?
• How much prior experience with technology is required?
• I've never taught or worked professionally in a school environment. Does this disqualify me from admission to the program?
• I am planning on visiting campus soon, what should I do to make the most of my visit?

How do I apply?

You can apply online.

Where can I get additional information about TIE and the Harvard Graduate School of Education?

The most current information about TIE can be found on this website. For more information on HGSE, contact the Admissions Office.

How long do students take to complete the program?

The majority of TIE students attend the program full-time and complete the degree in one year. Others attend part-time and graduate in two years.

Do you offer a doctoral program?

TIE is a master's degree (Ed.M.) program only -- but a substantial number of HGSE doctoral students (currently, about 20) have a strong technology focus in their project work and dissertation research. Your best resource for information on doctoral study here at HGSE is the doctoral program website. The Doctoral Program Administrator, Shu-Ling Chen, will be an invaluable contact for additional information. You can email her directly at shu-ling_chen@gse.harvard.edu .

What kinds of jobs do TIE graduates obtain?

TIE graduates work wherever education is supported with technology: as teachers and technology advisors in schools, colleges, and universities; in corporate training; in public and network television; in museums; in educational software companies... The possibilities abound! Find out more about what some TIE graduates are doing.

Read the HGSE Career Services' Graduate Placement Surveys.

How many courses do students take to complete the program?

Students must take eight courses in order to graduate--generally taking four per semester. Five of these eight courses must be selected from the approved TIE requirements list (details can be found in the TIE Student Handbook posted on this site). Full-time students may enroll in up to ten courses (five per semester) and incur no additional cost.

Do I have to write a thesis or complete a final project in order to graduate from the TIE master's program?

Our master's program does not require a thesis or final project in order to graduate, but the program will require an extensive amount of writing and research. Writing skills are a must.

Do you offer courses via distance education?

No, although several TIE courses have a distance education component, all require students to attend class on campus. We believe that the program is lively and exciting because of the interactions among students, faculty, and staff, in addition to our rich virtual environment.

If you are interested in non-degree, HGSE-affiliated online professional development opportunities, two HGSE professors, David Perkins and Stone Wiske, are involved with a research project known as WIDE World. WIDE offers online professional development programs for educators. To learn more about WIDE's non-degree offerings, please visit WIDE's website.

How much prior experience with technology is required?

Every year, students enter the program with quite varied levels of technology experience. We assume that entering students will have basic computer skills such as word-processing. Many students come with a sophisticated programming background, while others arrive with moderate to basic technology experience.

I've never taught or worked professionally in a school environment. Does this disqualify me from admission to the program?

No, TIE students arrive with differing amounts of experience in education, but all TIE students share an interest in educational technology.

I am planning on visiting campus soon, what should I do to make the most of my visit?

Informational meetings

Small group informational meetings are offered throughout the summer and fall months at 9:15 am in the Admissions Office. Please RSVP for a session. The Admissions Office may also be able to assist you in setting up a visit to a HGSE class during the academic year, September-May.

While visiting campus, you may also want to make an appointment to meet with the program coordinator for this program. Please view contact information for the program coordinator under the "Contact Us" page on the site.

Tours

HGSE's campus is small, so no regular formal tour is offered. However, if you are interested in taking a Harvard University tour, any visitor is welcome to join one of the free campus tours offered daily by the Harvard News Office. The tours leave the Harvard Information Center in Holyoke Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, at 10am and 2pm.

Accommodations

HGSE does not provide housing to visiting prospective students. However, information about local, off-campus accommodations is available.

If you have questions about...

The Field Experience Program (FEP)

Many Ed.M. students participate in HGSE's internship program, the Field Experience Program (FEP). For more information, please visit the FEP website.

Career Opportunities

For more information please visit HGSE's Career Services Office.

Cross-Registration

Many HGSE students choose to take courses at other Harvard graduate schools (aka, cross-registering), including the Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Kennedy School of Government (KSG). Unfortunately, Harvard's schools operate on different schedules. Therefore, remain mindful of school's individual calendars and deadlines: start of classes, vacations, and exams.

For more information about cross-registering at other Harvard schools, please visit: https://crossreg.harvard.edu/OASIS/CrossReg/index.html

HGSE Course Catalog

For more information about HGSE course offerings, view the entire HGSE course catalogue.

Admissions

For more information about the HGSE admissions process, please visit Admissions