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Programs: Certificate:

Certificate of Special Studies in Administration & Management (CSS)

CSS Office
51 Brattle Street
(617) 495-4005

• Concentration Courses
• CSS Courses
• English Proficiency

Candidates for the Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management (CSS) must take at least one course in each of the following fields:

1. Policy, Planning, and Operations
2. Human Resources Development
3. Finance and Control
4. Quantitative Methods
5. Communications

The remaining three courses may be chosen to provide a broader exposure to several fields or to develop a concentration. Students who want to concentrate their studies in a particular area must select four of their eight courses from one of seven CSS concentrations. Students should declare their concentrations on the CSS graduation confirmation form. Following is a list of CSS concentrations and courses:

Concentration Courses

Candidates must demonstrate competency in information technology. Candidates usually satisfy this requirement by taking a course in information technology in field IV, in which case the course would satisfy the field IV requirement and also be included as one of the eight required CSS courses. All courses in field IV, with the exception of CSS-439, may be used to fulfill this requirement.

The information technology requirement also may be satisfied through prior completion with an honors grade of an equivalent one-semester course in information technology at another college or university, or by providing evidence of having worked in the field of information technology for at least a year. Students choosing either of these options must contact the CSS Office for further details. Note that either of these options will satisfy the information technology requirement but not the field IV requirement; students choosing either of these options must still satisfy the field IV requirement by taking at least one course in that field.

Before beginning CSS courses, students whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. For more information see English Proficiency.

Students are invited to attend one of the orientation meetings held at the beginning of each term: September 14 and January 25, 5:30-6:30 pm in Emerson Hall 210. International students who are interested in the CSS Program are invited to attend one of the international student orientation meetings held at the beginning of each term: September 13 and January 24, 5:30-6:30 pm in Grossman Common Room, 51 Brattle Street.

CSS Courses

The courses listed in the CSS Courses section will count toward the CSS.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in English can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

• Earning a score of 70 or higher on the Harvard University English Language Placement Test. The placement test may be taken only once per semester. The placement test does not replace the TOEFL requirement for admission to the CSS Program. Students must satisfy the TOEFL requirement in order to be admitted as candidates.

• Submitting to the CSS Office an official score of at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL or 600 on the paper-based TOEFL. Scores must be sent directly to the CSS Office from the Educational Testing Service and received before the first day of classes.

• Submitting to the CSS Office an official transcript of four full years of study at a college or university where English was the sole means of instruction. Transcripts must be sent directly by the registrar(s) to the CSS Office.

Students who register for CSS courses but do not meet this English proficiency requirement by the registration deadline in each term will be withdrawn from these courses by the Registrar. The Extension School reserves the right to refuse to count courses toward the CSS that were begun or completed without the student first completing the English proficiency requirement.

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