Course-Related Procedures

MEd

It is recommended that students complete the core courses in sequence. Elective courses may be taken on completion of the core courses or concurrently with the core courses offered in any term.

PBDDET and PBDID

Students should complete the core courses in the prescribed sequence. Elective courses may be taken on completion of the core courses or concurrently with the core courses offered in any term. Students will be required to complete a program plan for review by the diploma advisor to ensure conflicts or delays are avoided.

PBCID

Students must complete MDDE 603 before MDDE 604. Students may register in MDDE 617 concurrently with either MDDE 603 or MDDE 604.

Incomplete

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students may be assigned a grade of Incomplete (INC). This allows the student to take an additional 2 months to complete and submit the course work. Two months after the original course completion date, a grade will be assigned to the course. If the required course work has not been submitted, a failing grade of "F" will be assigned.

Re-Registration

Students may re-register in a course only if they have received more than one final grade of "B-" or lower in a core course, or more than one final grade of "C+" or lower, in an elective course, or if they have withdrawn from the course in good standing. In re-registering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee. Students are permitted only one re-registration in each course. Both the initial registration and the re-registration will appear on the student’s academic record.

Withdrawals

Course

Students may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the semester by submitting a Withdrawal Request Form. The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or if the notice is hand-delivered or faxed, the University date stamp. Students may also request a withdrawal from a course by e-mail provided the request is confirmed in writing.

If a student withdraws from a course from the time of registration to within the first month, the record of registration will be deleted from his or her official transcript (refer to Refunds below and Academic Schedule). If a student withdraws from a course after the first month of the course and before the last month of the course, the official record and transcript will show that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty and no refund will be granted.

Program

Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the program director. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following the application procedures. Students requesting re-admission to the program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration.

Refunds

Students will receive a refund of the full course tuition fee minus the course withdrawal processing fee (refer to Fees) if they withdraw from the course within the first month. Students should not return their course materials. Students wishing to withdraw from a course(s) before the first day of class will receive a partial refund (full tuition fee minus the withdrawal processing fee).

Continuation Fees

MEd

Continuation fees are the same as course fees. Continuation fees are normally assessed when program students do not register in the required six credits per academic year of course or thesis work or when students have completed all required course work but have not yet completed their thesis oral exam.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

Continuation fees are the same as course fees. Continuation fees are normally assessed when program students do not register in the required six credits per academic year of course work.

Grading System

With the exception of MDDE 660, 701, and 704, which will be graded on a pass/fail basis, all courses will be graded using the following alphabetic scale. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information.

INC Incomplete status
W Withdrawn in good standing
WF Withdraw fail

MEd Thesis Requirements

Students choosing this route must complete a thesis. Once the student has successfully completed MDDE 702, a supervisor will be assigned and a committee arranged.

The thesis in the MEd program is the equivalent of 12 credits. Students register in the thesis in four blocks of three credits each. Normally, students will register in a thesis after completion of all core course work and electives. Students who have completed all of the course requirements and have paid the full tuition fee for the thesis, but who have yet to "complete" the thesis, will be required to pay a continuation fee each session (semester) in order to remain in the program.

Students choosing the thesis route should familiarize themselves with the Master's level thesis regulations outlined in the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Completion Time Limits

MEd

Students have a maximum of six years from their first registration as a program student to complete the MEd degree program.

PBDDET

Students have a maximum of three years from their first registration to complete the PBDDET program.

PBDID

Students have a maximum of three years from their first registration to complete the PBDID program.

PBCID

Students have a maximum of two years from their first registration to complete the PBCID program.

PBCTBL

Students have a maximum of two years from their first registration to complete the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Technology-Based Learning program.

Non Program Students

Individuals who are not enrolled in an AU Distance Education program will be permitted to register in program courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting. Courses taken as a non-program student may be directly applied toward the program degree requirements, if and when a student becomes a program student. However, the University is under no obligation to admit non-program students into AU Distance Education programs.

For more information on non-program status, contact the Centre for Distance Education.