Upon admission to the program, PBDM students will receive a timetable outlining course start and completion dates for the cohort group to which they belong.
Courses are paced, with specific start and completion dates. Courses are offered in sequential order, but, subject to the approval of the MBA Program Director, students may be permitted to take more than one course at a time, or to take courses in a different order within a phase except for:
a) STMT 500 - Strategic Management, which must be completed successfully before students can progress to any other course; and
b)
STCH 600 – Making Strategic Choices, which must be successfully completed by students admitted through the accelerated route before they can progress to any other course.
Athabasca University may modify the list of courses at any time.
Students are automatically pre-registered in courses according to the course schedule provided when they commence the program. Students are considered registered for courses on the 21st day before the start date of each course as indicated on the schedule.
A minimum grade of 60 per cent is required for both the assignments and participation components in each course. The comprehensive examination, written upon completion of the six core PBDM courses, is graded on a pass/fail basis; an overall grade of 70 per cent is required to pass.
It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that any course and/or examination participation and any assignments and/or examination requirements are maintained and submitted on time. There will be no leniency or considerations given to students who choose a double course workload. Exemptions to these requirements may be made only by the MBA Program Director.
A comprehensive examination must be written upon completion of the six core PBDM courses. The comprehensive examination is scheduled on at least two occasions per year as determined by the Admissions Committee.
The comprehensive examination is graded on a pass/fail basis, and a grade of 70 per cent is required to pass. Review Re-registrations and Repeats below, for examination re-write information.
Students who have started the program can defer their studies should they find themselves experiencing changed circumstances in either their business or personal lives, but must request the deferral at least 21 days before the start date of their next course.
A student is considered registered for a core course on the 21st day before the start date for that course. Students can withdraw from courses in which they are registered subject to the following:
Under extraordinary circumstances, students may receive permission for an incomplete status for a course but they must submit such a request to the academic coach before the end date for the course. The academic coach will seek approval from the course manager to grant incomplete status.
If approved, students will have up to a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete the outstanding individual written assignments (as approved). Group assignments and participation components of the course are not included under this policy.
Students who have received a Fail (F) or Withdrawal (W) grade in any course in the PBDM program may repeat that course only once. Full tuition will be required for each course repeated.
Students who fail to successfully complete the same course twice will be removed from their program of study, with no opportunity for re-enrolment.
Students who fail the comprehensive examination may repeat the examination only once. An appropriate fee will be charged for repetition of the examination and the student must wait until the next scheduled offering of the examination to re-write it. Students who fail the second writing of the comprehensive examination will be withdrawn from their program of study with no opportunity for re-enrolment.
To maintain active status, students must successfully complete at least one course or comprehensive examination in their program of study within any given 12-month period.
Students who do not maintain active status will be deemed to have withdrawn from the program. Those students will be required to pay the tuition portion for courses completed and in which they are currently registered.
Students may withdraw from the PBDM program by completing the Program Withdrawal Form. Students who wish to withdraw from the PBDM, without record of registration, must do so within 30 calendar days of the commencement of the program. A withdrawal occurring during this time will not be recorded on the student’s transcript. Students who withdraw from a program after the 30 calendar-day period from the start of program will have the withdrawal recorded on their transcript and must pay the tuition portion for courses completed and in which they are currently registered.
Re-enrolment in a program can occur, but is subject to re-application, review and approval by the MBA Program Director, and payment of all applicable fees. Students will be required to pay any fee increases that occur between the time of their last enrolment and re-enrolment. Credit for courses previously completed will be re-evaluated and applied to the program requirements, where appropriate.
Program tuition paid is refunded after the tuition portion for the courses completed and currently registered in is deducted, and any outstanding administrative fees are processed.
Each assignment and participation component that is to be counted towards the final grade for a course shall be given a percentage grade from the academic coach. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.
The comprehensive examination and the applied project are graded on a pass/fail basis.
To be awarded the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Management (PBDM), a graduate student must:
In addition, students must have paid any fees owed to the University and have returned all library resources.
AU policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals apply to all students. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations website.
Information effective September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016.
Updated May 09 2016 by laurab
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