Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Information Security
Course Regulations and Procedures

Courses

PBC InfoSec students take their courses alongside MSC IS students, and are required to complete the same activities and achieve the same standard.
Students will access all course tools and technologies online. In addition, students are expected to use web-based communications for the following purposes:

• For instructor and student-to-student interactions in computer conferences
• For email, both within and outside of the course structure
• For file transfer or file attachment of assignments and feedback between instructor and students and between students on joint projects
• For accessing electronic databases (for example, Athabasca University’s Library)
• For using Athabasca University’s Landing (a social network platform for students, instructors and staff)

Delivery Modes

PBC InfoSec courses are delivered via online paced study using distance education instructional design principles and enabling web-based technologies:

• Course materials—study guides, assignments, links to online resources, etc.—are made available through the online learning environment.
• Courses have required online components, such as the use of cloud-based analytics tools.
• Students work their way through the learning materials, complete assignments, and communicate with the instructor, the university, and with other students anytime and from anywhere through the Internet.
• Students have online access to an instructor, who gives subject matter assistance and discusses scholarly issues, marks assignments, and provides feedback.
• Concluding examinations (where applicable) can be taken at many pre-approved invigilation centres across Canada and overseas.
• Students are expected to use web-based communications for the following purposes:
• Instructor and student-to-student interactions,
• File transfer or file attachment of assignments and feedback between instructor and students and between students on joint projects, and
• Accessing web-based resources such as electronic databases (the Athabasca University library maintains subscriptions to ACM and IEEE digital libraries).

Online Paced Study

PBC InfoSec program will be conducted in an online paced study mode involving online study as part of a group, with specific start and end dates. The courses in the PBC InfoSec program will be offered during three terms each year. Please refer to the Academic Schedule for each term start date. All course work should be completed during the term periods. Online paced study delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students engage with fellow students and instructors and complete various course activities on a 13-week timetable.
• Terms start three times each year: September, January, or May.
• Exams, where applicable, are written in the last scheduled week of classes.

Course Registration Procedures

Registration in courses is subject to prerequisite requirements or professor permission. Elective courses may be taken on completion of the core courses or concurrently with the core courses offered in any term.

Course Extensions

Course extensions are not available for any of the core and elective courses in the PBC InfoSec program.

Re-Registration

Students are allowed only one re-registration in each course. Both the initial registration and the re-registration will appear on the student’s academic record.

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 have withdrawn from the course in good standing. In re-registering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee.

Course Withdrawals and Refunds

For details on policy and procedure related to course withdrawals and refunds, please refer to the Graduate Course Refund Policy.

Grading System

All courses will be graded using the Alpha/4.0 grading scale (effective September 1, 2004).

Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.