*This program was previously called the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Management (PBDM).
All online MBA/GDM courses are paced, with scheduled start and end dates, and assignment deadlines within each course. Individual course activities vary, but participation in online discussions and group projects is mandatory and forms part of the grade for every course. The learning environment is asynchronous, meaning students do not have to be online at a prescribed time.
Upon admission to the program, Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) students will receive a timetable outlining course start and completion dates for the cohort group to which they belong.
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 STMT 500 - Strategic Management, which must be completed successfully before students can progress to any other course.
Athabasca University may modify the list of available 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 GDM courses, is graded on a pass/fail basis with 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 student is considered registered for a core course on the 21st day before the start date for that course. After this date, 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.
Exceptions to this regulation must be approved by the MBA Program Director.
Students who have received a Fail (F) or Withdrawal (W) grade in any course in the GDM 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.
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.
Access to a microcomputer is mandatory for the completion of assignments and contact with other students, staff, and the Faculty of Business. The Faculty of Business maintains a current list of technical requirements.
With the exception of the comprehensive examination and the applied project which are graded on a pass/fail basis, 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. The official recorded grade will be the Alpha/4.0 grading scale. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.
Information effective September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020.
Updated October 17 2019 by laurab
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