6.3. Course Registration
     
6.3.1.
Individualized Study
6.3.2.
Grouped Study
6.3.4.
Challenge for Credit Option
     
     
     
6.3.3.

Challenge for Credit Option

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Before You Register
Ready to Register?
Challenge Learning Resources
Challenge Exams
Failing a Challenge Exam
Courses Unavailable for Challenge
Failing an Individualized Study Course
Prerequisites
Withdrawal/Cancellation
Refunds/Returns

     
     

 

 

Overview

The Challenge for Credit option allows students to demonstrate by a predetermined process that they are proficient in the subject matter of a specific Athabasca University course without having to complete the entire course. This option is intended for students who are ready to challenge a course based on their previous work experience, life experience, or community service, for example.

Challenge courses have specific regulations noted below.


Before You Register

Not all post-secondary institutions recognize the challenge for credit process.  If you plan to use the challenge course for transfer credit elsewhere, find out before you register in the AU course, whether your home institution will accept the credit obtained through the challenge process.

Before you consider this option, and to help you determine your subject-matter knowledge of the course, review the online course syllabus.

Consultation with the Athabasca University course professor is required before registration for challenge is allowed. A process determined by Athabasca University's course professor—which may include the submission of assignments, reports, projects, or written exams— will evaluate your knowledge and skills. Email examunit@athabascau.ca to obtain the specific course coordinator's email address and phone number.


Ready to Register?

If you haven't done so already, complete and submit the Undergraduate General Application Form before you proceed with the Challenge for Credit (CCR) registration. Students who choose to proceed with the CCR, must complete and submit the Challenge for Credit Registration Form available from the Office of the Registrar, or the forms Web site, accompanied by the non-refundable fee.

You are allowed only one registration in each challenge for credit course. Re-registrations, for any reasons, are not permitted.


Challenge Learning Resources

Students have the option of purchasing the course's learning resources when they register (review Challenge for Credit Fees). Once registered, students may complete and submit the required assignments, reports, projects, or written exams within a predetermined time period. Depending on your geographic location, please allow approximately three weeks or more for the processing of your registration and delivery of your learning resources.


Challenge Exams

When the Challenge for Credit process involves an invigilated exam, the majority of general exam regulations apply, and the exam is written under the normal conditions for writing exams at Athabasca University described in Section 7 Evaluation. Except for the Supplemental Exams and Unwritten Exams options, which are not applicable to challenge exams, all other general exam regulations apply.

Challenge for Credit exams are completed at an Athabasca University-approved exam invigilation centre. Students should consult their invigilator and inform the Office of the Registrar of the date they wish to write before they complete and submit their Examination Request Form, available in their learning resources package or online.

Most students must write their challenge exam within three months of registering in the challenge course. Students are allowed one attempt to write a challenge exam. Supplemental exam options do not apply to challenge courses. If the challenge exam is failed, it cannot be written again. An unwritten challenge exam will not be reissued.

All Challenge for Credit grade appeals are subject to an appeals process described in Athabasca University's Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations available also in brochure format.


Failing a Challenge Exam

If you fail your challenge for credit course exam, you may not challenge that course again. You are permitted only one registration in each challenge for credit course. In order to receive credit, you must register in and successfully complete the course by the traditional method. Students who fail to complete the challenge course will be assigned a system failure and their official record will indicate an "F."


Courses Unavailable for Challenge

The Challenge for Credit option is available for existing Athabasca University course offerings only. Some courses at Athabasca University are not available for challenge. The online course syllabus will indicate whether the challenge option is available. The Office of the Registrar also maintains a list of courses that are unavailable for challenge.

The following Athabasca University courses may not be challenged:

• 

courses for which the student has received transfer credit

• 
courses for which the student has received a “precluded” designation
• 
courses for which the student has received an exemption; courses that are unavailable at the time of registering; or courses in a category that is unavailable for challenge for credit
• 
all graduate-level courses
• 
reading courses
• 
some project-based courses
• 
100-level courses
• 

laboratory or practicum courses.

Failing an Individualized Study Course

Students who fail a course (or an equivalent course) taken by the traditional individualized study method may not challenge that course without the written permission of the course professor. This permission will be given only if students can document significant learning after the unsuccessful attempt at completing the course.


Prerequisites

Prerequisites for a challenge course must be satisfied unless the course professor waives them. After completing a course successfully, students may not challenge a prerequisite to that course. Cancellation or failure to complete all components of the challenge evaluation will result in a failing grade.


Withdrawal/Cancellation

Students who register in an individualized study or grouped study course and discover they are familiar enough with the material to challenge it must first withdraw from the course and then request to challenge it. Students will be required to pay an additional Challenge for Credit fee.

Students can also withdraw from a Challenge course, provided the withdrawal form is received by the University within the first 30 days of the Challenge course contract period. (See Refunds below.)


Refunds/Returns of Learning Resources Package

Students will receive a refund of their learning resources fee if they return the entire learning resources package completely unmarked and undamaged within 30 calendar days of writing the challenge exam or completing the challenge project. If the learning resources and timeframe criteria are not met students will not be entitled to a refund.

If materials are returned damaged, missing, or contain CDs that have been opened from their original packaging, a refund will NOT be issued. The materials will remain the property of the University and will not be returned to the student.


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 • Information effective Sept. 1, 2004 to Aug. 31, 2005.
 • Links: Web Unit, Privacy & Conditions. © Athabasca University.


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