Master of Science in Information Systems

Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Information Systems program must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science, information systems, or a related area, or
• Hold a baccalaureate degree or higher and have significant professional-level experience with information systems (defined as follows: "Experience must be in a role requiring the use of a significant level of IT knowledge where a high level of independent judgment and responsibility are exercised"), or
• Hold the Canadian Information Processing Society – Information Systems Professional (CIPS ISP) designation or equivalent (Canadian IT Professional [CITP] or Certified Computing Professional [CCP] designation).

If the potential applicant does not have a degree, but believes his or her education and experience is equivalent to an undergraduate degree, then it is the responsibility of the applicant to put forward this position in writing as part of the application process.

Applications for program admissions will be considered only if the applicant has full and unrestricted access to the World Wide Web.

Currency of academic credentials may be an issue if the candidate has not worked in the IT field for more than five years.

Advanced standing and transfer credit

Advanced standing

Students may be eligible for advanced standing through evaluation of coursework applicable to the MSc IS program completed at other post-secondary institutions. Advanced Standing is implemented primarily through exemptions from Information System (IS) Foundations courses.

Exemptions from Information Systems Foundations

Flexible entrance requirements are designed to recognize the range of academic credentials held by IT professionals applying to the program.

• Advanced standing is limited by program residency requirements.
• Exemptions from IS Foundations are based on appropriate undergraduate or graduate academic credentials supported by relevant professional-level work experience.
• An applicant may gain exemptions for a maximum of 9 credits (three courses) through this process.

Depending on the upcoming student's credentials, the IS Foundations of the MSc IS program may be completed in as few as 3 credits (one course) or may require a maximum of 12 credits (four courses). That is, to meet the MSc IS Foundation requirements, a student should complete or get exempted from three of the following courses in addition to the mandatory COMP 601:

COMP 501, COMP 503, COMP 504, COMP 505, COMP 506, COMP 507, and COMP 508.

Transfer credit

Students can apply for transfer of credits on the basis of appropriate graduate-level coursework completed at other post-secondary institutions. These courses should have been completed before joining the program.

Transfer credit is limited by the MSc IS program residency requirements. The transferred credits cannot be applied towards foundation courses. The coursework should be less than 7 years old at the time of application to the transfer of credits.

Only graduate-level courses that were successfully completed with a final grade of B- (70 per cent) or higher, will be considered for transfer credit.

Requests for transfer credit should be made after the applicant is admitted to the program. Further information can be found in the Program Application section.

English language proficiency

There are minimum English language proficiency requirements allowed for admission to a graduate program at Athabasca University. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum requirements.

Please read all the application procedures carefully prior to commencing with your application. You may want to print a copy for your reference.

Application deadlines

There are two program intakes per year. The Master of Science in Information Systems office must receive all application materials by March 1 for admission to the program for Fall semester, and by October 1 for consideration to the program for the Winter semester.

Application procedures

Applications for admission to the MSc IS Program are submitted online, including payment of the application fee.

1. Complete the Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies online through the Registrar's Office at Athabasca University.
   
   IMPORTANT: If you have been a student at Athabasca University (AU) or have received an AU student ID number as part of a previous application:
   1. You must first login by clicking the Login link (left-hand side, under the General heading);
   2. Click on Graduate Application and complete the required steps;
      1. Be sure to select "Application for Master of Science”
      2. Then select Major “Information Systems".
      3. You will be required to pay the MSC IS Program Application fee.
2. Proceed to the School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) Graduate Student Admission System.
3. Select the "Master of Science - Information Systems (MSc IS)" option to start your MSc application.
   
   Complete all components of the online MSc IS Program application. Each component must be finalized.
4. Click on the "Proceed to Final Review" button in the checklist after all components have been completed and submitted. At that point you will no longer have access to view or modify your application.
5. You can make changes or additions to your application at any time prior to the application deadline (and prior to submitting your application for final review). You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through an online Application Checklist.
   
   To check your application status, log into your myAU Portal and click on the link titled "SCIS Graduate Student Admission System".
6. The status of your application will appear as "Under Review" if all steps have been completed and the application has been submitted for final review. All applications will be reviewed for approval during the two-week period after the application deadline. Note that telephone confirmation will not be provided.
7. If the status of your application appears as "Review Complete", your application has been processed. Click on the link beside your status to review the results of your application.
   
   Track receipt of hard copy documents and the status of your application online through the online Application Checklist. It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of your application package have been received by the application deadline. Allow sufficient time prior to the deadline for receipt of letters of reference, transcripts, credential assessments (if required), and CIPS ISP designation or equivalent.
8. In addition to the online application, you must submit all of the supplementary application materials:
   
   Transcripts
   
   Request that the institution you graduated from send an official transcript(s), including the date of graduation, the Bachelor's degree granted, and any graduate-level courses you have completed to the MSc IS Office. Transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s).
   
   Assessments
   
   Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside North America, documentation attesting to its equivalence to a North American baccalaureate is required. Such documentation can be provided through:
   
   
   1. NACES - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
      Contact NACES at: naces@ierf.org
   2. CICIC - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.
   3. AACRAO - American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.
      Contact IES at: (202) 296-3359 or email: ies@aacrao.org
   
   When requesting an assessment please select the assessment type that includes a description of course work that lists the courses completed towards credential if you would like to be considered for Advanced Standing.
   
   Letters of reference
   
   All letters of reference must be sent directly to fst_grad_success@athabascau.ca as an attachment by the referees to the School of Computing and Information Systems. Athabasca University will not accept letters of reference not received directly from referees. Applicants may download the MSc IS Reference Template to send to the referees:
   
   * It is the applicant's responsibility to notify his or her referees, that, in accordance with the Province of Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the information contained in the letter of reference is not considered to be confidential and it may be viewed by the applicant upon request. For more information, contact us.
   • CIPS ISP designation or equivalent
   • World Education Services (WES) or International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS) ((if required))
   • For applicants without Canadian citizenship: Photocopy of either permanent resident documentation or study authorization/permit will need to be provided.  

Please note that a student's application file will automatically go inactive 12 months after the initial application date, if the student does not proceed with the application process and/or there has not been any contact with the School of Computing and Information Systems.

Students, once admitted as program students, will be considered to have MSc IS program status. Where applicable, the following official documentation must be received before your application can be processed.

Ensure that all documentation is directed by mail or courier to:

Master of Science - Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Note: All transcripts, references, test scores, and other documents become the property of Athabasca University and will not be returned to the applicants or forwarded to another program or institution.

Transfer credit application

To apply for transfer credit, please complete the following steps:

1. Carefully review the transfer credit allowance for the program. You can access the program residency requirements and the program courses from the program regulations.
2. Complete the transfer credit assessment form, making sure to include the following information for each course:
   • A clear indication of which COMP course in the MSc IS program you are targeting by the transfer.
   • Complete information about the course you have completed (course title and number, institution, and number of credits).
3. Submit a complete syllabus for each course; including course description, learning outcomes or objectives, list of course materials, outline of covered topics, and course regulations outlining the mark for a passing grade.
4. Pay a non-refundable transfer credit evaluation fee for each course at the time of application for the transfer credit.

Please read the entire application procedures carefully prior to commencing with your application.

Non-program application deadlines

The following deadlines apply to non-program applications:

• July 31st for Fall Session courses (September to December)
• November 30th for Winter Session courses (January to April)
• March 31 for Spring Session courses (May to August)

Late applications will not be reviewed and will be forwarded to the next available session.
Visiting students and prospective students who have not yet been admitted to the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSc IS) program may be permitted to register in MSc IS courses for which they have the appropriate prerequisites in up to three courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting.

Courses taken as a non-program student can be applied toward the School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) graduate program, if and when a student becomes a program student. Grades on courses completed as a non-program student will be considered in the admission process. However, successful completion of courses as a non-program student does not guarantee admission into a SCIS graduate program.

Non-program application requirements

Non-program students must meet the following application requirements:

• hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science, information systems, or a related area, or
• hold a baccalaureate degree and have significant professional-level experience with information systems (defined as follows: "Experience must be in a role requiring the use of a significant level of IT knowledge where a high level of independent judgment and responsibility are exercised"), or
• hold the Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals (CIPS ISP) designation or equivalent (Canadian IT Professional [CITP] or Certified Computing Professional [CCP] designation).

These requirements must be met by the application deadlines.

Application procedure

Applications for admission as a non-program student to MSc IS are submitted online, including payment of the application fee.

1. Complete the Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies online through the Registrar's Office at Athabasca University.
   
   IMPORTANT: If you have been a student at Athabasca University (AU) or have received an AU student ID number as part of a previous application:
   1. You must first login by clicking the Login link (left-hand side, under the General heading);
   2. Click on Graduate Application and complete the required steps;
   3. Be sure to select “Non-Program Application for the School of Computing and Information System”
   4. You will be required to pay the non-program Application fee if you have not previously been an Athabasca University Student.
2. Proceed to the SCIS Graduate Student Admission System.
3. Select the "School of Computing and Information Systems Non-Program" option to start your non-program application.
   
   Complete all components of the online non-program application. Each component must be finalized.
4. Click on the "Proceed to Final Review" button in the checklist after all components have been completed and submitted. At that point you will no longer have access to view or modify your application.
5. You can make changes or additions to your application at any time prior to the application deadline (and prior to submitting your application for final review). You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through an online Application Checklist.
   
   To check your application status, log into your Portal and click on the link titled "SCIS Graduate Student Admission System".
6. The status of your application will appear as "Under Review" if all steps have been completed and the application has been submitted for final review.
7. If the status of your application appears as "Review Complete", your application has been processed. Click on the link beside your status to review the results of your application.
   
   Track receipt of hard copy documents and the status of your application online through the online Application Checklist. It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of your application package have been received by the application deadline. Allow sufficient time prior to the deadline for receipt of transcripts, credential assessments (if required), and CIPS ISP designation or equivalent.
8. In addition to the online application, you must submit:
   • Copies of your transcripts
   • CIPS ISP designation or equivalent
   • World Education Services (WES) or International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS) (if required)
   Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside North America, documentation attesting to its equivalence to a North American baccalaureate is required. Such documentation can be provided through:
   • NACES - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
     Contact NACES at: naces@ierf.org
   • CICIC - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.
   • AACRAO - American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.
     Contact IES at: (202) 296-3359 or email: ies@aacrao.org
   When requesting an assessment please select the assessment type that includes a description of course work that lists the courses completed towards credential.
   
   Please note that a student's application file will automatically go inactive 12 months after the initial application date, if the student does not proceed with the application process and/or there has not been any contact with the School of Computing and Information Systems.
   
   Ensure that all documentation is directed to:
   
   • Email: fst_grad_success@athabascau.ca
   • Fax: (780) 675-6148
   • Mail:
     
     SCIS Graduate Office
     School of Computing and Information Systems
     Athabasca University
     1 University Drive
     Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
     Canada
   Note: All transcripts, references, test scores, and other documents become the property of Athabasca University and will not be returned to the applicants or forwarded to another program or institution.

Completion requirements

Program completion requirements for the Master of Science in Information Systems are dependent on the student’s academic credentials and professional-level work experience: a recent graduate of a Computer Systems or Information Systems undergraduate program, or an Information Technology (IT) professional with the right combination of academic credentials and work experience, may require as few as 30 credits. Others with less appropriate academic credentials and/or marginal professional-level work experience, may require the maximum of 39 credits.

The minimum and maximum credits for different routes are listed in the following table:

The MSc IS program consists of three components:

Information Systems (IS) foundations

The Information Systems (IS) foundations reflect a minimum level of prerequisite IS knowledge, and are required to prepare students for the IS core. For descriptions of these courses refer to the MScIS Course List.

Information Systems (IS) core

The Information Systems core is a consistent set of information systems core courses offered by all institutions granting similar credentials.

Information Systems (IS) core academic regulations

1. All MSc IS students are required to take COMP 695.
2. MSc IS students who elect the essay route or the project route are required to complete four courses (in addition to COMP 695) from the above core courses. MSc students who elect the thesis route are required to complete two courses (in addition to COMP 695) from the above core courses. The student can choose some of them to complete in consultation with the essay/project/thesis supervisors.
3. The core courses cannot be exempted. The core courses (except COMP 695) may be challenged with the permission of the course coordinators.
4. The student should declare the route (essay route, project route, or thesis route) before registering in the third core course of the program. Students who select the thesis route do not need to take more than three core courses and should know their intended route at this time.
5. The student must complete all core courses before taking electives.

Information Systems (IS) elective courses

1. MSc IS students who elect essay route are required to complete three courses from the following elective courses or the above core courses.
2. MSc IS students who elect project route or thesis route are required to complete one course from the following electives, or the above core courses in consultation with the project/thesis supervisor.
3. MSc IS students who elect thesis route may complete one course from a related discipline from graduate units outside of the school in consultation with his/her thesis supervisor.

Career tracks

After students complete the core, they need to synthesize what they have learned. In the past neither synthesis nor integration was included in the curriculum. Furthermore, system integration is a pervasive aspect of IS practice. For this reason, the program includes an integrating capstone component. Current and emerging concepts and technologies are studied through "career tracks."

These tracks allow students (within the competency and resources of the faculty) to "major" in a specific subject area for which there is demand, or to achieve breadth within a topic area or across a wider scope.

Integration can be viewed from three perspectives. Enterprise integration and integration of the IS function are management perspectives, and will not be pursued in the MSc IS at this time. The integration of IS technologies will be the main approach for MSc IS students, integration courses, or projects. This view concerns the development of an integrated IS enterprise architecture including the evaluation and selection from architectural and platform choices, priorities, and policies, the assessment of the impact of emerging technologies, evaluation of the role of standards, and evaluation of the effect of vendor strategies.

The requirements for the Career Track component of the MSc IS may be met in one of three ways:

1. INTEGRATION PROJECT

This requires completion of the IS foundations and core, a "career track/elective" course, and a project that is considered equivalent in effort to three, three-credit courses. A project supervisor and project sponsor are required, plus one additional reader. This additional reader may be a faculty member or an industry resource person approved by the faculty.

The project should deal with the development of technologies for intra- and inter-organizational systems in the form of an integrated technical architecture (hardware, software, networks, and data) to serve organizational needs in a rapidly changing competitive and technological environment. The project must also satisfy an acceptable combination of the following criteria:

• It deals with a novel exploratory implementation, the results of which will be of some interest to a portion of the IS community.
• It involves novel implementation techniques.
• It involves the implementation of a practical piece of nontrivial software whose availability could have some impact on the IS user community.

Note: MSc IS students who elect the Project route are required to complete the following courses:

• COMP 697 Project I (Proposal Writing)
• COMP 698 Project II (Implementation)
• COMP 699 Project III (Report Writing and Oral Defence)

Project credits

Project credits consist of three, three-credit elements, namely, COMP 697, COMP 698, and COMP 699. These elements are not conventional courses; however, they are treated similarly for administrative purposes.

For descriptions of these courses refer to the MScIS Course List.

2. INTEGRATION ESSAY

The Master’s essay is a single three-credit requirement completed in addition to the foundations, core, and three career track/elective courses. The essay provides a generalist rather than a specialist view, and will be a comprehensive critical survey of aspects of integration (applications, IS organization, and technology). Topics should show how disparate computer platforms and networks can be integrated to provide a flexible and efficient infrastructure for the organization. This course addresses both the "What" and "How" of integration. The essay may identify significant open problems, but it is not expected to contribute significantly to their solution.

An essay supervisor is required, plus one additional reader. In addition to the essay, the student may be required to pass an oral exam on the contents of the Master’s essay, to be administered by the essay supervisor and reader.

Note: COMP 696 Master's Essay is required for students who elect the Essay route.

3. INTEGRATION THESIS

The Master’s thesis is a five three-credit requirement completed in addition to the foundation, three core courses, and one elective course.

The thesis must represent the results of the student's independent work after admission to the program. The proposed topic for the thesis, together with a brief statement outlining the proposed method of treatment, and the arrangement made for faculty supervision must be identified at the beginning of the program study and be approved by the program director. The thesis will be evaluated by the student's supervisor(s), and at least two examiners appointed by the graduate program director, one of whom shall be external to Athabasca University. The additional thesis examiners may be faculty members or industry resource persons approved by the program director.

Note: MSc IS students who elect the Thesis route are required to complete the following courses:

• COMP 676 Thesis I (Proposal Writing)
• COMP 677 Thesis II (Research Stage 1)
• COMP 678 Thesis III (Research Stage 2)
• COMP 679 Thesis IV (Research Stage 3)
• COMP 680 Thesis V (Thesis Writing and Defence)

Thesis credits

Thesis credits consist of five, three-credit elements, namely, COMP 676, COMP 677, COMP 678, COMP 679, and COMP 680. These elements are not conventional courses; however, they are treated similarly for administrative purposes.

For descriptions of these courses refer to the MScIS Course List.

Essay, project, and thesis

Focus areas

A focus area is a subject concentration within the MSc IS program. Students may elect to complete their program with a focus area. Students must declare their selection of focus area with the MSc IS programs office, or on their program application. For focus areas that require some courses delivered by other faculties and centres, students must register with the corresponding faculty and centre, and pass the courses according to the course regulations specified by those faculties and centres.

Focus Areas in the MSc IS program are:

Full- and part-time study

Students may study in the program on a full- or part-time basis. All students must complete a minimum of six credits (two course equivalents) per academic year, i.e., September 1 to August 31.

Residency

To meet the residency requirements, students must complete at least the following through the Athabasca University MSc IS program:

FOUNDATIONS:

COMP 601 (three credits).

CORE:

Two core courses (six credits) = COMP 695 + one core course.

CAREER TRACK:

• The project route consists of COMP 697, COMP 698 and COMP 699.
• The essay route consists of two career track electives and COMP 696.
• The thesis route consists of COMP 676, COMP 677, COMP 678, COMP 679, and COMP 680.

Laddering into the Master of Science in Information Systems

Students who are admitted to the Master of Science in Information Systems after completing one of the graduate certificates—Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Management (GC ITM), Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics (GCDA), Graduate Certificate in Information Security (GC InfoSec)—will be able to transfer completed AU graduate COMP courses towards the MSc IS Program. Courses completed within the certificate will be considered for credit towards the MSc IS if they satisfy the following requirements: The coursework is less than 7 years old at the time of admission to the program. The course satisfies the lowest acceptable grade specified in the MSc IS program regulations. AU graduate courses completed as non-program students will be considered towards the MSc IS. These courses must also be less than 7 years old at the time of admission and must satisfy the lowest acceptable grade.

Letter of permission

Students enrolled in the MSc IS program may take one course from other post-secondary institutions in fulfillment of the three credits towards the career track program requirements, provided such course is applicable to Athabasca University’s MSc IS program.

Students wishing to take a course from other institutions must submit a written request, detailed course outline, and the appropriate Letter of Permission Fee to the Graduate Program Director for review. If approved, the School of Computing and Information Systems will email a Letter of Permission.

To allow mailing time, requests for a Letter of Permission should be made at least one month before the registration deadline at the institution where the student will be taking the course.

Upon completion of the course and in order to receive credit, the student must submit an official transcript to the MSc IS Graduate Program Director.

Program status

To maintain program status, students must complete at least 6 credits of course or essay/project work during each academic year, September 1st to August 31st or January 1st to December 31st depending on when you were admitted to the program.

The lowest acceptable grade for MSc IS courses is B- (70 per cent). Students who receive a grade lower than B- may be required to withdraw from the program.

Time limit

The volatility of the subject matter requires that the degree of MSc IS must be completed within five academic years from the program admission date.

Program extension

If a student is unable to complete the program within the expected maximum number of years for completion, a program extension may be considered. Requests for an extension will be considered only under compelling circumstances.

The maximum length of a program extension is one (1) year. In exceptional circumstances students may reapply if additional time is necessary.

For further information on Program Extension Requests please refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Graduate Handbook.

A program extension (continuation) fee will be paid by the student upon approval of the program extension.

Program deferral

While enrolled in the program there may be situations in which students are temporarily unable to meet the program requirements at that time. One alternative for the student is to request a deferral in order to suspend the program requirements for a period of time. The maximum length of one deferral is one (1) year. In special circumstances, students may reapply for a second year of deferral during their time in their program. For further information on Program Deferral Requests please refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Graduate Handbook.

Focus areas in the MSc IS program are:

Focus on Information Technology Management

Focus on Information Systems Development

Focus on Data Analytics

Focus on Information Security

Focus on Intelligent Systems

Focus on Cloud Computing

Focus on Health Informatics

Focus on Learning Technology

Core courses

The core curriculum is a combination of five (5), three-credit courses that cover the field of computing and information systems. These courses review current knowledge, theory, and practice in computing and information systems. The core provides students with the minimum skills and knowledge that will facilitate their understanding and ability to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, create, and implement information systems. Generally, students should complete all Information Systems (IS) foundations courses before proceeding to the IS core courses. See individual course descriptions for specific prerequisites.

Foundation courses

The IS foundations reflect a minimum level of prerequisite IS knowledge, and are required to prepare students for the IS core.

Elective courses

Elective courses are designed to complement the core curriculum and expand basic knowledge, theory, and practice into areas and issues of individual interest or concern. They allow students to specialize in a particular topic or learn a new set of skills necessary for research and/or practice in information systems. Some elective courses may not be available every year and a growing list of electives will emerge as student and faculty interests change and develop.

Elective courses may be selected from the following areas: Information Systems Technology, Information Systems Management, Information Systems Development, Intelligent Information Systems, e-Services, and Theory of Computing and Information Systems.

Students with specific interests not covered by current course offerings may also work with individual faculty members as a way to fulfill elective requirements. To facilitate this involvement with faculty, students may register in independent study courses. No more than three credits may be earned through independent study.

External electives

With program approval, additional courses may be taken from other Athabasca University graduate programs, space permitting.

Delivery modes

Master of Science in Information Systems (MSc IS) courses are delivered via online grouped study or online individualized study using distance education instructional design principles and enabling web-based technologies:

• Some course materials—textbook(s), CD-ROM, etc.—are sent through the mail.
• Other course materials—study guides, assignments, links to online resources, etc.—are made available through the SCIS servers.
• Courses may have required online components.
• Students work their way through the learning materials and complete assignments at their own pace, and communicate with the instructor, the university, or with other students through the internet.
• Students have access to an instructor, who may be contacted by email. The instructor gives subject matter assistance and discusses scholarly issues, marks assignments, provides feedback, and helps prepare for examinations.
• Concluding examinations (where applicable) can be taken at many post-secondary institutions across Canada and overseas.
• Students are expected to use computer-mediated communications for the following purposes:
  • Instructor and student-to-student interactions in computer conferences,
  • Electronic mail, both within and outside of the course structure,
  • 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 grouped study

A mode of learning involving online study as part of a group, with specific start and end dates. Synchronous communication requirements are generally more central to the learning process than in individualized study courses. In the MSc IS program this delivery mode will be used primarily for courses which have elements of professional practice requiring that students work in various group configurations to complete assignments.

Online grouped study courses in the MSc IS program will be offered during three sessions each year. Refer to Academic Schedule for each session start date. All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted if circumstances warrant.

Online grouped study delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students work with fellow students and instructors on a 13-week timetable.
• Sessions start three times each year: September, January, or April/May.
• Exams, where applicable, are written in the last scheduled week of classes.

Online individualized study

Online individualized study courses begin on the first day of every month. Course registration form and fees must be received at least one month in advance of your intended start date.

Online individualized study courses comprise a self-directed learning environment. Typically, learners are required to:

• follow an outline provided in a Study Guide
• schedule study time to achieve course objectives and complete assignments
• prepare for and complete assignments on time

Online individualized study delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students communicate with their instructor via e-mail, and assignments are submitted via the course website.
• Sessions start the beginning of every month.
• Exams, where applicable, are written on or before the contract end date.
• The course-contract period for individualized study courses is six months.

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

The following MSc IS courses are eligible for extensions:

COMP 501
COMP 503
COMP 504
COMP 602
COMP 617
COMP 667
COMP 676-680
COMP 682
COMP 684
COMP 696
COMP 697-699

Students who cannot complete their course on or before their contract date may apply for an extension by submitting an Extension Request Form and the Extension Fee.

Students may apply for one extension only per course. Requests to extend the contract must be submitted no later than the original contract date. The extension starts on the first day following the original contract date. An extension provides students an additional two months with full instructor support. The schedule for completing the course within the extension period is the responsibility of the student. If the required course work has not been submitted by the end of the extension period, a failing grade will be assigned.

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 less than B- in a 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 withdrawal and refunds

Early withdrawal

(Within 30 days of course start date)

Students may withdraw within 30 days from their course start date for a refund of the full course fee less the withdrawal processing fee. The registration will not appear on the transcript and will be deleted from the official record. Please refer to the refund policy below for further details. Learning resources should not be returned to Athabasca University.

Withdrawal

(After 30 days of course start date)

Students may withdraw from a course before the course end date without academic penalty. A "W" (Withdrawal) will appear on the transcript, which means the student has withdrawn without credit and without penalty. There is no refund, and learning resources should not be returned to Athabasca University. Students will not be able to withdraw from a course without academic penalty in any of the following cases:

• The course has no final exam and all coursework is deemed to have been submitted for marking.
• The course has a final exam and the student has completed the final exam.

Late course withdrawal

If a student does not formally withdraw by the course end date, and does not complete the course, the official record will reflect an "F" (Failure). A grade will be assigned and calculated into the cumulative average. There is no refund, and learning resources should not be returned to Athabasca University.

The course end date is the scheduled end of an independent paced session for grouped study courses and the expiry date of the course contract period for individualized study courses.

We also do not automatically withdraw students and we handle re-enrolment on a case-by-case basis.

Refunds

Students will receive a refund of the full course fees minus the course withdrawal processing fee (refer to MSc IS Fees) if they withdraw from the course within the first month. Students should not return their learning resources. Students wishing to withdraw from a course(s) before the first day of class will receive a full refund providing all materials are returned completely unmarked and able to be reissued to another student.

Grading system

With the exception of the thesis or project, which will be graded on a pass/fail basis, 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.

Projects, breadth essays, courses taken on Letters of Permission, courses for which credit was awarded through Prior Learning Assessment, and courses for which advanced standing was awarded, will be graded on a pass/fail basis.

A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.

The following fees are effective for courses starting September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

¹Master of Science in Information Systems (MSc IS) Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $148 and Course Materials fee of $32 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $13 per credit.

Estimated program tuition cost (2021 - 2022):

The total tuition cost (project or thesis route) for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $22,906 ($1,762 x 13, three-credit course equivalents). AUGSA fees, the Course Administration and Technology fee, and the Course Materials fee are included in the above calculations. Application and admission fees are not included.

Other fees