viewbook - Athabasca University · programs are wide open — simply apply and get started whenever you like. Both the undergraduate and graduate business degrees at AU are recognized

viewbook

2 Welcome to the Future of Learning An Introduction to AU

4 Arts Humanities, Social Sciences & Professional Arts Alumni Story: Megan Fertig (BPA, Human Services)

10 Business Commerce, Management & Administration Alumni Story: Blaine Zuk (MBA, Project Management)

16 Education Distance Education, Instructional Design & Inclusive Education Alumni Story: Marguerite Koole (MEd, Distance Education)

Contents

22 Health Care Nursing, Counselling & Health Studies Alumni Story: Kathleen Soltys (BN: Post-RN; Master of Health Studies)

28 Science Technology, Computing & Architecture Alumni Story: Will Chang (MSc, Information Systems)

34 Getting Started Admission, Fees & Contact Information

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Your Quick Guide to AU

This viewbook is your quick guide to Athabasca University — what makes us different than most universities and how we can help you get wherever you want to go in life.

In these pages you’ll get an overview of the huge array of programs we offer in five areas of study: arts, business, education, health care and science. You’ll meet some of our professors and some of our alumni, and you’ll discover how AU degrees helped these alumni get where they wanted to go. As you’ll see from their stories, AU can help you advance your career no matter what stage it’s at, and you won’t have to put your life on hold to do it.

AU’s History

AU was founded in 1970 and is one of four publicly funded comprehensive universities in Alberta. We were the first university in Canada to focus on opening up learning opportunities for students through distance education.

With the rise of the Internet, we moved online, and now we’re a leading online distance education university focused on the future of learning. We’re taking advantage of new techniques and technology to offer a wide variety of courses and programs to over 40,000 students everywhere, all over the world.

Welcome to the Future of Learning

What Makes AU Different

At AU, we believe everyone should have equal, open access to education, because education has the power to transform people’s lives. We’ve made it our mission to remove barriers to education so that students can pursue university studies regardless of their location, age, income, culture, work and family responsibilities, educational background and other personal circumstances.

The result is a remarkably flexible yet rigorous, excellent university experience.

We’re Ready When You Are

Whether you want to take a single 3-credit undergraduate course, turn your college diploma into a bachelor’s degree or complete a graduate degree, we can help. We’re open for these educational routes and many others including university certificates, diplomas and courses that allow you to learn at your own pace.

And with hundreds of courses beginning on the first day of every month of the year, you can get started with AU whenever you like.

I was able to earn my degree at home, with my family, on vacation… It was amazing.

Kathleen SoltysBachelor of Nursing: Post-RN (1995)Master of Health Studies (2001)

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Mike Gismondi (PhD)Professor, Social Sciences

Arts

Humanities, Social Sciences & Professional Arts

My role is to engage students just like a classroom professor, but I’m not live in the room with you… although I do try to be lively.

Mike Gismondi (PhD)Professor, Social Sciences

(Previous page) Mike’s research on sustainability delves into local grassroots social economy projects, exploring how to scale out and scale up their successes. To find out how the tomato ties in, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/gismondi

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In the humanities and social sciences, you’ll broaden your horizons with subjects that run from art history to Indigenous studies to political science. There’s no better way to discover where your true passions lie while at the same time honing analytical, learning and research skills that you can use in a myriad of professions.

If you already hold a diploma in communications, criminal justice, governance, human resources, human services or another related field, you might be able to transfer this past education into an AU post-diploma degree. These degrees expand your professional knowledge and develop your potential to move into more senior positions.

At the undergraduate level, how fast you study is up to you. Most courses are self-paced, which means you complete the course as quickly or as slowly as you like as long as it’s within a six-month period.

At the graduate level, AU offers a highly customizable master’s degree in arts that gives you the freedom to create a program of study specific to your academic interests. There’s also a diploma in heritage resources management and a diploma in legislative drafting that AU offers in partnership with the Legal Education Society of Alberta.

Arts

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF ARTS Anthropology Canadian Studies English French Global Studies History Humanities Information Systems Labour Studies Political Economy Political Science Psychology Public Administration Sociology Women’s & Gender Studies

BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES Applied Studies Arts & Science

BACHELOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES & LABOUR RELATIONS

BACHELOR OF PROFESSIONAL ARTS Communication Studies Criminal Justice Governance, Law & Management Human Services

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE Career Development English Language Studies French Language Proficiency Heritage Resources Management Human Resources & Labour Relations Labour Studies Public Administration

UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA Arts

Graduate Programs

MASTER OF ARTS - INTEGRATED STUDIES Community Studies Cultural Studies Equity Studies Global Change Independent Track Literary Studies Work, Organization & Leadership

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA Heritage Resources Management Legislative Drafting

Other Programs

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION English Language Proficiency

For people who need to improve their English skills for university studies.

Arts

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Megan FertigBachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services (2012)

I decided to take one course at a time and power through it in a month, and I was able to finish my degree in under three years.

Before AUMegan had gone to college and was working as an educational assistant at a public school. “Although I loved my job, I knew there was no room for advancement,” she says. “I wanted something more for myself.”

So Megan enrolled in AU’s human services degree, which prepares people for more senior roles in child and youth care, social services and other related fields. Because it’s a post-diploma degree, and she’d completed a college diploma that AU accepted for transfer, she was halfway through her degree when she started taking AU courses.

During AUAU’s undergraduate courses are self-paced, meaning students can complete them more quickly than the traditional four months if they’re up to the challenge. Megan was — she took a break from full-time work and charged through one course a month.

After AU“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have my degree,” she says. “And now I feel like I can accomplish anything.” To find out how Megan’s career has changed, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/fertig

Megan FertigBachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services (2012)

(Previous page) Megan can often be found on the trails with her little buddy Callie.

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Anshuman Khare (PhD)Professor, Operations Management

Commerce,Management & Administration

Business

I enjoy the online interaction with students around the world. I think you’re better able to appreciate the challenges for businesses, especially in a global context.

Anshuman Khare (PhD)Professor, Operations Management

(Previous page) Sustainable mobility is a theme of Anshuman’s career. He’s researched urban transportation and managed projects involving some of the biggest vehicles in the world. To find out what those vehicles are, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/khare

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Whether you’re looking for a business degree, a certificate or a few courses to move your career to the next level, AU can help you get wherever you want to go in the world of business. And if you have a relevant diploma from another institution, you may be able to transfer your courses and turn your diploma into an AU degree.

Unlike undergraduate business programs at more traditional universities where students have to compete for limited space, AU’s undergraduate programs are wide open — simply apply and get started whenever you like.

Both the undergraduate and graduate business degrees at AU are recognized around the world for their excellence and innovation.

The Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting is accredited by CMA Canada, which gives students in this program a head start on earning a professional designation in accounting. The MBA was the world’s first fully interactive online MBA and offers students the chance to learn not just from AU faculty but also from classmates working in all kinds of sectors all over the globe. And the recently launched Doctorate of Business Administration is the first online doctoral business degree in Canada, filling an important niche role for management professionals.

Business

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE Accounting e-Commerce Finance

BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT Human Resources Management Indigenous Nations & Organizations Marketing

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE Accounting Advanced Accounting Computers & Management

Information Systems e-Commerce Finance Management Applications

Management Foundations Marketing

Graduate Programs

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

DOCTORATE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA Management

Other Programs

Leadership & Management Development Four-week online professional development courses.

Business

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Blaine ZukMBA in Project Management (2011)

My degree’s opened a lot of doors for me — and more possibilities than I could imagine.

Before AUBlaine had parlayed his expertise in biomedical electronics into a successful career managing IT projects. But he felt his career was stalling. When his manager suggested he earn an MBA, he was game, but nervous about doing a degree online while working full-time.

During AUThe MBA meant many late nights of homework, but Blaine quickly realized he could do it. And even though he was often studying from his hobby ranch in the country, he was far from alone. He and his classmates formed close ties as they chatted online.

After AU“We grads walk around with a bit of chest-beating at times,” Blaine says with a smile. “Anybody going through convocation, they have a big grin on their face — they’re proud of what they’ve done.”

“As far as how the MBA advanced my career, I moved out of my old role in IT management and into the consulting role,” he says. “I have a wider selection of knowledge to pull from, and I’m at a salary where I really wanted to be.” He also received a few benefits from the MBA that he didn’t expect. To find out what those were, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/zuk

(Previous page) Thanks to the Internet tower in his pasture, Blaine had full access to AU from his hobby ranch.

Blaine ZukMBA in Project Management (2011)

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Marti Cleveland-Innes (PhD)Chair, AU Centre for Distance Education

Distance Education, Instructional Design & Inclusive Education

(Previous page) Marti’s work in higher education spans three decades and includes program development, curriculum design and extensive research. To find out why her research takes her to Sweden, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/cleveland-innes

Education

Our most valuable contribution in the Centre for Distance Education is creating education interventions that solve social problems.

Marti Cleveland-Innes (PhD)Chair, AU Centre for Distance Education

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In AU’s graduate programs in distance education, we teach other educators how to do what we do best: develop, design and deliver excellent, rigorous and pedagogically sound courses online and at a distance to students everywhere.

As a university that specializes in online distance learning, our programs in this area are some of our flagships. Created and taught by faculty who are renowned around the world for their expertise and research records in distance education, these programs include graduate-level certificates and diplomas in instructional design and technology-

based learning and a master’s degree in distance education that was one of the first online degrees in education in the 1990s. More recently, AU launched the Doctor of Education in Distance Education, the first degree of its kind in North America and one that provides further evidence of AU’s global leadership in distance learning innovation.

AU also offers courses in inclusive education for teachers who wish to enhance their credentials for working with students with special needs. These courses can add up to a university diploma or a minor in an AU Bachelor of Arts degree.

Education

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF ARTS Inclusive Education

UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA Inclusive Education

Graduate Programs

MASTER OF ARTS – INTEGRATED STUDIES Adult Education Educational Studies

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE Instructional Design Technology-Based Learning

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA Distance Education Technology Instructional Design

Education

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Marguerite Koole (PhD)Master of Education in Distance Education (2006)

When I started my PhD, I felt completely prepared. That’s quite important — that tells me my AU master’s degree was a strong academic experience.

Before AUMarguerite was drawn to AU when she was looking for courses in educational technology, or edtech as it’s now often called. She says she was won over by AU because she could study online and wouldn’t have to quit her job.

During AUShe enjoyed her first edtech course, so she enrolled in AU’s post-baccalaureate diploma in the field. “After I finished the diploma, I thought, ‘Okay, I’m halfway to the master’s — so I went on to the master’s degree,” she says.

… And Still With AUMarguerite has made the transition from student to instructor in AU’s Centre for Distance Education. She’s also an instructional media analyst, working on the technical side of course development, and has earned a PhD from Lancaster University.

When it comes to her work at AU, “I feel like what I do matters,” she says. “I’m blessed with being able to work with students, and they feed my intellectual curiosity.” To learn more about Marguerite and her framework for developing mobile education, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/koole

(Previous page) Marguerite likes to do yoga in her spare time, and she wakes up with dark roasted coffee.

Marguerite Koole (PhD)Master of Education in Distance Education (2006)

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Jeff Vallance (PhD)Associate Professor, Nursing & Health Studies

I love exploring research questions and getting the findings out to the public.

Jeff Vallance (PhD)Associate Professor, Nursing & Health StudiesCanada Research Chair in Health Promotion& Chronic Disease Management

Nursing, Counselling & Health Studies

Health Care

(Previous page) Before Jeff focused his research on the benefits of physical activity, he did a master’s thesis involving the mental aspects of one of his favourite sports, hockey. To find out more about this research and his current research, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/vallance

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Highly skilled health care professionals are in high demand. AU can help you meet that demand by advancing your skills in whatever field of health care you work in, and you can stay on the job while you do it.

Whether you’re a licensed practical nurse (LPN)or a registered nurse (RN), an administrator in health care or a health care technician, AU has an undergraduate program that will build off your credentials, enhance your knowledge and improve your qualifications.

At the graduate level, AU offers pathways for health care professionals from various fields to advance their careers even further. Graduate studies in nursing enable nurses to become nurse practitioners (NPs), while graduate studies in counselling prepare students to become professional counsellors with specializations in art therapy or counselling psychology.

And for those who come from other health care fields such as physiotherapy and dietetics, the master’s degree in health studies will help you sharpen competencies necessary for serving in leadership roles, managing organizational change and contributing to research and policy.

Health Care

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

BACHELOR OF NURSING Post-LPN Post-RN

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Human Science

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE Counselling Women

UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA Health Administration

Graduate Programs

MASTER OF COUNSELLING Art Therapy Counselling Psychology

MASTER OF HEALTH STUDIES MASTER OF NURSING Generalist Nurse Practitioner

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA Counselling

POST-MASTER’S CERTIFICATE Counselling

POST-MASTER’S DIPLOMA Nurse Practitioner

Health Care

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Kathleen SoltysBachelor of Nursing: Post-RN (1995)Master of Health Studies (2001)

I could see the difference between a nurse who had a diploma and one who had a degree, and I knew I wanted to have that difference.

Before AUWhen Kathleen’s first son was born, she was living in a quiet rural town, working half-time and aspiring to a degree in nursing. “I couldn’t have gotten more education any other way than AU,” she says.

During AUAfter earning AU’s post-RN degree, she embarked on the university’s new-at-the-time graduate nursing courses. In 2001, she was in the first grad class for AU’s Master of Health Studies and also became the manager for Edmonton’s Sexual Assault Response Team.

After AUIn 2013, Kathleen received a major award from CARNA for her work with this team. Meanwhile, her full-time job is actually managing immunization. When the H1N1 flu was at its peak in 2009, she oversaw the work of more than 1,200 people.

She attributes AU with helping her to develop solid managerial skills. For example, the groupwork she did helped her to excel at working in teams who can’t always meet up in person. For more on her journey and how AU even helped her learn how to ignore bears, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/soltys

(Previous page) In the summer Kathleen is often at the family cabin, where the lake is just a few steps away.

Kathleen SoltysBachelor of Nursing: Post-RN (1995)Master of Health Studies (2001)

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Frédérique Pivot (PhD)Assistant Professor, Physical Geography

Technology, Computing & Architecture

(Previous page) Frédérique is one of the first researchers in her field to collect data with radio-controlled planes such as this one. To find out what data she’s collecting and why, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/pivot

Science

I aspire to share my passion for my discipline with students. And I enjoy very much my own journey as a scientist at AU.

Frédérique Pivot (PhD)Assistant Professor, Physical Geography

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With courses in everything from astrophysics to game development to human physiology to all manner of areas within computing, countless facets of science intersect in AU’s science and technology curriculum.

Whatever you choose to study, the skills and knowledge you acquire will be invaluable for careers in areas such as health care technology, research and development, programming, system administration, IT management and much more. And if you’ve already completed a relevant diploma, you might receive up to 60 credits towards our Bachelor of Science, which would put you halfway through the degree.

At the undergraduate level, AU has recently introduced a university certificate that gets students started in game development, design and programming. The certificate includes bridging courses for students with no computing background.

At the graduate level, new credentials include a diploma in architecture and a certificate in IT management. The architecture diploma, offered in partnership with Architecture Canada | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, is the first online university-level architectural program in Canada, while the IT certificate provides professional development for managers and other professionals already working in IT. The 12-credit IT certificate can be a stand-alone credential, or it can ladder into AU’s Master of Science in Information Systems.

Science

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES Arts & Science

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Computing & Information Systems Human Science

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE Computing & Information Systems Game Development & Programming

Graduate Programs

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE Data Analytics Information Technology Management

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA Architecture

Science

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Will ChangMaster of Science in Information Systems (2013)

My favourite thing about AU was the flexibility. I could log into the school portal anytime, and I was never stuck in a classroom.

Before AUWill came to AU by way of a joint program between AU and a university in his native country of Taiwan. He’d always wanted to move to Canada and start a life here, so that’s what he did, completing his master’s online and full-time in Alberta.

During AUFor his thesis, he built an app that teaches users about the Alberta Legislature with location-based learning. “Depending on what legislature location or object you point your phone camera at, your phone shows you different information tailored to your learning background,” he says.

After AULooking back, Will counts himself lucky that he received two major scholarships. One was a travel scholarship from AU that paid his way to Tunisia to present research at his first ever international conference.

AU staff also helped him obtain a work permit so he could get a part-time job with Apple. Once he graduated, he went full-time at Apple and was promoted. “I’m living my career dream right now!” he says. For more on Will, including how both AU and the TV show Friends helped him learn English, go to:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/chang

(Previous page) Will says 29-cent chicken wings at Brewsters fuelled many late-night Tuesdays of studying.

Will ChangMaster of Science in Information Systems (2013)

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Admission Requirements

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIESBecause our mission is to reduce barriers to university education, we have very open admission requirements. In fact, for undergraduate studies, we have only one requirement: you must be at least 16 years old.

However, many courses have prerequisites to ensure you have the background you need to be successful. Prerequisites are listed on our course syllabi, which you can find at:

athabascau.ca/course

Our undergraduate post-diploma degrees require you to complete an AU-approved diploma from a college or technical institute before you enrol. The good news is your diploma may count for as much as two-thirds of your degree, leaving you with just a few courses to complete.

GRADUATE STUDIESGraduate programs have additional admission requirements. To learn more about the requirements for a specific graduate program, visit the program’s website. You can find all graduate program websites at:

athabascau.ca/programs/graduate

Getting Started

Fees & Tuition

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES After paying your initial application fee, there are no program-specific costs for undergraduate programs. Simply pay for courses as you register for them. Working through a program one course at a time is a way to keep the cost manageable, and that’s what many of our students do.

The cost of a typical 3-credit undergraduate course varies depending on where you live, but it always covers your tuition, textbooks, any other required learning resources and access to student support services. To get an estimate of how much an undergraduate course will cost for you, try our course fee calculator at:

everywhere.athabascau.ca/start

To estimate the total cost for an undergraduate program, use the course fee calculator to find out what a typical 3-credit course will cost you. Then, multiply that dollar figure by the number of courses you’ll need to complete for your program.

GRADUATE STUDIESCosts for graduate courses vary depending on the program. It’s best to check with the graduate program you’re interested in to confirm fees. You can find all graduate program websites at:

athabascau.ca/programs/graduate

Getting Started

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When Courses Start

Most undergraduate courses start year-round, every month of the year. Graduate courses typically run on a more traditional semester schedule.

How to Apply

To become an AU student, simply visit everywhere.athabascau.ca/start and fill out either the undergraduate or graduate application form depending on which level of study you wish to pursue. You’ll be required to pay a one-time application fee.

You can choose to enrol in a program or take courses as an unclassified student.

Questions? Contact Us

1.800.788.9041 (Toll-free Canada/U.S.) 1.780.675.6100 (International) everywhere.athabascau.ca/startathabascau.ca/contact

Academic Calendarscalendar.athabascau.ca/undergradcalendar.athabascau.ca/grad

Undergraduate Course Fee Calculator & Transfer Credit Assessment Tooleverywhere.athabascau.ca/start

Prior Learning Assessment & Recognitionprior-learning.athabascau.ca

When & How to Apply

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