Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education*

Applicants to the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education (MEd) program must hold a baccalaureate degree (three or four years) from a recognized post-secondary education institution.

If the potential applicant does not have a degree, but believes their 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.

Advance standing or transfer credit

Some students may have completed graduate level course work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the MEd program.

After being admitted to the MEd program, students may request a review of such course work. A faculty committee will review the work to determine whether the student should be awarded advance standing or transfer credit in the MEd program.

See Course Regulations and Procedures for more information.

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.

Application procedures

1. Complete and submit the online MEd Application form along with the electronic application fee. Please use the form MEd Application to complete and submit your application.
   
   For applicants who have previously received an Athabasca University (AU) student ID number, please note: you will need to "Login" using your AU student ID number before completing the form.
2. Complete and submit the Questionnaire. This form and the accompanying forms (see below) can be downloaded.
3. Submit an up-to-date résumé.
4. Complete and submit the Record Card.
5. Submit official transcripts* directly from an accredited institution showing the granting of a baccalaureate degree.
   
   Transcripts should be sent to:
   
   Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Graduate programs
   Distance Education
   Athabasca University
   1 University Drive
   Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
   Canada
   
   *Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English or French must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada and the US, documentation attesting to its equivalence to a Canadian baccalaureate degree is required. Such documentation can be obtained from an assessment agency that is a member of:
   
   ACESC – Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada
   
   or
   
   NACES – National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
   naces@ierf.org
   
   When requesting an assessment please select the "Basic" assessment type that simply indicates the North American equivalent of your degree. The credential assessment agency will assess each student's international educational documents and compare them to educational credentials in Canada.
   
   All assessments, regardless of the agency used, must be completed using original documents or certified copies—official documents issued directly from the sending institution are preferred. Students must also submit copies of all foreign transcripts used in the assessment to AU. Please note, AU reserves the right to request that official documents be sent directly from the institution to AU.
6. Submit two Letters of Recommendation; including one from someone who is familiar with the applicant’s academic skills. Applicants may download the Reference Template to send to the referees. Additional letters may be requested by the admissions committee.
   
   It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify their 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. The applicant, upon request, may view the information. Contact the MEd Program Director for more information.

Non-program student status

Individuals who are not enrolled in an AU Distance Education program are permitted to register as non-program students in individual courses, space permitting.

New non-program students must complete and submit the Distance Education non-program student application form and fee (non-refundable), if applicable. This fee is required only once and is waived if previously an AU student.

Courses taken as a non-program student may also be applied towards Distance Education program degree requirements according to program regulations, if and when the student becomes a program student. The University is under no obligation to admit non-program students into AU Distance Education programs.

For more information on non-program status, contact the Distance Education office.

Non-program student course registration

Distance Education program students are given priority for course registration in each term. Non-program student registrations are then accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Course registrations are accepted up until two weeks prior to the course start date. Please email the Distance Education office to confirm space in the MDDE course you are interested in and to receive the necessary manual course registration forms.

Refer to Course Regulations and Procedures for all other course-related information.

Completion time limits

Students may study in the program on a full- or part-time basis. The degree can be completed in 2 years, or extended over 6 years, from the program start date. The expected normal completion time is 3 to 4 years.

Program delivery

The program is offered during three semesters each year. Each semester is 13 weeks in length.

All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted, if circumstances warrant (refer to Course Regulations and Procedures).

Program status

To maintain program status, students must complete 6 credits of course or thesis work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31).

In core courses, the lowest acceptable grade is B-. Students who receive a grade lower than B-, or receive more than one grade of B- or lower, may be required to withdraw from the program.

In elective courses, the lowest acceptable grade is C+. Students who receive a grade lower than C+, or receive more than one grade of C+ or lower, may be required to withdraw from the program.

Residency

Students may transfer a maximum of four courses (12 credits) into the MEd program.

To meet the residency requirements:

1. for the Thesis Route, students must complete a minimum of three courses (nine credits) from the core curriculum and complete the thesis through Athabasca University.
2. for the Course-based Route, students must complete a minimum of three courses (nine credits) from the core curriculum, a minimum of three elective courses (9 credits) through Athabasca University, and successfully complete MDDE 694: Capstone e-Portfolio Project.

Program requirements

Thirty-three credits are required to complete the MEd program. These credits can be earned in one of two ways.

1. Thesis Route: The curriculum requirement for the thesis route consists of five core courses, two elective courses, and 12 credits of thesis work. Normally, students will register in thesis credit after completion of the core courses.
   
   For those individuals pursuing the thesis route, a thesis (12 credits) provides an opportunity for investigating a novel question or synthesizing/applying what has been learned in the course work. Students must register in MDDE 700, MDDE 701 or 702, MDDE 703, and MDDE 704, as they proceed to complete the thesis requirements.
2. Course-based Route: The curriculum requirement for the course-based route consists of five core courses, five elective courses and MDDE 694 – Capstone e-Portfolio Project.

Students pursuing the course-based route are required to complete a 3-credit capstone e-portfolio project as their final course, providing an opportunity to develop a high quality, comprehensive e-portfolio and to conduct an oral defense of that product. Students must register in MDDE 694 once they have completed all their core and elective courses, or are currently completing their final course.

Students can also choose to pursue focus areas for either the thesis or course-based routes in: Instructional Design, Leadership in Education, Mobile Learning, and K-12 Blended and Online Learning.

Core curriculum

The core curriculum is an integrated arrangement of courses covering the field of distance education and training. The five core courses (15 credits) review current knowledge, theory, and practice in distance education and training.

For all MEd program students, MDDE 601 and MDDE 602 must be taken before any other program courses, either concurrently or consecutively.

Students must also take MDDE 603, either MDDE 604 or MDDE 605, and either MDDE 610 or MDDE 620 to complete their core course requirements. The courses not chosen to meet the core course requirements can be used to meet the elective requirements.

The core courses provide students with the skills and knowledge that will facilitate their understanding and ability to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, create, and implement distance education and training courses, programs, and systems. Core courses in the MEd are normally offered three times a year.

Core courses

Elective curriculum

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. These courses allow students to specialize in particular topics or learn new sets of skills necessary for research and practice in distance education and training. Normally, elective courses may be taken concurrently with core courses.

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

* Elective courses listed above with an asterisk may be used to fulfill the technology core course requirement.

Thesis courses

Students who pursue the thesis program route are required to complete four, 3-credit thesis courses:

Prior to registration in a thesis course, it is important for students to ensure that they have spoken with the MEd thesis advisor about their program and thesis plan. The MDDE 704 thesis course must be registered for manually through the Distance Education office. Normally, students will register in a thesis course after completion of all core course work and electives.

Students who have successfully completed MDDE 700, MDDE 701 or 702, and/or MDDE 703, but decide to opt out of the thesis route, can choose to pursue the course-based route by contacting the Distance Education office.

Students choosing the thesis route should familiarize themselves with the Master's level thesis regulations outlined in the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

MEd focus areas

Students are strongly advised to contact the Distance Education office for assistance and for advice on planning their studies. To qualify for a focus area, students must declare their selection with the MEd Program Administrator. Students must also complete all core and prescribed electives for either the course-based or thesis route of the focus area they are pursuing.

Leadership in Education

Instructional Design

Mobile Learning

K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Program withdrawal

Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the program director. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following the application procedures. Students requesting re-admission to the program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration.

Focus areas

• Leadership in Education
• Instructional Design
• Mobile Learning
• K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Students are strongly advised to contact the Distance Education office for assistance and for advice on planning their studies.

To qualify for a focus area, students must complete all core and prescribed electives for either the course-based or thesis routes, as well as declare their selection with the MEd Program Administrator.

To pursue the course-based route in a focus area, students are required to complete the five core courses, in addition to five 3-credit electives and the final MDDE 694 E-Portfolio Capstone Project.

To pursue the thesis route in a focus area, students are required to complete the five core courses, in addition to two 3-credit electives and the four thesis courses (MDDE 700, MDDE 701 or MDDE 702, MDDE 703, MDDE 704).

Focus area: Leadership in Education: Course-Based Route

Focus area: Leadership in Education: Thesis Route

Focus area: Instructional Design: Course-Based Route

Focus area: Instructional Design: Thesis Route

Thesis Route

Focus area: Mobile Learning: Course-Based Route

Focus area: Mobile Learning: Thesis Route

Focus area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning: Course-Based Route

Focus area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning: Thesis Route

MDDE courses

Courses are designed to encourage self-study either at home or in the workplace. Students will be supplied with basic course materials, if required, and access to a course website for each course. Students are also expected to use computer mediated communications for the following purposes:

• instructor and student-to-student interactions in computer conferences;
• email, 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 electronic databases (for example, Athabasca University's Library).

Advance standing or transfer credit

Students may have completed graduate-level course work at other post-secondary institutions that may be applicable to their program. After admission, students may request a review of such course work. A faculty committee will review the work to determine whether the student should be awarded Transfer Credit or Advance Standing toward the program.

Students will not be awarded credit for courses previously used towards another credential.

Students wishing to request transfer credit or advance standing must submit the following information to the Program Director:

• a written request outlining how the course(s) fulfill a program requirement;
• detailed course outline(s)/syllabi, including assignment descriptions;
• Official Transcripts; and,
• Transfer Credit Evaluation Fee.

Letter of permission

Students enrolled in a Distance Education program may take courses from other post-secondary institutions in fulfillment of their program requirements, provided such courses are applicable to their program.

Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must submit the following information to the Program Director for review:

• a Letter of Permission Request Form and applicable fee;
• a written request outlining how the course fulfills a program requirement, and;
• detailed course outline(s)/syllabi, including assignment descriptions.

If approved, the Distance Education office will issue a Letter of Permission. To allow for processing 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, the student must submit an official transcript to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Distance Education office in order to obtain credit for the course.

Program student course registration

Once enrolled, students will be permitted to register in MDDE courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting. Program students are encouraged to register for their courses online.

Course extensions

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students may be granted a short informal course extension. Students taking courses in a Distance Education program (i.e. courses beginning with the prefix MDDE or EDDE) may submit assignments up to 30 days after the last day of the course upon approval of the instructor.

A Course Extension is required to submit assignments after that date. Course Extensions for a period of up to 50 days may be granted upon approval of the instructor or Program Director and payment of the Course Extension Fee. Courses not completed within 90 days of the final day of the course may receive a grade of "F".

Re-registration

Students may not re-register in a course for which they have received a passing grade.

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;
• received more than one final grade of C+ or lower in an elective course; or
• withdrawn from the course in good standing.

In re-registering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee.

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

Course withdrawal

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 Course Refunds 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.

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). There is no refund, and learning resources should not be returned to Athabasca University.

Course refunds

Students will receive a refund of the full course tuition fee minus the course withdrawal processing fee if they withdraw from the course within the first month. Students should not return their course materials. Students wishing to withdraw from a course(s) before the first day of class will receive a partial refund (full tuition fee minus the withdrawal processing fee).

Grading system

With the exception of MDDE 694, 695, 700, 701, 702, 703, and 704, which will be graded on a pass/fail basis, all courses will be graded using the Alpha/4.0 grading scale. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.

Estimated program tuition cost (2024-2025)

The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $21,725 ($1,975 x 11, three-credit course equivalents). The AUGSA fees, Course Administration and Technology fee, and Course Materials fee are included in the above calculation. Application and admission fees are not.