Master of Science in Information Systems

Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Information Systems (MScIS) 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 internet access.

Currency of academic credentials may be an issue if the candidate has not worked in the information technology field for more than 5 years.

Advanced standing and transfer credit

Advanced standing

Students may be eligible for advanced standing through evaluation of coursework applicable to the MScIS program completed at other post-secondary institutions. Advanced standing is implemented primarily through exemptions from information systems (IS) foundations courses.

Exemptions from information systems (IS) foundations

Flexible entrance requirements are designed to recognize the range of academic credentials held by information technology 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 (3 courses) through this process.

Depending on the upcoming student's credentials, the IS foundations of the MScIS program may be completed in as few as 3 credits (1 course) or may require a maximum of 12 credits (4 courses). That is, to meet the MScIS foundation requirements, a student should complete or get exempted from 3 of the following courses in addition to the mandatory COMP 601:

• COMP 501
• COMP 503
• COMP 504
• COMP 505
• COMP 506
• COMP 507 (course currently in production)
• COMP 508 (course currently in production)

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 MScIS 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%) 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.

Application deadlines

There are 2 program intakes per year. The MScIS office must receive all application materials by March 1 for admission to the program for the Fall semester and by Oct. 1 for consideration to the program for the Winter semester.

Application procedures

Applications for admission to the MScIS program are submitted online, including payment of the application fee.

• Complete the Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies online through the Office of the Registrar 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:
  • You must first log in by clicking the "Login" link (left-hand side, under the "General" heading);
  • Click on "Graduate Application" and complete the required steps:
    • Be sure to select "Application for Master of Science"
    • Then select major “Information Systems"
    • You will be required to pay the MScIS Program Application Fee.
• Proceed to the School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) Graduate Student Admission System.
• Select the "Master of Science - Information Systems (MScIS) option" to start your application. Complete all components of the online MScIS program application. Each component must be finalized.
• 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.
• 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".
• 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 2-week period after the application deadline. Note that telephone confirmation will not be provided.
• 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 Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals (CIPS ISP) designation or equivalent (if applicable).
• 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 Office of the Registrar. Transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s) or through MyCreds™.
  

  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. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
  2. Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC)
  3. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO)
  
  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 MScIS 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 (if applicable)
  • 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 MScIS program status. Where applicable, the supplementary application materials (above) must be received before your application can be processed.

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

Office of the Registrar
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Transfer credit application

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

• Carefully review the transfer credit allowance for the program. You can access the program residency requirements and the program courses from the program regulations.
• 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 MScIS program you are targeting by the transfer.
  • Complete information about the course you have completed (course title and number, institution, and number of credits).
• 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.
• 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 31 for Fall session courses (September to December)
• Nov. 30 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 (MScIS) program may be permitted to register in MScIS courses for which they have the appropriate prerequisites in up to 3 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 an 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 information technology 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 MScIS are submitted online, including payment of the application fee.

1. Complete the Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies online through the Office of the Registrar 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 log in 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 Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals (CIPS ISP) designation or equivalent.
8. In addition to the online application, you must submit:
   • Copies of your transcripts
   • Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals (CIPS ISP) designation or equivalent (if applicable)
   • 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:
   1. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
   2. Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC)
   3. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO)
   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:
     
     Office of the Registrar
     Athabasca University
     1 University Drive
     Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
     Canada

   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.

There are 2 program intakes per year. The MScIS office must receive all application materials by:

• March 1 (for consideration to the program for the Fall session)
• Oct. 1 (for consideration to the program for the Winter session)

Registration to grouped study courses are only available during the following periods:

• Feb. 1 – April 1 (for Spring session)
• June 23 – Aug. 4 (for Fall session)
• Oct. 15 – Nov. 15 (for Winter session)

Individualized-study courses begin on the first day of every month, so registration is ongoing.

Winter 2023
Jan. 9	First day of Winter session grouped-study courses
Feb. 9	Last day for early withdrawals from Winter session grouped-study courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Partial refund.
Feb. 1	Online course registration for Spring session grouped-study courses opens
Feb. 20	Family Day	University closed
March 1	Deadline for receipt of all application documents for admission to the program for Fall 2023 session
March 20	Fall 2023 admission decisions are made and student notifications are sent. Online admissions open.
March 31	Deadline for admissions and fees for Fall 2023
April 1	Online course registration for Spring session grouped-study courses closes
April 7 – 9 (inclusive)	Easter break	University closed
April 9	Last day of Winter session grouped-study courses
Spring 2023
April 30	Deadline to apply for graduation in June. All final grades must be received by the Office of the Registrar, and all program requirements must be completed by this date. Plan ahead. Allow professor at least 10 business days for grading and the Faculty of Science and Technology office 5 business days for processing final grade report(s), in advance of this deadline.
May 1	First day of Spring session grouped-study courses
May 22	Victoria Day	University closed
May 31	Deadline to register for Convocation 2023. (Note: In order to graduate in June, all requirements must be met by April 30. See above.)
June 1	Last day for early withdrawals from Spring session grouped-study courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Partial refund.
June 15 – 17	Convocation 2023. Visit the Convocation website for more information on this virtual event.
June 23	Online course registration for Fall session grouped-study courses opens
July 1	Canada Day	University closed
July 30	Last day of Spring session grouped-study courses
Aug. 4	Online course registration for Fall session grouped-study courses closes
Aug. 7	Heritage Day	University closed

 

Fall 2023
Sept. 4	Labour Day	University closed
Sept. 11	First day of Fall session grouped-study courses
Oct. 1	Deadline for receipt of all application documents for admission to the program for Winter 2024 session.
Oct. 9	Thanksgiving Day	University closed
Oct. 11	Last day for early withdrawals from Fall session grouped-study courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Partial refund.
Oct. 15	Online course registration for Winter session grouped-study courses opens.
Oct. 20	Winter 2024 admission decisions are made and student notifications are sent. Online admissions open.
Oct. 31	Deadline for admissions and fees for Winter 2024
Nov. 13	Remembrance Day (in lieu)	University closed
Nov. 15	Online course registration for Winter session grouped-study courses closes
Dec. 10	Last day of Fall session grouped-study courses
Dec. 23 – Jan. 1	The university will close at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.	University closed

Winter 2024
Jan. 8	First day of Winter session grouped-study courses
Feb. 1	Online course registration for Spring session grouped-study courses opens
Feb. 8	Last day for early withdrawals from Winter session grouped-study courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Partial refund.
Feb. 19	Family Day	University closed
March 1	Deadline for receipt of all application documents for admission to the program for Fall 2024 session
March 20	Fall 2024 admission decisions are made and student notifications are sent. Online admissions open.
March 31	Deadline for admissions and fees for Fall 2024
March 29 – April 1 (inclusive)	Easter break	University closed
April 1	Online course registration for Spring session grouped-study courses closes
April 7	Last day of Winter session grouped-study courses

Spring 2024
April 29	First day of Spring session grouped-study courses
April 30	Deadline to apply for graduation in June. All final grades must be received by the Office of the Registrar, and all program requirements must be completed by this date. Plan ahead. Allow professor at least 10 business days for grading and the Faculty of Science and Technology office 5 business days for processing final grade report(s), in advance of this deadline.
May 20	Victoria Day	University closed
May 29	Last day for early withdrawals from Spring session grouped-study courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Partial refund.
May 31	Deadline to register for Convocation 2024. (Note: In order to graduate in June, all requirements must be met by April 30. See above.)
June TBD	Convocation 2024. Visit the Convocation website for more information on this virtual event.
June 23	Online course registration for Fall session grouped-study courses opens
July 1	Canada Day	University closed
July 28	Last day of Spring session grouped-study courses
Aug. 4	Online course registration for Fall session grouped-study courses closes
Aug. 5	Heritage Day	University closed

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 fewer 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 MScIS program consists of 3 components:

1. Information systems foundations

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

2. Information systems core

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

Core academic regulations

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

3. Elective courses

• MScIS students who elect the essay route are required to complete 3 courses from the following elective courses or the previously-noted core courses.
• MScIS students who elect the project or thesis route are required to complete 1 course from the following electives, or the previously-noted core courses in consultation with the project/thesis supervisor.
• MScIS students who elect the thesis route may complete 1 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 information systems 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 achieve breadth within a topic area or across a wider scope.

Integration can be viewed from 3 perspectives. Enterprise integration and integration of the information systems function are management perspectives and will not be pursued in the MScIS at this time. The integration of information systems technologies will be the main approach for MScIS students, integration courses, or projects. This view concerns the development of an integrated information systems 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 MScIS may be met in 1 of 3 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 3-credit courses. A project supervisor and project sponsor are required, plus 1 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.

Project credits

Project credits consist of three 3-credit elements, namely, COMP 697, COMP 698, and COMP 699. These elements are not conventional courses; however, they are treated similarly for administrative purposes.

2. Integration essay

The master’s essay is a single 3-credit requirement completed in addition to the foundations, core, and 3 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 1 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.

3. Integration thesis

The master’s thesis is a five 3-credit requirement completed in addition to the foundation, 3 core courses, and 1 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 2 examiners appointed by the graduate program director, 1 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: MScIS 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 3-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.

Essay, project, and thesis

Focus areas

A focus area is a subject concentration within the MScIS program. Students may elect to complete their program with a focus area. Students must declare their selection of focus area with the MScIS 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 MScIS program are:

• Information Technology Management
• Information Systems Development
• Data Analytics
• Information Security
• Intelligence Systems
• Cloud Computing
• Health Informatics
• Learning Technology

More details can be found under the Focus areas section.

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., Sep. 1 to Aug. 31.

Residency

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

Foundations

COMP 601 (3 credits)

Core

Two core courses (6 credits) = COMP 695 + 1 core course.

Career track

• The project route consists of COMP 697, COMP 698, and COMP 699.
• The essay route consists of 2 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 1 of the graduate certificates—Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Management, Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics, Graduate Certificate in Information Security—will be able to transfer completed AU graduate COMP courses towards the MScIS program. Courses completed within the certificate will be considered for credit towards the MScIS 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 MScIS program regulations.

AU graduate courses completed as non-program students will be considered towards the MScIS. 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 MScIS program may take 1 course from other post-secondary institutions in fulfillment of the 3 credits towards the career track program requirements, provided the course is applicable to Athabasca University’s MScIS 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 1 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 MScIS 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, Sep. 1 to Aug. 31 or Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 depending on when you were admitted to the program.

The lowest acceptable grade for MScIS courses is B- (70%). 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 MScIS must be completed within 5 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 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 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 1 deferral is 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 MScIS program are:

1. Information Technology Management

2. Information Systems Development

3. Data Analytics

4. Information Security

5. Intelligent Systems

6. Cloud Computing

7. Health Informatics

8. Learning Technology

Core courses

The core curriculum is a combination of five 3-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 3 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 (MScIS) 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 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) digital libraries).

Online grouped study

This is 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. 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 delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students work with fellow students and instructors on a 13-week timetable.
• Sessions start 3 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 1 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 6 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 MScIS 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 1 extension only per course. The extension starts on the first day following the original course contract end date. An extension provides students an additional 2 months with full instructor support. The schedule for completing the course within the extension period is the responsibility of the student. If the required coursework has not been submitted by the end of the extension period, a failing grade will be assigned.

Non-funded students

Course extension requests must be submitted no later than the original contract end date.

Funded students

Full-time funded students are expected to successfully complete their courses within the 4-month funded term.

Course extension requests for student aid-funded courses must be received 1 month before the course ends date.

Course extensions should be used with caution as government funding agency regulations take precedence over related AU policies.

Course extensions do not extend full- or part-time status or funding eligibility.

Re-registration

Students are allowed only 1 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 MScIS 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 information about academic records on the Office of the Registrar site 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 Sep. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST 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 (MScIS) course tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology Fee of $158 and Course Materials Fee of $33 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) Fee of $13 per credit.

Estimated program tuition cost (2022 - 2023)

The total tuition cost (project or thesis route) for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $24,453 ($1,881 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

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 Sep. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST 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 (MScIS) course tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology Fee of $167 and Course Materials Fee of $35 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) Fee of $13 per credit.

Estimated program tuition cost (2023 - 2024)

The total tuition cost (project or thesis route) for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $25,779 ($1,983 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