Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology

Applicants to the Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology (GDDET) 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 that 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 GDDET program.

After being admitted to the GDDET 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 GDDET 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 deadline

There are three Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology (GDDET) program intakes per year. The Distance Education office must receive all program application materials by:

• January 15 for a course start date in spring of the same year
• May 15 for a course start date in fall of the same year
• September 15 for a course start date in winter of the following year

Application procedures

1. Complete and submit the online GDDET Application form (if you haven't already done so), along with the electronic application fee. Please use the form GDDET 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. Supply your official transcript(s)* showing granting of a bachelor's degree. Transcript(s) must be received directly from the accredited institutions supplying them or through MyCreds™.
   
   Transcripts should be sent to:
   
   Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Graduate programs
   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 or through MyCreds™.
6. Submit a reference* from an individual, preferably in a supervisory position, who is familiar with the applicant's work history, motivation and work habits, and capacity for independent and self-directed learning. Applicants can download the Reference Template to send to their referee.
   
   * It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify their referee 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 Program Director, GDDET, 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 have a maximum of three years from their first registration as a program student to complete the Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology (GDDET) program.

Program delivery

The program is offered during three semesters each year. The fall semester begins the first Tuesday in September. The winter semester begins the second Monday in January. The spring/summer session begins the last Monday in April. 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, through the granting of a course extension (refer to Course Regulations and Procedures).

Program status

To maintain program status, students must complete six credits of course 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

To meet the residency requirements, students must complete a minimum of three courses (nine credits), including the two core courses, through Athabasca University.

Program requirements

Students are required to complete eighteen credits (six courses) in the GDDET. Students should complete the core courses in the prescribed sequence. Elective courses may be taken on completion of the core courses or concurrently with the core courses offered in any term.

Required core courses

Electives (three required)

Permission of the program director is required before other courses may be taken for GDDET program credit.

Note: Generally, core courses should be taken first in the program (particularly if the student has limited distance education background).

Laddering

Students completing the Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology (GDDET) may apply for admission to the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education (MEd) program.

If admitted, credits completed by the student towards the GDDET will be accepted for credit towards the MEd degree in accordance with the MEd program regulations.

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.

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.

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 Jan. 1, 2024 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 (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

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, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.