Overview
ASTR 496 is based on contracted study arrangements between each student and an approved supervisor (AU academic or external). Students improve their skills to choose and define problems; obtain information from studies and experiments; organize facts and ideas; and report ideas and conclusions in written form.
This course is for students who wish to carry out projects in astronomy and/or astrophysics, or to obtain formal recognition, through this course, of related skills and training they have received on the job by applying them to a new project. A project begun under ASTR 495 may be continued in a more advanced or applied form (which will not normally involve further library work) under ASTR 496.
This course may involve observational, field, or lab work as agreed to by the student and the supervisor, with approval from the Course Coordinator. Students are expected to obtain and pay for all materials used in the projects. Permission to register will be given once students have a project proposal accepted and recognized as a Learning Contract by the Course Coordinator, Dr. Martin Connors.
Evaluation
The assessment for these courses is based upon the student's written reports and other work as outlined in his or her Learning Contract. The evaluation is completed by the Course Coordinator in consultation with the project supervisor's. ASTR 496 is excluded from the challenge for credit policy. To receive credit, a student must achieve a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent).
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.