Athabasca University Comments

Hi, I hadn't seen any posts re. the Bachelor of Science In Nursing (RN to BScN program AU offers). I live an hour from Toronto and would have to go to Ryerson University to get my BScN, however, I have been looking into fulfilling my desire to get my BScN online. I have an almost 2 year old and I work part-time, so the convenience is there, and hopefully the discipline. Anyone out there that has completed the program and what do you think? Thanks.

Hi Brad,

After I graduated from the 3 year program from College I transferred to Athabasca University and began dedicating myself (full-time) to the studies as I was unemployed (by choice). 

If you are planning to do this while unemployed I believe that it is a good choice to get it out of the way now than later. You should start by taking 2 or 3 courses and see how you do. Remember, you really have to be focused and dedicated as the courses are no cake-walks. They require time, effort, and discipline as they are well structured. 
When I was unemployed, I took two at a time and it took me 6 months and another 6 for the other two. Now that I work full-time, I am taking one at a time and it takes me 6 months to do for one course and working at the same time. I know that 6 months seems like a lot of time (and it is) but hey, maybe you can do it faster than me? On the plus side, I am having better marks than what I ever did in College or anywhere for that matter. 

So as you can see, it takes a long time, but if you’re focused, then it shouldn’t matter. What I like most is that they get you to do you’re major courses right away (straight to the point), rather than having to take other courses that are not related to your major the way that other Universities would have you to do.

Good luck!

Athabasca University has a strong reputation- been a university for 40 years and produced lots of professionals.  Materials and expectations are the same as anywhere.  AU is great in my view.

Athabasca University has been both challenging and intellectually stimulating.  I actually did 2 degrees prior and I find this as good as both- actually better in some ways- one has to participate in readings and discussion whereas at campus I could go and just sit.  

AU is very good in my view and has a good reputation.

I am interested in enrolling in the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing Degree program.  I would appreciate any advice or comments from anyone who has completed it through AU.  How was your experience and ease in job placement?  How about final costs?  Grand total for your degree was...??

I am finding that there is far too much material assigned for the 3-credit courses at Athabasca. Compared to courses I've taken at a bricks and mortar university, these Athabasca courses should be valued at 6 credits in my opinion. I mean Humanities 201 covered a vast expanse of time and required two essays and a three hour exam for what is essentially half a credit. Does anyone else feel this way?

Hey i noticed that you are taking HUMN 201, Im currently taking that same course. I was wondering if you could tell me about the final exam. Im really not sure how this website works, but if you could email me, that would be greatly appreciated. awakeam89@gmail.com, thank you so much. 

I am looking to do the Bachelor of Management:Post Diploma(3yr), so I receive a block transfer for my diploma and have to complete 10 - 3 credit courses for 30 credits. If someone can help me...in your experience...how many classes can you manage at a time? and with the suggestion how long would you say it would take to complete them? I am currently unemployed and can dedicate my time to finishing this. Thanks for all your help!

Brad, I am thinking of doing the same thing.  Have you gone through with you plans in doing this course?  How have you been doing with it if so.  How many course can you handle at a time?  I will still be working full time.
Patrick

Does anyone find the time it takes your tutor to mark your assignment very discouraging?  I am talking about the "10 business day policy" - which varies from course-to-course...

I would LOVE to go a lot faster in my program of choice, but am forced to wait it out or juggle multiple courses at once (while working full-time), just to always have a course on the go.

solid MA programs- for instance, "To be eligible for admission you must have either an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with at least 3 years of managerial experience, or an accepted professional designation with at least five years of managerial experience."

Courses are for the most part very good, most of the tutors are great people.  Some tutors, however, seem to have a point to prove.  First year bird course tutors seem to want to prove some point.  Some of my lowest marks are in courses that were very straight forward.  Most tutors are as hands on or hands off as you'd like but I had at least one that gave me a 22% on a major project because I did not call her first to review the material.  The web interface for online courses is generally awesome although you will occasionally run into out of date information.  Course work is challenging and you feel you're actually earning your degree not getting it handed to you for nothing.  Administration is the worst I've ever seen.  I have never ran into such an unapologetically cold group before.  You'll have to fight tooth and nail for every  transfer credit, it took me over 2 years to get all of mine despite having two previous diplomas.  There was a screw up on my plan and I was recommended the wrong course for my degree which the administrators blamed on me.  That took 2 months to get straightened away.  Even graduating has proven to be a chore as professors failed to enter my marks on time and my actual grad date will be about 45 days after I finished my course work.  Keep this in mind if you plan on going to graduate school and need your marks from Athabasca.  If I had my time back I definitely would of looked more closely at part time studies at local universities.  The great tutors were far overshadowed by the abysmal administrators

Hi, 

I am a 4th year philosophy major at Queens University. I have to take some philosophy courses over the summer in order to complete my degree on time. I was looking into taking phil 231 and phil 334, is there anyone out there who has taken these courses before? I will only have 3 months to complete them before I return to Queens upon the fall. I am moving the UK during the summer and will most likely be travelling; I will also have a part time job. Do you think taking two courses and successfully completing them within 3 months is possible?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

@ nurse patiently waiting, Congratulations!! I got my acceptance today as well !! :)

@Linda, I finally heard today...accepted, I am so excited. It was updated in my gsas this afternoon. The school called as well, as I had a question regarding another class I am already enrolled in, and the lady stated that they are going through all applications now and we should hear within the next day or two. Good luck again, I hope you hear some good news soon. 

I'm in the Bachelor of General Studies program, Arts and Sciences concentration.

I've taken almost 20 courses through Athabasca and I am very happy with the quality of my education. There are no "free rides" here - you work for your grades. The study guides are generally well organized and very useful. Almost all tutors are very helpful. Exams are "free" except if you must pay an invigilator in your area. The list of invigilators doesn't always include everyone approved in a community, however; I paid a community college $30 per exam to invigilate before I discovered that our local library would do the same job for free. In withdrawing from courses (which I've done twice)and encountering other issues I've found the administration very helpful. I've also found the student advising department helpful in evaluating my degree requirements. Transfer credit system in fairly good, but like anywhere that does take time. 

Has anyone received offer of admission into Master of Nursing program at Athabasca for Fall 2012?

I called the school and they said they were basically bombarded with applications (which worries me) and we should know by mid-April re: acceptances. 

Thanks for replying it makes me feel much better...I have seen in grad cafe...other schools are sending out acceptance letters, so I was starting to get worried. Good luck

No problem! I know what you mean, my co-workers already received acceptances from their schools. The waiting is the worst part. Good luck to you too :)

Depends.  Depends on the student, the program, but if you are a grad student or a mature, independent learner it is a quality school with a sound reputation.   The MBA, for instance, is highly respectable.  As well, if you are going to pick up some credits for another institution, Athabasca is a good option.  

Athabasca Univeristy is a good school and I recommend it for people who are motavated and can figure things out on their own. Yes, there is a lot of support at AU. I find the people complain are the people who do not do good and have to blame someone for their failure.

 I recently completed two online courses at AU: BIOL204 and CHEM217. I decided to take these courses mainly out of interest. 

BIOL204 was mainly readings, two written assignments, at-home labs, and two exams.The written assignments were not hard but information presented must be detailed, exact, and with lots of examples. The labs were fun and did not take up a lot of time. The mid-term was based on 7 chapters and mainly multiple choice and short/long answer. The textbook plus assignments ( including assignments grouped by first name that i did not have to do but did anyways) provided enough info for the exams. The final exam tests your memory re-call as it is cumulative. My final course grade was an A-. 

CHEM217 was definitely harder and more consuming. I felt like I was doing 3 courses. Each chapter included problem sets that needed to be worked through before progressing onwards. I was essentially doing problem sets at least 4 days each week, about 4 to 6 per day. I scored well on the assignments but I got a lot of help from youtube lectures and online examples from various sources. My tutor helped with explaining assignment problems but I was not in contact with them that much. You definitely need to have a tutor available for chemistry. The home lab is requested after passing the first two assignments. I did not get my lab kit until late in my calendar which threw off my study schedule. The labs were also very consuming. It normally took me about 2 days to finish each lab and submit the report. Since i received the lab kit late I was trying to do 10 labs plus problem sets and preparing for my final all in about 3 weeks. I thought the exams were very hard. I scored 68% on my mid-term and 64% on my final (however the marker's feedback for both exams was that I did well). Since I scored 80's on my assignments and 90's in my lab my final grade was a B.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the courses because they were challenging and interesting. I felt like I pushed myself intellectually and feel that I can definitely push through academic obstacles. However doing chemistry on your own requires commitment, organization, focus, and major problem solving skills. 

My biology marks were posted within the two week time frame but the chemistry marks took longer. I notified my tutor if they were taking too long and received them promptly(tutors do not mark exams only assignments)

I cant say anything bad about AU. Distance education means you are essentially doing it on your own so if you are well organized and committed you should do fine. If you get a bad tutor then try and get them to give feedback on assignments so you can tailor your results to fit their standards. I did that with my re-written BIO lab report and went from a 53% to an 80%.

Chemistry was tough but I am proud that I was able to get through it and complete both courses. I am currently enrolled in BIOL205 and CHEM218.
Wish me luck!!
R

Hi, I just read your review. I'm taking biology 204 and geology200 right now. Would you able to give some pointers for the midterm and final? There are just too many things to remember. Thank you so much. My email is louis.n02@gmail.com

Doing initial research into the Bachelor of Health Administration.  Anyone out there taking it?  Any feedback...good or bad???

So after two months of e-mailing the tutor for advice and getting one to two line answers that showed he didn't read my e-mail, I've e-mailed the course co-ordinator to request a different tutor, and now she's not replying at all.

I am having a hard time deciding my next law course between Labour law (IDRL 320) and Employment law (HRMT 322). Can anyone tell me what they recommend and why?

Also what are the tutors in these courses like? How are the exams (easy, hard)?

Thanks!

I want to know, is it hard to get admission into Athabasca University if you have the minimum requirement for the program. I am BScN and want to get into Nurse Practitioner program and am worried about not getting in because I just have minimum 3.0 GPA that they need. please let me know if anyone knows.

I am an ottawa university medical school student and i just took 4 online courses with Athabasca university and it is HORRIBLE. From the Tutors, to the Support, to the Exam unit. They are absolutely PATHETIC! They just want your money then to Hell with you! Nobody should EVER EVER EVER SIGN up with them...this is the FIRST and LAST time I will EVER take any courses with them...even if the PAY ME i wouldnt take anything there...I wish someone would have WARNED like i am warning you! 

Sorry to hear about your experience. If you are a current medstudent and just completed the 4 courses then I must assume that your science pre-req courses were not done through AU. Which courses did you just take?
Regards,
Leo

robbed me of 250 dollars and then said I didnt complete the "registration fee".

the most AWFUL administration I have ever dealt with me in life, was so disrespected by the program coordinator that I would NEVER ADVISE anyone to take a course at this school!

I took the Global Studies 209 course at Athabasca University and was very disappointed. The workload was massive, with 1 40-page chapter per week as well as 5-10 study questions AND a 1-hour video. On the final exam, they expected you to write an essay about a question that would normally only have a one-word answer. No guidance from the instructor either, and when I contacted her previous to the final exam she basically told me she couldn't help me.

I would recommend AU coursework for MA students who are self-directed.  For BA, less mature students, I would point to more conventional means. Overall, I am satisfied and I have taken courses from a few universities.

Their administration staff is so unprofessional it almost hurts. Honestly I wish their tutors ran the administration.

Other students will agree.

I just completed the University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations. The courses were not easy to say the least but then they were not extemely difficult either. These courses require extensive reading and research before completing a majority of assignments. I found the exams "do" relate to the course material.  The only problem I have had with taking these courses is that some tutors are willing to contact the student and talk at length and others are not.  My last tutor for Employment Law would only contact me by email...Employment Law is a very difficult course.

Athabasca is like all universities.  There are good and bad aspects, but it is designed for an independent learner.  The content is the same as any uni in Canada.

Can someone who has or is attending Athabasca in the MASTER OF COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY please comment on their experience with the school and the program.  Is it fairly interactive? are the profs helpful?
Thanks!

I'm thinking about doing my Masters in Counselling. Can anyone comment on doing this program through AU?

Yea, AU is a great university but you have to be self motivated and a go-getter. If you struggle with courses normally, then AU might not be for you, as courses can become very hard without the aid of a class. If your academically strong and want a degree in half the time (put in the hours) it is a great alternative to traditional university. 

Yea, AU is a great university but you have to be self motivated and a go-getter. If you struggle with courses normally, then AU might not be for you, as courses can become very hard without the aid of a class. If your academically strong and want a degree in half the time (put in the hours) it is a great alternative to traditional university. 

Ath. U is good if you are self-directed.  Courses are the same as any Cdn Uni.

I am a Master of Science student from AU. I am very happy with the courses offered from this university so far. This is an on-line program and there is of course no lecture. It meets the need of working professionals to upgrade their qualification and knowledge at their own place and own schedule.

The works are challenging and pave the way for me to either continue my career in either research, or advance in the industry. The professors requirement on the works done are appropriate to master level education. I learn a lot from the program, especially in apply research methods. I suggest those compliant about this university's master program re-think of what do you expect from an on-line program.At master level education, students are required and expected to discover knowledge by themselves, not necessary being transferred from the professors.

It depends on the course, Bio 235 was fine.  Learned from a text but it was straight forward.  health studies 201 was AWFUL! poorly communicated, really outdated, expectations were not communicated at all.
Terrible terrible joke of a course.

AU courses, I find, are the same as the other universities I have been to.  Good quality in my view.

Hi Evryone,
I am wondering if anyone has taken Bachelor of Health Administration at AU?

Hi Everyone,
This has been very useful information, thank you. 
I am interested in the Masters of Counselling. I am wondering if anyone has taken it, or had experience with someone who did. I am wondering if future clients/employers of mine will be skeptical because I have an online degree, not a brick and mortar degree. Does this make me seem less effective/competent as a counsellor?
The problem is, I live in Toronto, and I'm not able to re-locate. There is a program for counselling psyc at OISE (U of Toronto), however, it is HIGHLY competetive, and I was rejected. I feel frustrated, and just want to get on with my education, so I can start working, and ultimatly get on with my life. 
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Bachelor of Professional Arts(BPA)- Criminal Justice Studies(CJ). 

i would like to find out if anyone finished this degree through AU or even in process of finishing. I spoke to their counsellors/advisors who were very helpful so far but i'm particularly worried about ENGLISH courses as per some comments along with a few other concerns. Those are as follows.

Invigilators - There is a cost associated to this? How much is it and if i go with some other peers who are considering taking this course too, would there be a price difference i.e, 1 individual writing a test VS 5 students writing a test all at one spot, same date? 

Course start time - I was under the impression that courses start on each month basis not like uni/college base which is per term. Correct me if my information is wrong. Unless i looked at your own pace which is 6 months vs a group study one. 

Has anyone had any PLAR assesment experience in this BPA- CJ program or any other program?. How was it? What were the contributing factors etc?

Fee and course load - Fee is 700 something dollars per course which covers the cost of books and everything included. Do we pay from our pockets for sending or mailing the assignments or this is another hidden cost like the cost of invigilators which some people might not know about?

Residency- I saw this on their website as well as someone asked this question earlier about residency. Can someone explain this.

I am considering this stream of education because a professor of mine from sheridan college is finishing her Master through AU. She is a very well organized, well experienced lady who have worked in the related field for X amount of years. I would take her recommendations highly. Therefore i look at it as a learning curve and an opportunity for me to keep my full time job while i avail my Undergrad.

Thank you for all your responses and help in advance.

Has anyone here become a CA in Ontario through the Athabasca Bachelor of Commerce with Accounting Specialization? I am unable to find a degree that I can do online in Ontario but would like to get my degree and become a CA while working full-time. I've heard that becoming a CA in Ontario has different requirements than in Alberta.

I took Intro Geology through Athabasca and it was horribly organized. The course manual gave you a breakdown of everything you should read in the textbook and everything to focus on but it was referring to a textbook that was outdated.  This meant that all the page numbers were wrong and when it would review a chapter there were a lot of discrepancies between the textbook and the review.

There were 12 assignments that had to be completed plus a final course project, all of which were very time consuming, and some had very confusing instructions.

You have one hour every week that you can call your tutor, so you are pretty much on your own.

I would not recommend Athabasca University to anyone.

Pablo

AU is an online school... your friend is a liar.

Has anybody had problems with final project advisors? A friend of mine has sent his final project to his advisor, but he hasn't heard anything. His advisor won't answer any emails. He will have to register for yet another term. This has been going on for about 2 months now. My friend doesn't want to complain because the staff at Athabasca are very curt and tend to take the professors' sides in these situations.

What can my friend do?

really pablo???

this is an online school..so where exactly did your friend interact with her tutor?

Right Pablo.  Right......

This University has become the leading racist of all. they have a poor complaining policy.
Last year they maliciously failed my moslem friend who complained to the authorities that her tutor was trying to remover her buqour. The man toched her hair. When she compalined they told her that she does not fit in Canada. 
Even if am not a moslem women need to be respected by soem of these white horny tutors in Athabasca university.
Secondaly there professors failing students for refusing their intimate  advances.
Watch out. This university is after making money from you but not willing to accept minority students.
Parents please dont take your femae students there.

@ Casey.

The invigilator process is simple....and makes the school different than many other online programs.

The format of the exams is the same as other Canadian brick and mortar schools.  3 hours long, depending on the particular course it would be closed book (most common), open book or "cheat sheet allowed"

When you are ready to take the exam, you inform the school of the location you have selected and the date you want to write (at least 4 weeks ahead). The university ships the exam directly to the testing site. Locations typically have set days available for proctored exams.  You show ID when you arrive at the site and pay for the service...then you write the exam.  The centre handles sending the paper back to the University for marking. 

I wrote my exam at the local University with local students writing their own exams.

The only down side is that if you need clarification about a question, it is likely that the proctor will not be able to help you.  There is no guarantee that they know anything about the area you are taking the course in.  Their job is just to supervise to make sure you follow the rules, to keep the exam confidential and to ensure it returns to Athabasca.

Brandi: you could potentially take 120 units or 40 classes. If you were to take 5 classes/semester then it would take you 4 years, if you didn't do summer classes. 

Can someone tell me about the invigilator process? I have an approved invigilator and I want to know how the exams are formatted and then carried out.

Hi there! 

I'm a little confused on one point, as I'm sure I'm misunderstanding the credit system.  If I were to enroll in the BA Psychology (4 year), how many COURSES would I take?  Every person I've contacted has given me spitouts of credits, but I'm not sure what that means.  For entertainment's sake, let's say each course is worth 3 credits; how many would I be taking?

Hi Brandi,
The credit system confused me at first also. It's like any other university - 5 courses a semester, 10 a year for a total of 40 classes. Each of these classes is worth 3 credits for some reason. If you take a course worth 6 credits, it covers 2 semesters.

frank:  Thanks for the feedback.  There is very little motivation for me to switch to a more rigid and costly BM program if the AU degree is recognized equally for grad school admissions.  

kristy-lee:  You will not have the frustrating waiting period with AU that you had with your high school ILC.  AU gives you the entire course right away. While waiting for an assignment to be marked you can work on the next one.  
As far as not completing high school goes...I started with AU last year when I was in grade 11.  In June when I should be graduating from grade 12 I will have completed 12 university courses but will be 8 high school credits short of my OSSD.  I don't foresee this becoming a major problem.  After 1 year of AU you can transfer to another university if you have decent marks.  
A great thing about the AU program is that the residency requirements for graduation are quite low.(I think equivilent to 1 year's study)  This means that you can apply for a letter permission to take several of your courses from other universities while you are "travelling and living anywhere" and apply them toward your AU degree.

Hey everyone ,

I am currently in high-school and considering Athabasca as an option after graduation.I live in Ontario and will be moving soon with my boyfriend to either Manitoba or Alberta,he's in the Army and is waiting on finding out his posting. I know there are other schools in Alberta, im just not sure they're for me and I may not end up there. I go to a very small private high-school currently with 4 students. I've done an ILC before and it went quite well other than trouble handing in the marks and the waiting period.Im thinking of taking either general studies or psychology. The reason i'm interested is I can have a flexible schedule and I can work. I can also pursue other personal interests, live anywhere and travel.Moving out is hard enough but if I could have my university education and work full time,it sounds like a deal to me. Originally I was going to wait until graduation, in June, now im thinking of starting in a month or two, which would mean not finishing high-school. Not sure of what to do .. what is the best route... If I could get a decent job after finishing this. Need some feedback. thanks

hi ian...

I'm sure you may have seen comments about my experience above so I will not reiterate but I don't think that a AU degree is a bad thing from that point of view.  It is accredited like any other BM in Canada.  Admission committees at the schools you speck about put high emphasis on the LSAT or GMAT respectively, so a high score on these tests are way more important than the school you went to.  Many profs at AU are full-time lectures at BM schools so you are getting about the same difficulty of work that you would anywhere else.  Thus getting an AU education shouldn't make you any less prepared for taking standardized tests.

Hope that helps.

I have nearly completed year 1 of the AU B.Mgt 4 year program. My experience has been positive so far...
Upon completion of my undergrad I would like to go to law or business school at an Ontario B&M University.
I am wondering if my AU degree will be recognized equally with other degrees or whether I should be transfering to a BM school.  
All the BM schools I've asked said that they accept AU, however entrance to law and coop MBA programs is very competitive. Has anyone had any experience with this?   Do admissions committees view AU as an inferior degree?

Just graduated with a BA - Psyc from AU and it was a great experience!!

I had moved around a lot during the course of this degree and attended three B&M Ontario universities during that time.  They were all terrible about transfer credits from one school to another, but AU was able to transfer all of my credits from the three B&M schools and guided me in meeting the remaining credits needed to graduate.

Highly recommend this school!

AU is a great school and while it has all the usual personalities and problems of all big schools, it works and works well. Good luck and make sure you research completely before you commit to any program or school. I've read about people who has spent thousands and years for a degree that is a sham.

Sorry Nat, I haven't stopped by for a minute...but in general the difference will be in the electives you take...

The BA requires more humanities, business type courses.... the BSc will contain more math, programming and science type courses....

I dunno which one is better...depends on what you want to do with it.  For most people wanting to stay on the pure "techie" side, the BSc is likely better for you.  Those courses tend to be a bit more intense....especially if you don't have a strong math background.

The BA route is likely better for computer users/managers as oppose to IT professionals.

You should contant the AU School of Computing directly, they are good at explaining the differences.  Also, since it is a publicly funded school, you don't have to worry about the hard sell of some other online schools.

Your George Brown work may get you upto 2 years credit of the post-diploma program...again contact the school for more details.

Hey Everyone, glad I stumbled on this site (love Google).  Anyways, I was wondering if anyone here as completed or is in the process of completing their degree in Information Systems (BA or BS don't matter).  Basically I REALLY want to enroll with AU but I'm confused...I have a college diploma - George Brown College - as a Computer Systems Technician Program and I've worked 6 years in IT (and going).  Does anyone know what the difference is between these programs? Could you guys suggest what is best suited for me?  Appreciate all the feedback thanks and have a great day.  Here is the list:

Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems Degree 
(4 years—120 credits) Link: athabascau.ca/calendar/page03_20.html

And

Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems 
(Post Diploma) (4 years—120 credits) Link: athabascau.ca/calendar/page03_21.html

And

BA Information Systems Concentration (3 years)
Link: athabascau.ca/calendar/page03_04_06.html

And 

Information Systems Major (4 years)
Link: athabascau.ca/calendar/page03_05_07.html

***Don't forget to add the www to view the links above".***

hey I've read all those comments from joy and ray ect and I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me if other big schools and universities accept credits from AU.
i live in the Bahamas so I wanted to do an associates online with AU in health infomation systems and maybe transfer to a school in the united states to finish my B.A. so i just want to know if i went to AU if they others schools would aaccept my credits.

Reading the threads, there has been a lot of good and bad experiences with AU. For myself, going through the MBA program, I found the experience was great! The profs were good (leading discussions periodically) and the students helped each other through it all. Your own drive will be the key to your learning experience; the classmates are a big second factor, nothing really to do with the profs. Online learning is not for everyone, there is no hand-holding at all. With group sizes around 5-9, weekly participation/discussions/workloads are manageable with full-time work and family priorities. 

Q. Was it worth it?
A. Comparing to other MBA programs, I think it was a good investment. 
Q. Is AU understaffed? 
A. I could see it being understaffed, but the staff always provided excellent customer service, so it wasn’t noticeable. 
Q. Is AU out to make money through tuition and service fees? 
A. Somewhat, it’s comparable to any other school. 
Q. Would I recommend AU? 
A. Yes, but only if it fits your personal drive and learning goals.

I am looking to the Marketing program here at AU and I was wondering if anyone has feedback about this.  Through this thread I have read allot of positive and negative comments and I am torn.  I need to do online studies as I have to work and survive and I am looking for a good recognized school to do this.  Help me please!!!

Just started on a B.A with a Major in History nad Sociology, starting with Eng255 next month. Has anyone completed this entire B.A with AU? 
Would be extremely grateful for any advice or feedback. Thanks!

Athabasca aside, my opinion is that unless the business undergrad degree is a HBA from an “elite” school such as Ivey, Rotman, Schlich etc, it will not give you any significant advantage in the marketplace.  With so many MBAs out there, a BCom will just give you the opportunity to apply for positions that require a degree.

This degree is good as a means of gaining entry into an MBA program.  I think here is where the AU degree provides value.  You can do it at your own pace and without the need to quit your current job.

If you are not willing to do the graduate schooling and want career advancement and/or more money, I think you are better served by doing financial industry certifications….securities exam, financial planner etc. and skip the degree altogether.  

The only way I see any benefit is if you have an understanding within your company that a degree will increase the probability of getting a promotion.

Just my 2 cents

I am thinking of enrolling in the Bachelor of Commerce(financial services major).

My main concern is the perception of the employers across Canada for the BCOM degree from Athabasca. 

The only reason I am considering taking this program is for career development and to increase my earnings. Due to my work hours and job demands I can't attend on-campus classes so online studies would be my only option. 

I was wondering if anyone has done their BCOM at Athabasca and what their experience has been?

junior ...

Can't speak for the Bachelor of Science...

I did the Master's of Science in about 3 years while working fulltime.

There is no hard and fast answer because the number of required courses varies depending on your background (the admissions committee decides based on your application).  It also depends on if you do the "course" or "thesis" option.

I would say that the fastest you could complete it (assuming fulltime all year study, and a favorable course offering schedule) is about 2 years or 6 semesters.  For speed.... you must ensure that you plan your course schedule carefully because unlike the undergrad work, you take your courses as a group and follow the traditional university calendar.  Not all required courses are available each term either.

The average working professional I interacted with during the program took about 4 years to finish.

Can someone tell me how long it takes to complete a Bachelor of Science Post Diploma and a Masters of Science at AU?

Thanks!

Can someone tell me how long it takes to complete a Bachelor of Science Post Diploma and a Masters of Science at AT?

Thanks!

I have taken a couple of upper-level undergrad Sociology courses at Athabasca, and I thoroughly enjoyed my online learning experience with AU. I have found my tutors to be very responsive; they always returned my email within 24 hours. For one tutor, I had to talk to them on the phone to discuss course concepts and my essay. While phone is not as context-rich as the traditional face-to-face meeting, it was helpful to me as a student to have that option to access my tutors by phone. I should also mention that my tutors were actual professors, with PhDs and a long list of published work in their CVs (i.e., they're legit, working scholars). 

I like how my course package arrives in one neat bundle, complete with all textbooks, study guide, extra readings, etc. At US-based Excelsior (which is excellent too, by the way!), you'd have to order your books separately, and they're not included in the tuition. With AU, you pay one-time when you register for the course, and that one-time fee covers all learning materials. 

I am now working full-time and enjoying my job, but am missing the intellectual rigor of being in school. I am seriously considering the MAIS program, as it would be excellent for me. It would allow me to enjoy the best of both worlds - master's school and my career, that is!  

Overall, I would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND Athabasca U. I love it.

Like Nisha I am also looking at the Psychology program just wondering if anyone is taking it and what their rating of it would be.

Sujun: Yes, I completed one of AU's courses in 4 weeks :) I never had a 4-month course, all are 6-month courses. By the way, I just finished my master's degree and I loved it !!!

Hi, 

I am thinking of transferring my courses from Simon fraser university to AU, i want to go into the undergraduate program for psychology, is anyone in the psychology program currently? and how is it?

can I finish 4 month course in 2 months if I work hard?

I was thinking about ding a MAIS thru Athabasca, but I'm suspicious of their requirement that I have a computer with Xp or Win2000. My computer is a little old for those OSes, but I do have Win98 and Linux installed on it. I'm not particularly interested in buying a new computer, and a new Windows OS for it, just for the MAIS program if it's not going to be necessary. 

I can watch DVDs, use Skype, write essays in Word format, post to message boards and so on with the computer I have.

Can someone familiar with MAIS (Drew? Luciano?) tell me the reasons for this Win2000/WinXP requirement? Is it because you have to install some sort of proprietary software on your computer in order to do the courses?

Hi.

I'm considering doing some French distance ed courses through Athabasca. Depending on how that goes I'd probably continue on with more courses.

Has anyone enrolled in language courses through Athabasca? Was it difficult to learn a language using the distance ed method?

Thanks.

Hey Peter:
I am doing a B.A. French Major at AU and know for a fact that teacher's colleges do not distinguish between AU degrees and one's at bricks and mortars universities.  In fact, I remember calling the Registrar's office at York University and them telling me exactly that!  and I agree with Frank re: finishing the degree in 2 years- it's not worth it, since you need decent grades to get in to teachers college.

Peter ...

Can't comment on the perception in the teaching community.  You can however accelerate your graduation if you are dedicated enough.  You are given 6 months to complete 4 months worth of work but you still have the same number of credits to complete as any other 4 year degree program so 2 years seems ambitous.  You also have to keep in mind that if you want to get into teacher's college you will have to get decent marks so rushing through may work to your disadvantage. 

Maya:

The degree doesn't say anything about it being online.  I don't know how employers evaluate degrees in your country of choice, but in Canada I don't think accreditation bodies differentiate between online and campus based schools.  I believe they do in the US though.  AU is accredited in both countries.  If you are that worried about it, you should speak with organzations that do the degree evaluations in the countries you are looking at moving to.

Hi
To all those that have graduated from Athabasca U, I was wondering if the diploma actually says 'distance education' or 'online university' on it? I'm asking because I want to do the degree then move to Asia, and it doesn't look good to an employer if it's an 'online degree'.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks

I want to be a teacher in Ontario. I am thinking of taking the 4 year Bachelor of Arts, Major in French. I have a few questions:

- How is the perception of this online degree in the Ontario Teachers College community?

- Can I work at my own pace? (Like 4 years in 2 years?) - Is this possible?

Thanks!!!

I do not believe that it is a money grab. There are numerous students who are not required to take the English course. There are also a number that are. I believe that if they have recommended that you do, then you should. When I took mine, they did not require that I take the course, but they did recommend that I take advantage of their English coaches for the first semester for help and guidance (which I did). 

The writing requirements at the Masters level are quite demanding and they need to ensure that you have the required basic skills to write at this level. I hope this helps...cheers!

Luciano

Hey guys,
I recently completed a degree at Athabsca and I found the programme both challenging and rewarding at the same time. I was able to do this while I worked a full time job and the professors...well lets face it...every now and then you are going to have a personality clash. Also, many employers acknowledge this training in Ontario and training institutions as well acknowledge the education...watch out though for entry requirements and the need for a four year degree is starting to show up for programmes.
 

I thought I would throw my inquiry out there as I have received a letter of acceptance to Athabasca's MAIS programme. There is an English test and my question is that I was recommended to take ENG255 course.  After reviewing the feedback and reviewing the site,  I was wondering if anyone took ENGL255 after the recommenation from the school and found this course worthwile.  My first reaction was if this was a quick "cash grab" from the University as the course credit would not be used towards the MAIS programme and it is an undergraduate course NOT a graduate course.  

Does anyone have any insight. 
I would appreciate any feedback!

Have a great long weekend

Patrick.

The short answer is "It depends"  ...a long one and more useful one is ....

If you are looking for job connections, HEC is internationally known from what I understand.  Top tier schools like Ivey, Rotman, Schliuch etc...have well connected people in them.....HEC also is a big city school so many of your classmates would be active in that city's business community...athabasca tends also have working professionals, but you don't interact with them face-to-face often, you don't have the ability to forge relationships that could be useful to you later.  Most students there are already well-connected so this isn't as important to them.  They are just looking for a good education.

If you require a lot of flexibility AU is a great option though.

Just remember in biz, who you know is often more important than what you know.

There is a Canadian business mag that profiles and rates the b-schools in Canada.  I don't remember the name of it, but that may be of interest to you.

LIZ:

I work full-time and take 1 course per semester (3 per year). I just started my 5th. course. Some do take 2 courses per semester, but I feel this is a very heavy load particularly if you have a demanding job (which I do).

I devote as a minimum about 2-4 hours per night during worknights. I devote Saturday morning's (3-4 hours)and late Saturday evenings (2-3). I also devote Sunday mornings (2-3) and late Sunday evenings (3-4). These include readings and responding to postings and on-line discussions.

Term papers require much extra time for research and analysis. In these cases I would probalbly devote at a minimum 4+ hours during the weekdays and probably 8+ hours per day on weekends).I hope this helps....cheers!

Luciano

Hi there Luciano,

How many hours a week do you have to dedicate to each course (including readings and essays)? I am wondering whether it is possible to complete the 2 year program stream for the MAIS while working full time?

hi all, if I have the choice between let's say the hec MBA program in montreal, the dalhousie MBA online program or the emba at athabasca, which should be my first choice?

I am currently enrolled in the bachelor of management program and it is going well. I think AU is a great University to obtain an undergaduate degree and it gives you a competetive edge becasue it shows you are self motivated and can get things done.  For entering the workplace a degree is very general and usaully experience as well as post graduate education play an important role.
I believe that if you are a well disciplined individual and are able to organize yourself well then it can be a very positive experience.
It is very flexible and you can get ahead. I personally get alot of work done and am able set aside alot of time for work and travelelling as I have family in various parts of the world.
On of the cons is that you dont get the group experience and the same interaction with other students as you wold in a traditioinal University however if you work a decent job you can compensate for that.  may also transfer to other schools after 2 years if you keep a high gpa. I also read alot of books and do my own  resaerch on the side so i believe my education is not inferior to that of others.ONe thing i woudl I would critisize are overpriced business schools across Canada such as Richard Ivey at the University of Western Ontario I dont understand why tuituion costs 20 000 a year. I know many students from thsoe schools and though they believe they are getting their moneys worth, in my opinion it is not so.

AU is pretty good overall. There are times you may get the odd tutor who is unhelpful or very hardcore at marking. However, the majority of your tutors you get are extremely helpful and nice. Thus, AU is not any different compared to other schools in this aspect. I will, however, admit that marking may take a bit more than expected. The average time, however, is usually about 10 business days max. I noticed that tutors usually take awhile to mark assignments during the end of in-campus institutions. Those being December and March.

In terms of whether or not you will get a job fast after you graduate from your program all depends on the job field you want to enter. If your trying to enter a competitive job field, it may take awhile. However, this applies to all schools. There are thousands of graduates from different universities each year. But job placements are relative few unless your going into the high demand ones such as engineering or medical-related jobs. 

I'm currently 21-years-old. I graduated from my previous college in Spring 08 and transferred to AU for credits towards a degree. I've done almost half of my program's courses already - only need about till next Spring hopefully to complete it. So far, my experience has been great with AU. 

To those who want to attend this school, I definitely encourage them into looking into it. AU is probably the top long-distance university that is most credible across the world.

Has anybody taken the Computing and Information Systems post diploma degree?  How was it?  And is it hard to find work after completing this degree?  Or better yet what kind of work are you doing now since completing the degree?

Thanks,
Stu

Melissa:

You do need to take 11 courses (2 core courses - of the 11, the final one is a research paper). You must take at least 2 courses per year (right now I take 3 per year). Some students do take 2 courses per semester, but this is a very heavy load if you also work full time.

There is a summer break. For example, my current course will finish by the end of April. If I do not take a summer course (which starts in May - I am taking one), I will take one starting this September.

The courses do allow time for a 'reading week' in the fall and winter semesters.

There are two streams you can follow - grouped studies (weekly sessions with other students - which is what I am doing) or self-paced learning (which allows the student up to 6 months to complete a course on their own with assistance from a professor).

I hope this helps....cheers!

Luciano

I have also considered the MAIS program at Athabasca...I am confused over how many courses we need to complete before graduation...on their website it says you need to complete 33 credits, or 11 courses to graduate, so how many do I enroll in each year? Also, do we receive summer holidays and breaks like the rest of the university community?

I am thinking about taking the MAIS program....From the onset, I have had trouble just trying to reach an advisor in the department....I finally spoke to someone today and she was not very helpful and could not answer several questions that I had.  I don't want to discount the program because of this...I really wanted some feedback from graduates of this program and if they found it helped them reach their career goals,
Thanks

I was actually wondering how good the MAIS program is at Athabasca compared to other B&M schools? As well, how do employers view this degree compared to getting a Masters of Arts from UofT?

I am currently taking the MAIS Program and I am absolutely thrilled! I will be starting my 5th. course in May/09. Of course no institution is perfect. I have attended Lakehead, U of T and York for undergraduate work. All fine institutions, but they too had their problems. I highly recommend Athabasca University and in particular their MAIS Program. 

I have met several professionals who did their EMBA at Athabasca and they were very satisfied with the program. The EMBA is ranked one of the top 100 worldwide.

Luciano