TM

WHAT IS INDEPENDENT DIRECTED STUDY?

While seminars and lectures are part of its Alternative Medicine Research Advancement Programs, American Global University’s remaining Colleges fall under American Global University’s Independent Directed Study Program. This program is designed to give each student an opportunity to excel at whatever rate their individual drive, desire, and performance will allow, while balancing his or her educational experience by giving the student the guidance he or she will need to attain a true understanding of the subject matter being studied.

Although American Global University is a non-traditional institution of higher education, it maintains the highest standards of academic excellence. The purpose of its existence as a university is to allow the student to earn a degree on a much more flexible basis than traditional colleges and universities, while still offering an outstanding quality education.

The independence that American Global University’s students are given also brings with it a great deal of responsibility. As a student, much of the studying and learning is done on independently, not in a classroom, lecture, or study hall. The responsibility for each student’s education is shared between the student and the University. Credits are earned by the student’s demonstration of knowledge, not by how many hours he or she has logged in a classroom. Students start when they are ready, continue at their own individual pace, and finish at their convenience - neither being pushed, nor held back by other students, nor conventional semester or quarter time frames.

A main text as well as a list of references for each course is indicated in the course’s syllabus. Students may find these materials in their local libraries, local bookstores, on-line bookstores, or textbook publisher(s). If a student is decisive and motivated, he or she will have no trouble achieving his or her educational goals quickly. As long as the student maintains the quality of his or her education, the time frame for completion of the program is up to him or her.

Along with the independence that American Global University’s students are given, a great deal of guidance and support is also given. Students are not arbitrarily assigned a course of study and then left alone to attempt to complete it. Students are given as much direction, guidance, and assistance from their professors that they and their unique programs require.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Every course to be completed by Independent Directed Study will include a research outline and a list of resource materials, which are provided to the student by the University. The research outline will identify each concept or idea considered significant to that particular course. Additionally, in the research outline, the student will find performance-based objectives that are each identified by a question or questions. Students are granted credit when they have correctly, thoroughly, and satisfactorily completed all of the performance-based questions. Using the research outline and resource materials, the student will complete the research and master the objectives of the course.

WHO CAN BENEFIT THE MOST?

By offering a wide variety of off-campus courses, American Global University accommodates self-directed students with the means to satisfy various kinds of educational needs that exist at different academic levels.

The students who benefit from such a program may fall into one or more of the following groups:

	Individuals who wish to continue full-time employment while earning their degree(s).
	Individuals who have interrupted their college education and find it difficult to return to a traditional campus to complete their degree requirements.
	Military personnel who are stationed in remote areas.
	Military personnel who are not stationed in one location long enough to attend and complete traditional courses.
	Individuals already established in careers who do not necessarily require additional academic credentials, but need to augment their knowledge to become more effective and valuable.
	Individuals who need academic credentials to earn promotions or increases in income.
	Professionals whose license renewal depends on specified extended courses of education.
	Employers who wish their employees trained in specific areas without losing the continuity of their service.

LIFE EXPERIENCE / WORK-RELATED EXPERIENCE

AGU recognizes that many non-traditional (adult learners) students have acquired college/university level learning through professional work experience, training received in the performance of a job, or a community service. As a result, AGU students have the opportunity to earn credit for what they already know. Credit may be earned in all undergraduate and graduate degree programs either by taking a related proctored comprehensive examination for each course or by developing a portfolio for each course for which the student is seeking prior learning credit in lieu of regular coursework. A portfolio is a detailed, written, self-assessment of what the student has learned through his or her experiences.

Proctored comprehensive examinations:  A student may elect to take proctored comprehensive examinations in lieu of regular coursework for a maximum of 30 credit hours of lower-division general education (except for English requirements) toward the associate's or bachelor's degree, 30 upper-division credit hours toward the bachelor's degree, 12 credit hours toward the master's degree, and 15 credit hours toward the doctoral degree (not applicable to Oriental Medicine Research Advancement). Each proctored comprehensive examination will be administered by an assigned professor in the student's local geographic area.

Portfolios:  Based upon past-related experiences, portfolios may be submitted in lieu of regular coursework for a maximum of 30 upper-division credit hours toward the bachelor's degree, 12 credit hours toward the master's degree, and 15 credit hours toward the doctoral degree (not applicable to Oriental Medicine Research Advancement or mathematics). No work-related credit through portfolios will be granted toward the 60-credit hours of lower-division general education required for the associate’s or bachelor’s degree. A student must be able verify through accompanying documentation that he or she has learned through experience that which is equivalent to regular coursework. A qualified administrative staff person or faculty member knowledgeable in the field will evaluate the portfolio. A critical component of how successful and applicant is in receiving prior learning credit for a course is dependent upon the thoroughness with which portfolio has been compiled, assembled, and organized. It is also imperative that the student relate his or her experience to the learning experiences identified in the course syllabus.

NOTE:  For all courses, the corresponding tuition must accompany proctored comprehensive examinations, portfolios, or if elected instead, regular coursework.

LENGTH OF THE DEGREE

The time involved in achieving the student’s degree goal will vary from individual to individual. The time frame will depend upon the transfer credits the student brings into the program, allowable credits for life experience, the number of courses assigned to the student, and the effort the student puts into the program. To maintain active status, students are required to complete a minimum of four (4) courses per year at the undergraduate level and three (3) courses per year at the graduate level.

Students who are unable to maintain the minimum number of courses required per year may be allowed to have this requirement waived for a specific period upon petition to and approval from the Dean.

TRANSFER CREDIT

A maximum of thirty (30) credit hours will be accepted for transfer to an Associate’s degree, ninety (90) credit hours to a Bachelor’s degree, nine (9) credit hours to a Master’s degree, and twelve (12) credit hours to a Doctoral degree. These transfer credits shall be accepted at all degree levels from the following:

1. Accredited and acceptable* traditional or non-traditional colleges and universities from all over the world.
2. Applicable military training.

*Acceptable colleges/universities should be licensed and approved by the corresponding government or state.

Additional transfer credits shall be accepted at the undergraduate level from the following:

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Dantes Exams.
2. Applicable life experience and work experience.
3. United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) and other military training as deemed applicable.

NOTE:  No undergraduate credits from other institutions may be transferred to AGU for graduate credits.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

American Global University is attempting to obtain its student Visa/I-20 authorization, but it does not currently participate in any student Visa/I-20 programs.

NOTE:  International students (including those from Mexico and Canada) must be sure that all payments made to the University are in U.S. funds by way of a cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer, or credit card (Visa/MasterCard).

APPLICATION DEADLINE

With the exception of the College of Alternative Medicine Research Advancement, the nature of the institution allows for open enrollment year-round.