Graduate Diploma – Distance Education Technology

The Graduate Diploma – Distance Education Technology at Athabasca University is an 18-credit online program, with a minimum of nine credits completed through Athabasca University, delivered as paced study with three intake dates each year — spring, fall, and winter — and up to three years allowed for completion. Core courses cover the foundations of distance education, instructional design, and the application of educational technology, and students take these courses alongside Master of Education – Open, Digital, and Distance Education students; completed credits may be applied toward that master's program if the graduate is admitted. The diploma focuses on the concepts and skills needed to prepare, deliver, and manage distance education programs. It is designed for professionals such as instructors, trainers, and administrators working in distance education roles, as well as decision-makers, planners, and managers responsible for distance program delivery. The program suits practitioners who want a graduate-level, technology-focused credential shorter than a full master's degree, while keeping the option to ladder into the related MEd program open.