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About COU

About Commonwealth Open University COU provides adult continuing education. It was developed to meet the needs of adults by offering non-resident degree and other programs on an international basis. The programs have been organized and developed using as a starting point the off-campus e!ternal degree concept tried and tested by the various universities without walls . There are no entry re"uirements for undergraduate courses. #ou decide how long you will ta$e to complete your course wor$. %hile you are studying& a teacher will be available to offer help& answer "uestions& and guide you through the learning process& but students are free to choose their own study pace. As an institution of distance learning& COU has been able to assemble a faculty of recognized e!perts from throughout the global mar$etplace. Our faculty consists of university professors& business e!ecutives& consultants& and other specialists. Though these instructors vary in sub'ect matter e!pertise& they share important attributes. All of them are actively practicing what they teach& and they are s$illed in imparting their $nowledge through distance learning
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channels and technology. COU is committed to providing e"ual opportunities for study. %e welcome applications from (nglish and )panish spea$ing people of all nationalities and from any bac$ground& regardless of race& gender& se!ual orientation& age& occupation& marital status& sensory or physical disability& religious or other beliefs. Commonwealth Open University is an international institution registered and established in the *ritish +irgin Islands ,U.-..& which has many students all over the world. COU educational programs are ac$nowledged as the foremost& with an e!cellent academic reputation. COU staff and lecturers are very committed to "uality in services. Our graduates have had remar$able success in having their degrees accepted. Although we can not guarantee that a COU degree will be accepted& we will gladly supply information to potential or current employers or institutions.

COU is organizational member of the United )tates /istance 0earning Association. The U)/0A mission is to support the development and application of distance learning& education and training by uniting learners around the world. %hether it is distance learning via satellite& videoconferencing& online or other means of distribution& U)/0A $eeps informed about technology development& design and application. U)/0A is the premier distance learning association around the world.

This web site is referenced by the International Center for )cientific 1esearch. CI1).2(T is the first and the most important scientific portal.

Accreditation and recognition is an e!tremely comple! issue& given that there are hundreds of accreditation bodies around the world& and no course is ever going to be accredited or recognised everywhere. The important thing is that you choose education that is going to be meaningful for what you need. The best indicators of our credibility are the "uality of our staff and the testimonials from our students. COU is accredited by the accrediting commission of %iener )chool for Advanced )tudies on 3lobal (ducation and /istance 0earning. Accreditation is an assurance and a guarantee that the learning offered is of uniform and sound "uality. COU has been assessed& e!amined& and verified by %)A).

COU formally announced on /ecember 45& 6778& the proposed development of a micro-satellite. The micro-satellite Igdal-4 will be a comparatively simple one weighing around 67 $g. It will have body-mounted solar panels generating about 97 %att of electrical power and will be spin-stabilised. The micro-satellite development will be a good opportunity for the students and the faculty of Commonwealth Open University to get an insight into the various aspects of space technology. It will also help them to conduct meaningful application studies and gain e!perience in satellite mission operations. This is e!pected to provide impetus
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for other universities to ta$e up similar pro'ects in the coming years.

Commonwealth Open University is I)O 8774 certified. I)O 8774 is the internationally recognised standard for the "uality management of businesses. It applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organisation supplies. It prescribes systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and e!pectations of customers are met. It is designed and intended to apply to virtually any product or service& made by any process anywhere in the world.

The /epartment of )ociology of the University is wor$ing on an investigation pro'ect on sociology of cyberspace. It is a collaborative pro'ect with coordinating professors from a variety of disciplines including sociology& anthropology& philosophy& business& art& and information technology. The sociology of cyberspace e!amines the contemporary revolution in human interaction via computer.

:athematics plays a $ey role in many processes affecting ;lanet (arth as an essential component of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. The /epartment of :athematics of the University will focus mathematical research in
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the fields of dynamic processes in the mantle& oceans& and atmosphere. COU is a participant in a special year of broadly based programs in 674< on the :athematics of ;lanet (arth. %e invite the COU community to propose wor$shops& thematic programs& and conferences that are aligned with this global initiative. )end your proposals to mathsearth@commonwealth.org

The COU *usiness Consulting )ervice is a student-run management consulting team& employing top business administration graduates and members of the faculty from Commonwealth Open University=s business programs. )ince 6779& our mission has been to provide affordable management consultancy services to organizations. %e provide a comprehensive range of consultancy services& specializing in the small-and-medium business& business start-up& and not-for-profit sectors. %e offer the service and dedication of a professional consulting firm& but at a fraction of the cost.

>ather +iana Institute of 3enetics is one of Commonwealth Open University research institutes. +I3 supports research on all aspects of genetics& basic biochemistry and cell biology. )cientists in the Institute use both plant and animal models to address fundamental "uestions in life sciences& such as genetic control of growth and development& gene e!pression& signal transduction& structural and functional genomics& biotech and molecular breeding& bioinformatics and systems biology.

%hat then is a +irtual University? A virtual university emulates a physical university& adding the global interactive advantage of computers in bridging time and space. It enables teaching and learning to occur anytime@anywhere. It has built in mechanisms for assessment and accountability. +irtual University programs may be housed within a conventional university& it can result from a consortium of universities such as the %estern 3overnorAs University& or it can originate in a teaching institution where no students are physically present& such as the Commonwealth Open University. >rom the (ditors (/-(ducation at a /istance. The United )tates /istance 0earning Association. Banuary 488C +olume 44D4 If you are not sure e!actly what you want to study& the Commonwealth Open University based in *ritish +irgin Islands offers *)& *A& :A& :)& :*A& and even ;h/ programs in a wide range of sub'ect areas. )imply supply them with your education and wor$ e!perience history and they will place you in a curriculum that is tailored specifically for you. (ducation on the Internet ;C Bournal /ecember 488C The page of Commonwealth Open University was selected as a 0in$s63o -ey 1esource in the /istance 0earning topic. (ach "uarter& 0in$s63o
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samples millions of web pages to determine which pages are most heavily cited by web pages authors. The -ey 1esource award is based on an analysis of millions of web pages. Any group or organization who conducts a similar analysis will arrive at similar conclusions. %hen 0in$s63o says your page is a -ey 1esource& we mean that your page is one of the most relevant pages related to a particular topic on the web today& using an ob'ective statistical measure applied to an e!tremely large data set. 0in$s63o Awards :ay 4888 I found COU to be very professional and responsive to student needs to ensure that the student made progress. #our guidance and professional assistance is superior. The caring attention from COU made the difference in my growth and e!periences. The way in which I had been furnished guidance is the way all learning institutions should operate. I had successfully completed my doctorate and I have you and COU to than$. I highly endorse Commonwealth Open University to any person desiring to complete the dream for their educational goals. Carl >. Eartig& ;h./.& C*:& CIA Banuary 677< I would li$e to than$ you for all your support& assistance& and efficiency over the last three years. It has been a pleasure communicating with you. I will not hesitate to recommend the University to friends and colleagues loo$ing to do distance learning Eelen >eatherby& :.)c. )eptember 6779
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I continue to be impressed with the focus of the course assignments and the efficient administration that COU provides. I e!pect to complete the :)c in (conomics course wor$ this Bune and I plan on continuing my educational pursuits. Beffrey 1iggs& ;h./. :ay 6775 I would li$e to compliment the Commonwealth Open University for the good planning of the course. The assignments helped the students to gain a solid understanding of the sub'ect and challenged the students to form their own ideas and opinions. I would certainly recommend the COU to anyone who is thin$ing about ta$ing a distance learning degree programme. Adele OA)hea& :.A. August 677F I personally found the course very useful and I am so proud to have pursued this course through COU. I $now a number of U2IC(> staff have underta$en their studies through COU and have always been successful in their careers. Eamida 1. 0ase$o& :.A. April 677C I am writing to inform you my COU degree has been of great benefit. In fact& the university in which I teach has permitted me greater latitude in teaching. On a personal professional level& I do believe my COU degree has created more visibility in my consultancy practice and my position as a hospital *oard ;resident. 1ichard Eamling& /.0itt.
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April 677G I am pleased to note my benefit from the :*A at COU. :y degree has served me well and I totally en'oy applying the $nowledge. Albert 1. :ichael& :*A :arch 6747 I have gained immense understanding of the world of business and that puts me an important step forward. Achieving my goal really changed my life& and helped me find powers in myself I did not have before. 1odric$ )a$amba& :*A Banuary 6744

Corporate officers 1.A. Carba'ales& ;h./. CEO :.B. 1ossi& ;h./. Director of Education :.0. 1ua& :.A. Admissions & Operations /. %illiams& :.)c. Student Services

Ad'unct faculty :.-. 1abbani *huiyan& *.)c& :.)c. ;h./.


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University of /ha$a& 3ifu University ).A. Chowdhury& *.)c.& :.(ng.& ;h./. Chittagong University& -agoshima University A. Triguero (gea& :.A.& ;h./. University of Oviedo >. 3reenwood&*.A.& :.*.A.& ;h./. *uc$nell University& University of )outhern California B.%. Earris& *.A.& :.)c.& ;h./. +irginia Union University& 2ova University C. )iew Eun& *achelor of Accountancy& :.*.A. University of ;utra& Earvard University -.A. Iannone& *.A.& :.)c.& ;h./. University of California& ). Illinois University& /elaware University :. Aslam -han& *.Com& :aster in ;ublic Administration Clemson University 1.E. %halley& *.A.& :.)c. COU B.(. :an$ows$y& *.A.& :.).%.& 0.C.).%. Chapman University& University of California (.A. :athews& *.)c.& B./.& :.)c.& ;h./. University of :innesota 3. 2ambiar& 00.*.,Eons. )chool of 0aw of (sse! *. 2elson& *.)c. :.)c.& ;h./. (mporia )tate University& :emphis )tate University /. 2ewling& :.)c.& ;h./. University of %est Indies U. ;az& *.A.,Eons. University of 0ondon C.B. 1oss& *.A.,Eons.& :.A.& ;h./. 1odhes University& University of )outh Africa A. )ivera& :.)c.& ;h./. COU
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-. )ubramanian& *.)c.& *.(ng& :.(ng.& /.)c. :adras University& Indian Institute of )cience A. -umar& *.)c.& *.(d.& :.(d.& ;h./. Calicut University& -arnata$a University& CC) University -.). Chandrase$ar& *.)c.,Eons.& :.*.A.& ;h./. *irla Institute of Technology& *harathiar University& Alagappa University A.E. +erster& ;h./. U2I)A ).-. /ash& :.A.& :.;hil.& ;h./. Eanyang University /. Iornem& :.)c.& ;h./.& /.0itt. Eeriot-%att University ;.A. Agashua& *.)c.,Eons.& :aster in Clinical ;sychology& ;h./. University of (dinburgh& University of 0iverpool& University of 0agos B. 1oberts& *.A.& :.A.& ;h./. 2orth Te!as )tate University& University of %isconsin& California )tate University 2.C. -umarasinghe& *.)c.& :.)c.& ;h./. University of )ri Bayewardenapura& University of )outhampton /.*. %einer& *.A.& :.A.& ;h./. Eadassah Community College& Eebrew University of Berusalem :.B. )nell& *.A.& :.*.A.& /.*.A. %ashington )tate University& University Of ;hoeni! B.B. 0e+es"ue& *.A& :.*.A.& /.*.A. University of )arasota& University of /allas& Our 0ady of the 0a$e 0. Adamole$un& *.A. :aster in ;ublic Administration& ;h./. University of Ibadan& Obafemi Awolowo University& University of O!ford
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Eonorary members of the faculty :ohammed Abuba$ar& 1aphael Adebayo& Iyorchia Ayu& Ale'andro *erlin& Theodore A. *urger& Carlos Campoy& Eenry /.1. Carrol& 0avelda /avis& +ictor (. (ffiom& 0uis >ernandez& :ichael >esta& %alter 1. >risby& Bose :. 3ay& Bose :. 3allego& Boseph E. 3elberman& >ran$lin /. Eall& )cott >. Eall& Busuf Eariman& )yed A. Eassan& 0iezl Eerholdt& :arius /. Eerholdt& -assim :. -hamis& )um-%ah 0am& %ooi *. 0ee& /aniel 0emmer& Buan (. 0laneza& Bulia 0oytved& ;aul %. :iller& Eadi :oghadasi& >rederic$ :. :onderson& Andy 2g #o$e *eng& Banice A. 2ielsen& Bohan ;otgieter& -.0. :ichael ;rendergast B1& 2aomi ). ;rendergast& 1oger 1oss& )tefanus ). )aaiman& :ichael 0. )iebers& 0orraine E. Teller& Bavier Teres& :ario Teres& >eli! Tomillo& ;ierre B.:. van 2ie$er$& 3overt %esterveld& Bohn E. %il$inson.

Affiliated organizations Institucion de 2uevas ;rofesiones The 2ational Institute of *usiness Administration and Information )cience Advance Academy 1esources )dn *hd All >aiths )eminary International

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2ew Idea :anagement Consultants

Commonwealth Open University Eead"uartersH )ea :eadow Eouse *lac$burne Eighway ;.O.*o! 44F 1oad Town& Tortola +34447 *ritish +irgin Islands ,U.-.. >a!@+oiceH 4-<75-FC5-<C<8 bvi@commonwealth.org International Information Centre cou@commopu.org Admissions I Operations admissions@off campus.org )tudent )ervices services@commonwealth.org !abbi Dinis Alvares Carva"ales College of Bewish )tudies "ewish@commonwealth.org #ar$uis d%Olhonce Institute olhonce@commonwealth.org

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#acht Club commodore@commonwealth.org Courses for )panish )pea$ing )tudents commopu@telecable.es

&hile ever' effort has been made to ensure accurac'( this information is sub"ect to later alteration or amendment in the light of polic' changes or other constraints. )he Universit' does not intend b' publication of this information to create an' contractual or other legal relation with applicants( registered students( their advisers or an' other person. Commonwealth Open Universit' has no relation with )he Open Universit'.

Eome About COU /egree ;rograms >inancial Information Application +irtual 0ibrary

on 3lobal (ducation and /istance 0earning

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JK %)A) offers to distance learning institutions relevant services for the 64st Century. %)A) is an independent (uropean certification and accreditation agency as well as in-company training provider for the distance education sector.

3eneral Information %)A) is an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to global education studies. %)A) promotes e!cellence in open& distance& and online learning worldwide& and provides a benchmar$ through which global consumers can gauge the "uality of courses offered. %)A) has been able to assemble a team of recognized e!perts from throughout the world. %iener )chool for Advanced )tudies on 3lobal (ducation and /istance 0earning ,%)A). is an association of educators and others whose activities are directed toward improving instruction by distance learning. %)A) staff may be found in colleges and universitiesL in industryL in museums and librariesL in the many places where educational change is underway. %)A) staff members carry out a wide range of responsibilities in the study& planning& application& and production of communications media for instruction.

Certification of ;roviders

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Accreditation is a validation process by which educational institutions are evaluated. The standards used to conduct these evaluations vary. /uring the 4887s& controversy arose over the accreditation of global and virtual universities. This issue has not yet been settled. )ome of us thin$ that new standards are needed to properly evaluate distance education. The fact is that many distance education programs cross regional borders and are offered all over the world. 2ew international standards are needed in order to evaluate these schools. It is important to understand that the term accredited is used rather loosely by some institutions. There are many accrediting agencies that operate in less than reputable ways. The Accreditation ;rocess To pass accreditation standards& every educational institution must have welldefined educational ob'ectives along with an overall mission. All these goals& educational standards& degree programs& mission of institution and other important documents must be presented to %)A). In turn& the accrediting commission will go through all the documentation and ma$e further actions. %)A) e!amines the schoolAs overall administration& faculty& technical& physical& and financial resources& integrity and ethical standards. 2ew applicants for accreditation will follow a two-step process& which allows a thorough assessment of applicant colleges prior to full accreditation by the accrediting commission of %)A). )tep 4 is a paper-based submission comprising an application form and substantial supporting documentation& which are chec$ed against our accreditation criteria by %)A)As e!perienced staff to determine the collegeAs suitability for accreditation. )tep 6 constitutes on-site inspection of the college& focusing in the main on regulatory compliance and more in-depth aspects of provision respectively. After a satisfactory )tep 6 inspection& the accreditation may be confirmed for up to five years.

Tel./Fax (Austria, Vienna): +43 125367224959 info@wienerschool.org CEO: H. Mayer, J.D. ceo@wienerschool.org

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Degree *rograms

*A and *)c degrees >or a *achelor of Arts or *achelor of )ciences degree you need to accumulate a total of 467 points. All undergraduate foundation courses are currently rated as 67 points and your degree can be made up of any combination of courses. If you have successfully completed degree level wor$ elsewhere& you can apply for this to be counted towards your COU degree. Credit transfer reduces the number of COU credit points which you need to gain for a degree. %e need to see the details before we can decide the e!act credit rating. This will be in 67 point steps. %hen you have obtained 467 points you "ualify for the award of a *A or a *)c degree. %hich it is will depend on whether the ma'ority of your credits are arts based or science based. :any of our courses can count for either award and if there is no clear bias to one or the other& you will be as$ed which designation you prefer. The official academic record& the transcript& is issued by the University upon graduation. This important and useful document is not only proof of graduation& it also records all credit points that were awarded to the student towards his or her COU degree. %e also offer a *A degree in )ocial )ciences and a *)c degree in *usiness Administration for which there are mandatory
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foundation courses. Throughout the courses you are e!pected to underta$e assignments. These are usually mar$ed by your tutor& who will comment constructively on your wor$. At the end of all undergraduate courses and before getting your degree you sit a two hour final e!amination administered by an approved proctor.

Undergraduate foundation courses


4477-77 Eistory 4447-77 Art Eistory 4467-77 (nglish 0iterature 44<7-77 Eistory of :usic 4497-77 ;hilosophy 4457-77 Bewish )tudies 6477-77 :anagement 6447-77 :ar$eting 6467-77 )trategic ;lanning 64<7-77 Euman 1esources 6497-77 Information Technology 6457-77 Tourism <477-77 ;sychology <447-77 (conomics <467-77 )ociology <4<7-77 3eography <497-77 Anthropology
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<457-77 (ducation <4F7-77 International 1elations 9477-77 :athematics 9447-77 ;hysics 9467-77 Chemistry 94<7-77 *iology 9497-77 (cology 9457-77 *otany 94F7-77 Moology 94C7-77 3eology 94G7-77 Astronomy 9487-77 /iet and 2utrition 9<G7-77 Anatomy 9<87-77 ;hysiology

All undergraduate foundation courses are currently rated as 67 points including sub'ects of levels one& two& and three. E+)E! ,E!E -O! DE.!EE CU!!/CU0U#

:A& :)c and :*A degrees >or a masterAs degree you need to accumulate a total of 97 points. A bachelorAs degree is a prere"uisite for COU acceptance& but applicants aged thirty and over who do not hold a bachelorAs degree will be considered on merit on
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the basis of professional e!perience and prior training& private study& etc.& if it is felt that the applicant may be capable of successfully completing a program. At COU we believe in giving you all the credit you have earned& even when you have earned it outside of a classroom. That is why we will consider awarding you credit for life e!perience and past wor$ success. %e personally evaluate each individualAs bac$ground and strive to give credit wherever we can. Through our application evaluation process& you can earn up to 67 credit points or 57 percent of your advanced degree. Throughout the courses you are e!pected to underta$e assignments. These are usually mar$ed by your tutor& who will comment constructively on your wor$. All students will be re"uired to present a final pro'ect in a preapproved sub'ect area.

:asterAs degrees

:A in ;sychology :A in )ociology :A in Anthropology :A in (nglish 0iterature :A in Eistory :A in Art Eistory :A in (ducation :A in ;hilosophy :A in )ocial ;olicy :A in International 1elations
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:A in Criminology :A in Bewish )tudies :A in Eistory of :usic :)c in :anagement :)c in ;ro'ect :anagement :)c in :ar$eting :)c in Tourism :anagement :)c in (conomics :)c in :athematics :)c in (nvironmental )ciences :)c in Oceanography :)c in Information Technology :)c in Organizational *ehavior :)c in )port :anagement :)c in Eealthcare :anagement :)c in Corporate >inance :)c in ;ublic 1elations :)c in 3enetics :)c in Euman 2utrition :aster of *usiness Administration ,:*A.

E+)E! ,E!E -O! DE.!EE CU!!/CU0U#

/octorAs degrees The research doctoral degree is designed to prepare one for scholarship& systematic in"uiry
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and research. These ;h/ degrees re"uire 57 points beyond the masterAs. )end us copies of your transcripts and we will develop a customized degree plan stating e!actly what is needed to complete your doctorate in the shortest time and least cost. %e offer ;h/ degrees in (nglish 0iterature& (ducation& Eistory& Art Eistory& ;hilosophy& )ociology& ;sychology& Criminology& Anthropology& International 1elations& )ocial ;olicy& Bewish )tudies& (nvironmental )ciences& Information Technology& (conomics& Corporate >inance& Organizational *ehavior& :ar$eting& :anagement& ;ro'ect :anagement& ;ublic 1elations& Tourism& Euman 2utrition& and Interdisciplinary )tudies.

Eonorary degrees Commonwealth Open University has designated its honorary degrees as /octor of the University ,/.Univ.. and :aster of the University ,:.Univ... The recipients receive them because of their success and ma'or achievements in their chosen profession& or their service to their community or the world. Applications for potential candidates are always welcome.

;lanning your time )tudents are free to choose their own study pace. An estimate is that it is possible to complete 97 credit points in one year ,46 months.. :*A an ;h/ degrees re"uire more time& being the estimate <7 credits per year. >or
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this purpose& the time involved would be about 49 hours of study a wee$. )tudents are given a ma!imum of one year for completion of each undergraduate foundation course. All masterAs and doctorAs degree programs are re"uired to be finished within three years. If more time is needed& you may re"uest an e!tension.

3rading system COU awards letter grades as followsH !"#er$%r 4 &ra'e #%$()* + ,era&e 3 &ra'e #%$()* 1 &ra'e #%$() C -a**$(& 2 &ra'e #%$()* D -%%r F Fa$l"re . &ra'e #%$() A grade point average of <.7 is re"uired for graduation. 0earners who fail may reta$e e!aminations upon successful application to the /irector of (ducation and payment of a re-e!am fee.

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