Athbasca University Centre for Science
Lab Exemptions
Biology Labs
For ALL Biology courses (except BIOL325, see below), and SCIE 495 and 496, no lab exemptions are permitted. For courses with home labs - all home lab components are compulsory.
Microbiology Labs
A lab exemption will only be granted in exceptional cases. Lab exemptions for Biology 325* may be granted if:
1. an equivalent microbiology course has been taken at a recognized institution.
2. the course has been taken within the last 5 years.
3. the student achieved greater than 50% on the lab component.
These criteria must be supported by an official transcript that shows a separate grade for the 'equivalent laboratory component' of the course. If the lab mark is not shown as a separate mark on the official transcript, then you must arrange to send a 'Lab Exemption Request
Letter' from the lab coordinator at the previously attended institution to the AU Science Lab Coordinator (see contact information below).
Once you are lab exempted there is a course mark redistribution so that your final mark is determined only by course work done with Athabasca University.
For more details on the course mark redistribution, please contact the Lab Coordinator.
The microbiology lab exemption request information should be directly sent to:
Robert Carmichael
Science Laboratory Coordinator
Athabasca University
1 University Drive,
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Email: robertc@athabascau.ca, SUBJECT=Lab Exemptions
Telephone: (780) 675-6276
Fax: (780) 675-6186
*BIOL325 Lab exemption information must be received BEFORE the course
contract end date.
The final grade for the course cannot be processed until the official transcript has been received by Athabasca University.
Chemistry Labs
Lab exemptions* for a specific chemistry course at Athabasca University can be granted only if:
A. an equivalent chemistry course has been taken, and
B. the course was taken within the last 5 years, and
C. the student obtained a clear pass (greater than 60%) on the lab component.
Note: Only official, organized laboratory components of credit courses offered at other institutions can be used for lab exemptions.
The above can be shown by either:
A. producing an official transcript that shows a separate grade for the laboratory component, or
B. arranging for an official letter, on letterhead from the Chemistry Department of the college or university that includes:
- a subject line stating the name, code(s) of the Athabasca University course(s), and # of credits for which you are seeking a lab exemption: (e.g., General Chemistry I, CHEM 217, 3 credits)
- the name, code(s) of the course(s), and # of credits taken at the sending institution. (e.g., Organic Chemistry I, CHEM XYZ, 3 credits)
- the date when the student took the course(s) (e.g., Fall Term: Sep-Dec, 1998).
- the students approximate lab mark or Pass/Fail.
Note: The external laboratory grade will not be imported. Your final mark will be determined by course work done with Athabasca University.
The information should be directly sent to:
Robert Carmichael
Science Laboratory Coordinator
Athabasca University
1 University Drive,
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Email: robertc@athabascau.ca
Telephone: (780) 675-6276
Fax: (780) 675-6186
*Lab exemption information must be received BEFORE the students course contract date.
Note: Your final grade at AU cannot be processed until we receive your official transcript or letter.
Geography Labs
For ALL Geography courses - no lab exemptions are allowed.
Geology Labs
For all Geology courses - no lab exemptions are allowed.
Physics Lab Exemptions
Exemptions are granted upon evaluation of material sent by the student. It is recommended that this be done before starting the AU course.
There are three options for the material to be sent for evaluation.
Option A:
1. The student's (marked) lab reports.
2. The original lab manual
Option B:
1. An official transcript that shows a separate grade for the laboratory component.
2. The titles of lab experiments completed by the student plus a brief description (one paragraph) of each experiment.
Option C:
An official letter on letterhead from the Physics Department of the college or university that includes:
1. The name and code of the physics course, and number of credits taken at at the sending institution.
2. The date when the student took the course (e.g. Fall Term 1998).
3. The student's lab mark.
4. The titles of lab experiments completed by the student plus a brief description (one paragraph) of each experiment.
In certain cases the lab manual is not required.The material is evaluated and a mark is assigned which is allowed as all or part of the AU lab mark. In some cases partial credit is granted but the student will be required to do specified AU labs. There are no appeals of this decision but the student retains the option to do the AU labs for their course instead of taking the lab exemption. AU labs are home labs and students may be disadvantaged in doing further lab work with AU if their previous labs were done in a standard setting.
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