Study by Contract
This option offers students the opportunity of taking courses through a written agreement with a professor which specifies the manner in which students will complete course objectives and content. The agreement stipulates the learning activities that students promise to carry out on an individual basis. Faculty members serve as facilitators in the learning process, evaluate the accomplishments and certify completion of course requirements.
To qualify for a course by contract graduate students must abide by the following guidelines:
- This modality is available to students taking the course for the first time and who have completed 50% of the total credits required for the graduate degree with a general grade point average of no lower than 3.30.
- Only those courses whose very nature will permit it can be offered through contract. Laboratories, conference/laboratories, practicums, and courses similar to these cannot be offered by contract. The faculty of the specialization of each Campus will decide which courses may be offered by this modality.
- The contract between the student and the professor will require the endorsement of the Department Director.
- The agreement between the student and the professor will require the approval of the Dean of the Faculty or the Dean of Academic Affairs.
The Department should abide by the following norms:
- The Study by Contract modality can not be used to repeat a course.
- Faculty, who have been assigned Study by Contract courses, should have additional office hours reserved for their students.
- Students in a master’s program will be able to complete a maximum of two required courses for the degree in the contract modality. The Department Director, for valid reasons, may authorize additional courses to be taken by contract.
Portfolio
Graduate students have the option of completing a course by using the Portfolio course of study modality. In this modality graduate students present evidence of their experience and achievements which are equivalent to the skills and competencies to be offered in the university course. Candidates offer evidence of their experience and achievements in their Portfolios in such a way that they identify, organize, and establish evidence to support course accreditation.
- This modality will be available to all students at any moment according to the specifications of the Program.
- The faculty of each graduate program will determine the courses to be accredited through the Portfolio Modality. Laboratories, Conference/laboratories, practicums and other similar courses will not be offered in this modality.
- The Dean of the Division or Dean of Academic Affairs will approve all students’ requests for Portfolio courses, and will ratify a signed agreement between the student and the professor.
- “Accreditation of Learning Experiences through Portfolio” will be recorded on the official transcript to complete the administrative process.
Graduate students will be allowed to take up to one third of the total credits of the graduate program through Contract or Portfolio modalities.
Special Topics
Special topics permit the offering of courses that enrich the student’s academic development. These offerings may be made when special circumstances or rare events occur or when an outstanding specialist in the field is available for teaching the course.
Special Topics are governed by the following norms:
- Special Topics may be offered with a value of from 1 to 6 credits per course.
- The course must be authorized by the Department Chairperson, Division Dean and, finally, by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
- The title of the course will appear on student transcripts.
- Special Topics in all disciplines are identified by the combination 597 or 797 in the first three digits (597 master’s degrees; 797 doctoral degrees).
- Regular courses described in this catalog may not be taken as Special Topics.
Experimental Courses
Designating courses as “Experimental” permits the temporary offering of new courses not appearing on the official course lists of the University, thus making it possible for these courses to be offered experimentally while being evaluated. Experimental courses may be offered in accord with the following norms:
- Experimental courses may be offered with a value of from 1 to 6 credits per course.
- Experimental courses must be authorized by the director of the department, the dean of faculty, if applicable, the the Dean of Academic Affairs.
- After an experimental course has been offered for two academic years, the course must be evaluated by the department, dean of faculty, if applicable, and by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
- If the recommendation is favorable to include this course as a regular one, the resolution to this effect will be sent to the Academic Senate.
- The title of experimental courses will appear on student transcripts.
Internship Programs
Students that have approved 12 credits or more and are interested in applying and enriching what they have learned in the classroom through real work experiences related to their specialization may apply to participate in internship programs if they qualify. University credits may be received for the internship according to the criteria established by the program of study faculty.
The faculty of the program or specialization will recommend the credits to be awarded. This experience does not replace the Internship required by the program of studies
Information on internship programs may be obtained from the Dean of Students or the Dean of Academic Affairs of each campus.
Cooperative Education
Courses in this modality provide students, at the master's level, with practical experiences to develop skills that will help them be more productive in the work environment. This type of study is characterized by formally integrating academic studies with work experiences outside the university campus.
All students who wish to take Cooperative Education courses must meet the following requirements:
- Have approved a minimum of 12 credits with a minimum general academic index of 3.00.
- Have completed an application and satisfied all interview requirements as required by the employer or potential employer.
Students may take a maximum of nine (9) credits in Cooperative Education in graduate programs. These courses will be available to the extent that there is a participating work scenario.
Online Education
Online Education is conceived as formal educational process in which the major part of the instruction occurs when the student and the instructor are not in the same place at the same time. This is a planned experience in which the variety of synchronic and asynchronic technologies such as: email, videoconferences, interactive videoconference in audio and in video, and other modalities to promote learning when the student is at a different location from that of the professor. These experiences are designed to stimulate interaction and verification of learning.
Technologies and Media Used in Online Education
Inter American University has incorporated the following technologies and media into its teaching and learning process.
Interactive Videoconference
These are courses offered by the synchronic modality that consists in interactive transmission of video, voice and data. The course originates in one place with participating students in remote localities. The faculty-student and student-student interaction occurs in a simultaneous or synchronic manner. The instructor may make use of electronic presentations and other computerized materials, as well as segments of video and other educational materials. This implies previous and extensive planning and development of such materials. In addition, the prior sending of materials for each session by means of fax, Web, or Internet is required. Also, the presence of a facilitator or official in charge of the discipline (for example, a teaching assistant or graduate student in an internship) and compatible videoconference equipment are required at the remote sites.
Courses On-Line
Courses are offered through the World Wide Web. Students have computers with access to Internet where they will receive materials and send their assignments and other work. The communication and interactivity between faculty-student and student-student is attained primarily through Internet, telephone and fax. This modality requires the development of all materials and their inclusion in a Web server prior to the initiation of the course offering. If students desire to access the courses from outside the University, the Institution guarantees them remote access to information resources but students are responsible for having their own computers.
Video Courses
These are courses prerecorded in video for loan, rent or sale to online learning students. The faculty-student interaction is accomplished by telephone, fax, Internet or other means designated by the faculty.
Email Courses
These are courses for which students are given the course syllabus, course materials and an e-mail account. Students have computers with access to Internet to communicate with the instructor. The communication and interactivity between faculty-student and student-student is attained primarily by e-mail. If students desire to have access to Internet from outside the University, the Institution guarantees them remote access to information resources but it will be the responsibility of the students to have their own computer.
In summary, the combination of media and technology and their complementary use in the traditional classroom promise to enrich learning experiences at the University.
Proctored Evaluations
Refers to assessments that ensure student authentication, integrity in the educational process, and academic rigor. Distance courses include, at least, a proctored activity or assessment.
The institution establishes the rules and procedures for the administration of proctored evaluations by authorized personnel or means, and the service provider's guidelines.
The academic units will decide which types of activities or evaluations will be submitted to the proctored procedure, as one of the means to validate the identity of an online student.
Teleconference Center
The University has a Teleconference Center whose mission is the systemic coordination of the application of telecommunication tools as well as those of interactive videoconferences in online learning. This Center promotes faculty competence and interactive online learning through courses, teleconferences, meetings, seminars, and conferences. The Center provides simultaneous interaction with video, voice and data, which permits complete interaction between faculty members and students located at distant sites. At present, the Central Office of the System, as well as the Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón (including the School of Aeronautics), Guayama, Metropolitan, Ponce and San Germán campuses have videoconference rooms equipped with advanced telecommunications technology which permits the integration of multimedia.