Frequently Asked Questions

The Division of Online Learning was conceived with YOU in mind—people who are busy yet determined enough to take a forward leap in their professional career; people who not only want to satisfy personal achievement goals but who want to be of greater service to God and humanity! Through online learning, quality education is no longer impossible whenever or wherever you may be, in the office or in the comfort of your home, daytime or night time. Yet, in spite of this flexibility, you can receive the same quality education as any on-campus experience.

But why choose AIIAS? AIIAS is an international institution of higher learning. Its academic programs are accredited by the Adventist Accreditation Association (AAA), the Philippine Association of Christian Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and the Association for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (ATESEA). Its faculty is carefully selected from different countries, bringing with them a rich experience of an international standard. As such, it also caters to students from around the world, regardless of religion, race, or creed. The richness of online resources, the concomitant activities that are done in students’ strategic localities, and the interactions and sharing with students from around the globe make up the curriculum of an online course in AIIAS.

So decide NOW. Take control of your career and life through e-Education! Send us an e-mail or download the AIIAS Application Form.

Who can apply?

The Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) welcomes applications from persons showing initiative, maturity, and interest in learning. AIIAS accepts all applicants irrespective of color, race, sex and religion as long as they are supportive of the mission, goals, and values of the SDA Church.

Anyone who has a baccalaureate degree and has fulfilled the respective prerequisites for each of the online programs may enroll. These prerequisites are detailed in your chosen graduate degree program. Some technical requirements also need to be satisfied before starting the online course.

When to apply?

If you think you can fulfill all the requirements to be admitted in any of our online programs, and decide to apply, congratulations! You are now a step ahead toward fulfilling your dreams. You must, however, send your application to us at least three months before you intend to start your coursework. This is to allow sufficient time for processing your credentials.

How do I “attend” classes?

The AIIAS online learning program utilizes the AIIAS-DOL custom-built Learning Management System via the Internet to create virtual classrooms that provide instructional content as well as personalized learning experiences. Course participants access course syllabi, announcements, and course materials online, while engaging in an array of learning activities-such as online forums, threaded discussions, real-time chats, and team-based projects-that facilitate frequent student-teacher and student-student interaction.

An online course functions principally through cohort, non-simultaneous learning. Although class participants begin and end a subject together and progress through the major topics on a week by week basis, they are generally not required to be online at a specific time. Rather, students sign on and participate at times convenient to them, within the overall course calendar. Course requirements typically include a number of the following: reading and response to online articles and web pages, participation in class discussion, case studies, exercises, position papers, reports of fieldwork, collaborative projects, research activities, and examinations.

In essence, online graduate programs at AIIAS-DOL connect a student to faculty, classmates, advisors, and other experts in the field through today's communication technology. Online courses are typically developed and taught by the same qualified faculty that teach courses on the main AIIAS campus.

How are assessment procedures conducted?

Assessment procedures in online courses can be in the form of assignments, case studies, research projects, online discussions, and examinations. Online discussions consist of student-professor and student-student interactions via the discussion board or chat room. Examinations can be online or proctored in a time and place within the student’s vicinity that is specified by AIIAS. In proctored exams, students will be required to present government issued identity document (e.g. passport, driver’s license) to the official AIIAS proctor. This document must contain the student’s photograph.

After the examinations are submitted or grades in various evaluation procedures posted by the instructor, the course management system automatically computes the grades of the students. A student can then periodically check his/her grade to determine his/her status in the course.

Can I transfer graduate credits from other institutions?

Graduate courses taken at AIIAS or at another recognized or accredited institution (including a graduate-level correspondence program) may be transferred to an AIIAS program if the credit meets all of the following conditions:

• Approval of the program committee and school dean.
• A transcript or official certification is submitted.
• A grade was earned which meets the minimum transfer policy of the student’s program.
• The credits would be accepted at the institution at which they were taken as credit toward an advanced degree.
• The credits are not more than 8 years old at the time of acceptance.
• The course is equivalent to the course for which credit is being sought. Equivalency must be established by the program director.

How long will it take me to finish my master’s degree?

Courses in each degree programs are offered one at a time for a maximum of four courses (of three credits each) per year. This is to allow you to concentrate more deeply in each subject area. Thus, it could take you as little as 3 years to finish a 36-unit master’s degree. The length of study will depend on your determination to finish the program in the shortest possible time.

However, although registration for online courses is a prerogative of the student, you must still abide with the AIIAS policy on time limitation for academic credit. This policy states that all credits for all programs—including transfer credits—which are to be applied toward graduation, must have been earned within 10 years prior to the graduation date. Information Systems courses must be updated if earned more than 3 years prior to graduation.

How can I be successful in an online course?

Although an online course may not be fully self-paced because of course schedules and deadlines, the decision to participate is always a personal choice. No matter how much the instructor encourages you to join discussion boards and submit projects, if you are not determined enough to fulfill such requirements as expected, then success will be distant. As in any graduate level course, much of the students’ success comes through personal decision to learn through deep research, reflective reading, interaction with other members of the class, and careful study of the materials provided by the instructors who act as facilitators to their learning.

It is therefore expected that students who enroll in online courses must be self-directed and deeply motivated to study and finish the course requirements. It is suggested that a specified time and/or day within a week be set aside solely for study. Frequent postponement of study schedules could be disastrous.

Always bear in mind that AIIAS is just a ‘click’ away from you. If you have problems, questions, or need assistance, do not hesitate to communicate with us. The Online team is always here to provide you support in your e-learning experience.

How much does it cost?

To gain access to a quality education, such as offered by AIIAS, has never been as convenient as now. Through online learning you can enroll without going through the costly process of leaving regular employment and moving residence. The fees to be paid by students are as follows:

To estimate the total study expenses for a student who desires to take a 36-unit
(i.e., 12 courses) master’s degree program, registering one course at a time, it is likely to cost him/her between US$4,000 and US$5,000 to finish the whole program.

Example of Evaluation Administrative Fee Computation

For a student in Korea:
Wage Factor: KRW 1,380,000 ≈ US$1,340
Evaluation Administrative Fee for Korea in 2005 = US$50.00*

For a student in the Philippines:
Wage Factor: PhP 19,000 ≈ US$345
Evaluation Administrative Fee for the Philippines in 2005 = US$14.00*

* Pay only 50% of this amount if 3 or more students will take the test at the same time.

How do I make payments?

Tuition fee is to be paid in full upon registration for a course. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars, except for those residing in the Philippines who may pay in the local currency. Students may send their payments to AIIAS through any of the following four modes of payment:

1. Payment may be made by direct deposit to the AIIAS bank account at the Philippine National Bank, Silang, Cavite Branch in the following account numbers: (a) # 665-702074-3 for all dollar payments (b) # 665-830055-3 for Philippine peso payments. This will be accepted as payment upon posting to the AIIAS account by the bank. Details of your deposit should be sent via e-mail to finance@aiias.edu.

2. Payment may be made by authorization by the student’s Seventh-day Adventist Union Conference or Division office for the passing of a Debit Memo from AIIAS to the local Union or Division. This would require that the student make a deposit to the said Union or Division office to cover the Debit Memo upon its arrival. The local Union or Division office should notify finance@aiias.edu of the authorization and it will be accepted as payment when the Debit Memo is issued by AIIAS.

3. Payment may be made by sending of a Credit Memo from the student’s local Union or Division office to AIIAS. AIIAS will recognize this as payment upon receipt of the memo from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division office. Take note that this process may take a month or more to reach AIIAS.

4. Payment may be made by Credit Card at the General Conference headquarters office by sending by e-mail to NestaresR@gc.adventist.org, or by Fax to 301-680-5011 in the United States, or by regular mail to Raul Nestares at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, USA, the following information.

NOTE: The student must first receive an acknowledgement of payment before he can be considered enrolled in a course.

How do I enroll in an online course?

1. All applicants are required to prepare the following for admission to AIIAS:
   a) A completed Application for Admission form ( download here)
   b) An application fee of US$90 in check or bank draft payable to Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (Division of Online Learning)
   c) A photocopy of your college/university diploma(s)
   d) Three (3) recent passport size photographs
   e) Graduate Evaluation Forms ( download here) from two (2) persons (not related to the applicant and preferably from a college teacher, an immediate supervisor, employer or a church leader)
   f) The original Official Transcript of Record (in English Language). If the original transcript is in a language other than English, an official English translation should be attached to the original. (Please see #3 below for more details).
   g) Proof of English Proficiency*: Either one of the following—A score of 80% or higher on the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP); a score of 550 or higher on the written Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or a score of 213 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL.

* Not required from students whose primary language is English or for those who hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree from schools with English as the medium of instruction.

2. Send your Application Form along with your application fee, a photocopy of your diploma, photographs, and proof of English proficiency by Registered Mail (EMS, LBC, or DHL) to:

AIIAS Division of Online Learning
P. O. Box 038
Lalaan I, Silang, Cavite 4118
Philippines

Telephone #: (63)(46) 414-4571 or 4564
Fax #: (63)(46) 414-4310

E-mail: online@aiias.edu

3. The original Official Transcript of Record must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the registrar of the college attended to the AIIAS Division of Online Learning at the above address.
4. The Graduate Evaluation forms must be sent by the recommending party also to the above address. (Note: Please check later to make sure it was sent.)
5. An assessment of the student’s application will be done by the program director. The student will be notified through e-mail of the outcome by the Admissions Officer. If accepted to the desired program, the student will receive a login name and password to access the Registration Form at online.aiias.edu
6. The student must fill in the Registration Form for the course he/she pleases to enroll in and submit it electronically to the same web address.
7. The student will receive an assessment of all fees, which should be paid in full. (See How much does it cost? for the details of fees to be paid and the mode of payment.)
8. Tuition and registration fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and apply only to the current term. Please understand that these fees cannot be refunded if you change your mind after one week or personal issues interfere with your studies. If you are unable to complete a class, you may retake the course at a more convenient time, but you will be required to pay tuition again.
9. The student will receive an acknowledgement of payment, which signifies that he/she is now officially enrolled, together with complete instructions from the course instructor on how to start the challenging experience of online learning.

What kind of computer and software do I need to take this class?

Your computer must have the following minimum specifications:

Hardware:

• CPU 233Mhz or faster
• 64MB RAM or higher
• Modem 56k or better
• Enough hard disk space to store course documents offline

Software:

• Internet browsers that supports XML, Macromedia Flash or Shockwave plug-ins, and Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x or better)
• JAVA Runtime Engine or Virtual Machine (e.g. jre-1_5_0_06-windows-i586-p.exe)
• Any office suite able to recognize Microsoft Office '97 document formats (e.g. Microsoft Office, Star Office, Open Office 2.x, etc.)
• Any file compression utility (e.g. WinZip, WinRar, ZipGenius, etc.)
• A PDF document reader/viewer (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader)

I have more questions, whom should I contact?

If you still have questions or need more help, please contact:

The Director
AIIAS Division of Online Learning
Lalaan 1, P.O. Box 038, Silang 4118
Cavite, Philippines Phone: [63] (046) 4144-300 (local 363 or 571 or 564)

E-mail: online@aiias.edu