Frequently Asked Questions
What are ULCs?
ULCs are a selection of first-year college courses offered online through ASU. Enrollment in ULCs allows students to engage in rigorous college-level courses in preparation for university, and earn college credit for a fraction of the cost.
What are the advantages of taking ULCs?
Through ULCs, students have the opportunity to study university content and earn college credits while still in high school. Taking a university level course in high school prepares students for the rigors of university.
The course content is identical to an on-campus course and courses are taught by ASU faculty. ULC credits may be applied to degree programs at ASU or transferred to other institutions. ASU courses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and are accepted widely by most academic institutions. Acceptance of credit is determined by the receiving institution.
How do students earn college credit through ULCs?
Credit for ULCs is earned when students successfully pass the course with a “C” or higher. Students may then request that the course is added to their transcript, thereby earning credit, or retake the course for a higher grade. There is no penalty for failure – grades appear on a student's transcript only if they are satisfied with the grade. ULCs appear on transcripts as a course taken on campus by an enrolled ASU student.
What is the cost of ULCs?
The cost of enrolling in a ULC through GEMS Education is $400. Students are able to audit a course for free, but the course cannot be added to their transcript.
How were students selected for the ULC pilot program at DAA?
A rigorous selection process was carried out by Dubai American Academy administration and subject specialists to identify Grade 9-12 students best suited for the ULC pilot. Factors such as cumulative grade point average, CAT-4, MAP, and PASS data, and teacher and counselor recommendation informed the selection of pilot students. The ULC Program will launch across the GEMS network soon.
Full IBDP students and those taking more than two Advanced Placement courses were not selected for the initial pilot due to their existing course load and level of challenge. The ULC Program will be available to eligible IB and AP students in June, following the completion of their AP or DP assessments.
What courses are offered?
ASU’s expanding list of world-class courses are taught by leading experts in their respective fields, and GEMS students will be able to choose from over 25 ULCs. These courses include, but are not limited to: College Algebra, Habitable Worlds, English Composition, History of Europe and the Mediterranean, Accounting for Business, Introduction to Astronomy, Sustainable Engineering, and Computer Science. The full list of available courses can be found here: https://ea.asu.edu/courses/.
How are ULCs taught?
ULC course content is delivered asynchronously, and students access course content through the ASU portal. All materials are provided through the ASU portal and there is no need to purchase textbooks.
While there are weekly due dates in most courses, students can complete the coursework when it is convenient for them. Students engage with course teams through discussion boards. Some courses hold live office hours with instructors, but attendance is not required and the content is recorded and posted on the course portal.
How are students assessed?
Assessment varies by course, and may include exams, writing portfolios, quizzes, and projects. Students complete their assessments by submitting all requested assignments by the due dates listed in the course schedule. Some courses include online proctored exams. Proctored exams require identity verification and students must take the exam within a 7-day window.
What support is provided by DAA?
Students will be supported on-campus by a dedicated Program Coordinator and a Course Advisor. The Course Advisor guides all students and hosts weekly check-ins/check-outs. Both the Program Coordinator and Course Advisor will monitor students’ progress through ASU’s partner portal.
What support is provided by ASU?
ASU has a student support team who provides a first level of support to students, and can respond to any student inquiries.
Within their courses students are supported by ASU’s course teams, consisting of faculty and faculty assistants (FAs). FAs are typically masters-level students from that subject area who work closely with the faculty. Students interact with course teams through a discussion board, and posts are responded to within 24 hours.
ASU’s technical team offers 24/7 technical support (https://ea.asu.edu/about/contact-us/).
When do ULCs begin?
There are two types of courses, self-paced and instructor-paced. Self-paced courses can generally be started at any time, but must be completed within one year of course enrollment. Instructor-paced courses have five different start dates and structured end dates. The duration of these courses ranges between 8 and 15 weeks. DAA students must complete ULC courses prior to graduation.
What is the time commitment for ULCs?
The time commitment varies by course. ASU suggests that students commit between 18 and 24 hours per week per course. DAA students report committing 6-15 hours per week per course.
How do students register and enroll in courses?
Registration is managed by the partner school's Program Coordinator.
Students will be prompted to verify their identity with a government-issued ID or birth certificate and photo to begin the course.
Additional Information
https://ea.asu.edu/courses/
https://ea.asu.edu/about/faq/
Technical Requirements
