Credit for prior learning and life experience

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Matthew Sloan, Jun 20, 2010.

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  1. Matthew Sloan

    Matthew Sloan New Member

    Hello,

    I am wondering if anyone knows of any accredited California colleges or good online colleges that offer credit for prior learning and life experience.

    Thank you,
    Matthew
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    It's my understanding that some legitimate universities offer some credit for prior learning, but it must be validated and, I believe, tested. TESC, among others, offers some credit for prior learning: Thomas Edison State College | Prior Learning Assessment

    However, I know of no legitimate university that offers credit for life experience. I'm pretty sure that the offering of college credit for life experience is an earmark of a diploma mill, which is a fake university. You want to avoid any school that offers credit for life experience.
     
  3. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Others include testing based on your knowledge and experiences. Also, Western Governors University do offer something similar, but mostly through testing at Prometric and VUE testing centers.

    Mike is right, to avoid bogus degree; make sure consult with somebody knows about this.

    Last but not least, many of the forum members were successful transferred elective credits to Thomas Edison State College from FEMA courses (FREE).
     
  4. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    Other than TESC, Charter Oak State College - Finish Your Degree Online and http://excelsior.edu offer something similar- the process at charteroak being the least expensive. However, there are a few brick and mortar colleges with online degrees that also offer prior learning assessments. The one that sticks out in my mind the most is SUNY-Empire State College.

    As for life experience, I think it is important that you learn right now that in the world of education "prior learning" is not the same as "life experience."

    Prior Learning = Knowledge, training, education that is at a college-level, and can be demonstrated as such, but was not necessarily obtained as part of a college course. The important point is that it can be demonstrated, that is, you have to PROVE that you know what you know, and that it fits in with a college curriculum.

    Life Experience = Not being dead. Everyone has some sort of life experience, like having a job or even mowing grass, that may have included substantial learning. However, it is not the EXPERIENCE that counts. No legitimate school will give you 20 credits in communications for having worked as a telemarketer or waive all of your major coursework for your experience as a department manager.

    As mentioned above, you need to show, not your experience, but what you know and how it works for a college curriculum. Your experience may have been the main contributing factor to your prior learning, but it is not the experience itself that is assessed for credit.

    DO NOT EVER ENROLL WITH A COLLEGE THAT OFFERS "LIFE EXPERIENCE DEGREES" THESE ARE FAKE DEGREES FROM FAKE COLLEGES.
     
  5. HikaruBr

    HikaruBr Member

    UMASS AMHERST has a whole program for adult learners based on "prior learning" (not life experience) - it's the University Without Walls program.
    You can also create your own concentration in this program.

    Adult Education Online or Live - Blended and Online College Courses at UMass Amherst University Without Walls

    The most interesting part is that, although they only accept 75 transfer credits (other schools, Clep, etc...) they count the prior experience credits as residency credits.

    I think this is even better than SUNY - Empire State College. While ESC is part of SUNY, it is its own college. But the University Without Walls is part of both UMASS and the most prestigious UMASS campus.

    Very good deal.

    The only bad part is that they only have two semester per year and very strict deadlines.
     
  6. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member


    CSUDH gives 6 semester units to anyone with one year or more of military service with a DD 214. They also provide credit for CLEP/DSST exams up to a limit, and then most departments offer independent study (IS) courses. With the independent study option one could conceivably take an IS course in several departments.

    This probably applies to all CSU schools.
     
  7. BrandeX

    BrandeX New Member

    Still? They just did a rate hike, but I am not sure how it compares to the other 2 now.
     

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