Is there a university that will grant you a degree entirely on life experience?

Is there a university that will grant you a degree entirely on life experience... one where you can test out of all classes and get a degree?

 

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Yes, and they've been discussed ad nauseum. Check for recognized accreditation (or the foreign equivalent). Don't expect someone other than a degree mill to just hand you a degree for your life experience. DO expect to go through a rigorous process to be evaluated for life experience credit. There are hundreds of schools and programs that offer some form of life experience credit, including many distance learning schools.

As for getting a degree strictly by testing, yes. The "Big Three" are Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State College, and Charter Oak State College. All three offer their degrees entirely by testing and at pretty low costs (depending on how much more work you have to complete your degree). There are posters on this board who can share their experiences with these programs. I did three degrees from USNY, which is now Excelsior. The first (an A.A.) and the third (a B.A. with a concentration in Sociology) were entirely by examination.

www.excelsior.edu
www.tesc.edu
www.cosc.edu

 

Rich identifies the 'big three.' From a North American perspective, the 'big four' would include Athabasca U.

 

No, Athabasca does not offer a degree based entirely on life experience. Even the least restrictive degree in terms of requirements (ie: residency--none; course requirements), the Bachelor of General Studies, limits credit for "life experience" (portfolio-based assessment) as follows:

"Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits
Arts and Science 9
Applied Studies 21"
(Source: http://www.athabascau.ca/html/programs/b_gen/bgs.htm)

A person could conceivably "test out" for the BGS provided that a course equivalent to ENGL 255 (Introductory Composition) was included as part of the mix.

Ironically, tomorrow (Wednesday) I will be participating in an Academic Appeals Committee teleconference at which the Registrar will be attending. I will confirm my answer above with him at that time.

Darren.

--
Darren L. Kereluk
Email: [email protected]
Undergraduate Student--Bachelor of Health Administration
Athabasca University
Member, Student Academic Appeals Committee
Councillor, Athabasca University Students Union
AIM: DntKnw MSNMessenger: dlkereluk
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