Masters Degree by Prior Learning Credit

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by paynedaniel, May 6, 2002.

Loading...
  1. paynedaniel

    paynedaniel New Member

    Does anyone know of an accredited Master's degree in any field (particularly theology, education or international studies related) that can be earned completely by prior learning credits? I have two years of non-profit humanitarian service in Asia that I would really like to apply to a Master's degree. Thanks.
     
  2. tcnixon

    tcnixon Active Member

    To my understanding, what you seek does not exist. It is a central point for graduate degrees that the learning must be new. Quite different from the undergraduate level where you would be able to take some of what you learned and put it in a portfolio.




    Tom Nixon
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    As Tom stated, you won't find exactly what you're looking for at any legitimate school. However, I've heard (but not confirmed) that Touro University International will accept some portfolio credit at the Master's level, the number I remember is 6 credits. It might be worth looking into.


    Bruce
     
  4. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    Tom is sort of right, but I'd be curious to know how he reconciles that assertion with the commonplace acceptance of master's degree transfer credits from previous graduate studies that may have taken place long ago. Studies that have gone stale, so to speak. The better, more traditional universities don't normally accept previous transfer work that is more than about five years old, but many of the flexible schools we discuss on this board do indeed accept them. Excelsior, for example. Or Thomas Edison State College.

    Of course, they don't accept a majority of degree credits this way, only a minority. So Tom is still right, that the majority of one's work must be newly accomplished for a graduate degree. But it isn't a black and white issue, and Daniel's question is certainly not off-base.

    Peter
     
  5. telfax

    telfax New Member

    Intrigued!

    I have always been intrigued by the issue of earning a degree solely on the basis of prior learning and/or professional experience. I have no problem with the concept but those people who often want to get a degree for doing no work at all have to begin to understand that getting a degree is essentially an 'academic' activity. You have to be able to show that you are not just good at doing a job. Academia has a set of rules of its own. You have to be able to show your ability to search the literatures, critically analyze the literature(s) and then come up with some new point of view. Of course, there is much more to 'academic skills' than these simple things but those who have never been to college often fail to grasp that doing a degree is about these things (and more) and that you have to be able to demonstrate competence in each of them. Now, I fully accept that some people actually gain these skills without ever going to college and taking a degree and they are the people who, usually, can petition to take a degree based entirely on prior work/learning but you'll generally find they have published works, etc to their credit. Many UK universities permit faculty to submit for a PhD (or the higher degree of Doctor of Letters [DLitt] based solely on published works (journal articles, books, etc).

    Where an institution does award a degree solely on the basis of prior work/learning the person has actually had to demonstrate they have all the skills, knowledge, etc required for that degree as a result of their prior learning. In the UK I think it was Nottingham Trent University that first awarded a bachelor's degree based solely on prior learning/experience. Middlesex University is doing pioneering work now on work-based learning and, in my view, is probably the leading UK university in the field.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I am confused. A Daniel Payne posted on About.com recently. He essentially advertised a degree consulting service hosted on a 1-page Geocities website. That Daniel Payne also lacked a master's degree and had no discernable qualifications to offer such a service. When asked about it--and about other mysterious things on the website like no phone number, no address, no credit card payment, contacting the service only by e-mail, use of the word "we" when there was no one else indicated as part of the business, etc., that Daniel Payne got really upset and lashed out at several people. He didn't answer any of the questions about his service, either.

    Now, his original post is gone from the thread. Only the poster or the moderator can delete a post, and there is no moderator.

    It must be a coincidence. That Daniel Payne was selling, not seeking, advice on distance learning. Such a small world! :D
     
  7. defii

    defii New Member

    I'm sorry, I don't know of any accredited school that will offer a graduate degree in theology, education or any subject for that matter. I don't think any reputable accreditor would sanction such anyway. Australian, African and British research masters might fit the bill.

    But I have to say this: I'm hoping, sir, that you're not thinking of securing a graduate degree without doing some structured and related work for it. I have years of public administration and non-profit human service experience. The notion that without some structured academic effort, the experience qualifies me for an advanced degree is at best unrealistic.
     
  8. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    Whatever. *Our* Daniel Payne still posited an interesting question, which yielded a bit of good discussion for us. And anybody can hang out a shingle as an education consultant; you don't have to own an advanced degree to set up shop. This is North America; not Europe.

    Peter
     
  9. Peter French

    Peter French member

    Re: Re: Masters Degree by Prior Learning Credit

    Count Australia out - considering that we do our professional work generally at undergraduate degree level, our Masters degrees are not pushovers.

    Anyway, does this peerson have a first degree? ...it is not mentioned.
     

Share This Page