phd credit for experience

How Colleges Award Credits for Work Experience

Genevieve Carlton

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated December 13, 2023

Kelly Thomas

Reviewed by

Jeffrey Williams

Contributing Reviewer

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

The average cost of a single college credit is nearly $480 . But what if you could earn college credit for work experience?

By the time you're in college, there's a good chance you have at least some work or life experience — especially if you're an older student. Fortunately, you can turn that work experience into college credit.

Colleges that give credit for work experience often use a portfolio review: You'll need to provide evidence of your learning to receive college credit. And not only will it save you time on your degree — it can also save you a huge amount in tuition.

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5 Colleges That Offer Credit for Work Experience

The following five schools attract nontraditional students by offering college credit for work experience. Many other institutions feature similar policies, helping learners graduate faster and save money on a degree.

1. Berklee College of Music

• Online Degrees Available: Eight bachelor's degrees; four master's degrees
• School Type: Private
• Do Distance Learners Pay In-State Tuition? Flat rate for all distance learners
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education

At Berklee, you can earn up to 30 college credits for work and life experience. The prior learning credit (PLC) policy applies to undergraduates enrolled in a degree-granting program. You'll need to create a portfolio demonstrating how your prior learning aligns with a specific course in your program. For example, you can apply for credit in areas like songwriting, music production, or piano performance.

After submitting your portfolio, Berklee will review your description of the experience and learning outcomes. You can receive three credits per course for up to 10 courses. Berklee charges a $150 fee to review portfolios as of December 2023.

Berklee Online Undergraduate Degree Scholarship

2. Central Michigan University

• Online Degrees Available: 24 bachelor's degrees; 18 master's degrees; three doctoral degrees
• School Type: Public
• Do Distance Learners Pay In-State Tuition? Yes; flat rate for all distance learners
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Both undergraduate and graduate students can use work experience for college credit at CMU. The credit for prior learning program allows up to 60 credits toward a bachelor's degree, 12 credits toward a master of science administration degree, or nine credits toward a master of arts in education degree.

Besides college credit for work experience, CMU also awards credit for workshops, professional development classes, and volunteering. You'll need to submit a portfolio with documentation and a self-assessment of learning. CMU charges $125 to review the portfolio as of December 2023, and you'll receive credits within 6-8 weeks.

Maroon and Gold Merit Recognition Scholarships

3. Colorado State University's Global Campus

• Online Degrees Available: 15 bachelor's degrees; 15 master's degrees

Got years of work experience? You can turn them into up to 30 credits at CSU-Global. The prior learning assessment program can shave a year off a bachelor's degree. You'll need at least four years of work experience to qualify. Then, you'll need to submit a PLA application demonstrating that you've met the learning objectives for specific courses.

After you submit a portfolio showcasing your experience and a resume, CSU-Global will award college credits for work experience. You'll need to pay a $150 fee for each portfolio submission as of December 2023.

Academic Excellence Scholarship

4. Eastern Kentucky University

• Online Degrees Available: 29 bachelor's degrees; 16 master's degrees; three doctoral degrees
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

You can earn credit by exam or credit for work experience at EKU. The credit for prior learning options include department-specific exams to test knowledge and portfolio assessments .

You'll need to demonstrate competency in a specific EKU course to receive college credit. Current students with at least 12 credits at EKU can submit a portfolio. The portfolio should include documentation and a narrative on your learning.

Keep in mind that not every department awards credit for prior learning, and department limits on credits vary. EKU students should contact their academic advisor to learn more.

Start Strong Scholarship

5. Linfield University

• Online Degrees Available: Six bachelor's degrees
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

At Linfield, you can earn college credit for life experience . That includes work experience, workshops, life experience, volunteering, and even travel. The prior learning portfolio process awards up to 31 credits toward the 125-credit bachelor's degree.

You can start the process by meeting with an advisor. Then you'll take a course on writing your portfolio with specific instructions on receiving college credit for work experience. In the portfolio, you'll provide evidence of your prior learning experience.

Linfield also awards credits through the American Council on Education (ACE), which offers exams related to business and industry skills.

Honor Society Scholarships

How Do Students Earn Work/Life Credit?

Students can earn work/life credit through examinations. Some colleges use privately developed exams to assess learners' competency in different subjects. Other schools ask faculty to create exams. Students contacting their prospective schools may discover other ways to earn credit.

Credit for Prior Learning (CLEP)

CPL features many benefits , including lowering learners' attendance costs and time in school. According to the College Board, students who pass College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams earn a higher undergraduate GPA than their peers. DANTES Standardized Subject Tests (DSSTs) feature similar benefits and appeal to active-duty service members. DSST offers many of the same exams as CLEP.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) developed standards many colleges use for CPL. A CAEL-approved portfolio includes relevant documents. Students may take up to six months to submit a final portfolio. A successful portfolio translates into a passing grade.

Standardized Tests

College-developed exams evaluate students' prior knowledge in much the same way as CLEP or DSSTs. Test takers should ask whether their school provides test preparation materials or other resources. An admissions or enrollment advisor can provide this information.

Nontraditional students can also take the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Learners can take an AP exam without completing the course. A typical AP exam features multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay sections. Colleges use different score cutoffs when awarding credit.

The Pros and Cons of Work Experience Degrees

Pros of work experience degrees.

• Gain Hands-On Experience: Many schools with college credit for work experience offer hands-on experiences. These graduation requirements help students master in-demand skills they'll use in their careers.
• Study at Your Own Pace: Many nontraditional students who work benefit from a slower, self-paced curriculum . Other degree-seekers use this advantage to finish college courses in less than one semester.
• Skip Prerequisites: Degree-seekers can avoid taking unnecessary courses. Skipping prerequisites allows them to start gaining new skills immediately.
• Save Money: Students receiving college credit for work experience save money on their education. They may apply these savings toward another academic program or personal expenses.

Cons of Work Experience Degrees

• Earning Credits May take Longer: Online students in a self-paced curriculum may need longer to earn a degree than their peers. However, receiving college credit for work experience helps many learners graduate on time.
• Missing Out on the Traditional College Experience: Online degree-seekers miss out on the traditional college experience. However, this experience may not appeal to nontraditional students with a career or family.
• Lacking Textbook Knowledge of a Subject: Although some students have relevant work experience, not taking introductory courses may cause them to miss out on core knowledge and skills.
• Missing Out on Opportunities to Build Relationships and Network with College Peers: Online learners receive fewer opportunities to network with peers and professors. Colleges help students overcome this disadvantage by providing virtual academic and career-planning resources.

Additional Resources: Work Experience for College Credit

Council for adult and experiential learning.

Founded in 1974, CAEL helps prospective college students research online colleges with work experience credit. The organization promotes workforce economic development by partnering with employers nationwide. CAEL's training programs help educators provide nontraditional learners with the best educational experience.

American Council on Education

Founded in 1918, ACE advocates for about 1,700 member colleges, universities, and other education providers. ACE develops policies for online colleges with work experience credit. Programs promote expanding the number of schools with CPL and standardizing requirements among them. Special sections on the ACE website provide resources for military and veteran degree-seekers.

Excelsior College

Excelsior's UExcel Credit By Exam program offers new students an affordable CPL experience. Degree-seekers may take exams at home with an online proctor. Exams include anatomy and physiology, business information systems, and contemporary mathematics. Each exam offers a detailed content guide breaking down covered topics. Learners receive a MyExcelsior transcript. Some credits transfer to other colleges.

Western Governors University

WGU offers students a unique CPL policy. Learners sign up for courses like their peers without work experience. However, they may skip lessons by taking assessments when they're ready. This feature allows some degree-seekers to finish courses quickly and start their next course. WGU's per-semester credit policy means accelerated students save money.

Frequently Asked Questions About Work Experience for College Credit

How many credits can you typically earn from work experience.

Colleges that give credit for work experience typically allow up to 30 credits from the portfolio review process. Some schools may award more credits through credit-by-exam programs.

What does that mean in practice? You generally can't earn a degree based only on prior learning. After earning up to 30 credits for work experience, you'll still need 90 more credits for a bachelor's degree. Each college sets its own policies on work experience for college credit, so make sure to check the policies at your school.

How long does the process take to apply for credits?

Most PLA application processes take 2-4 weeks. The time frame depends on the school and learners' work experience. The process involves completing a form and submitting relevant documents to a school's PLA coordinator. These documents may include certification, professional portfolio, and proof of CE completion.

Online colleges with work experience credit may not count that credit toward the minimum attendance requirement. Many schools require transfer students to earn at least 30 credits through coursework.

If you earned work experience credits at one college, can you transfer them to another college?

Transfer advisors can help students determine if and how credits transfer to another school. Many colleges post their credit transfer agreements online. Students who earned college credit for work experience should note that this credit may not transfer. As a result, they must complete the same PLA process at their new school.

Learners should contact their prospective schools to research transfer credit policies. This information can help them determine the total tuition and time needed to graduate.

Page last reviewed June 21, 2023.

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6 Ways to Earn College Credit for Life and Work Experience

BestColleges.com is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.

Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:

• Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
• Provide specific, corrective feedback.
• Identify critical information that writers may have missed.

Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for BestColleges.com as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.

Explore our full list of Integrity Network members.

Key Takeaways

• You can earn college credit for life experiences, saving time and money on your degree.
• Ways to earn credit include military experience, corporate training, professional credentials, and competency-based education.
• Many top colleges, including Penn State, Purdue Global, and Colorado State University Global, offer credit for life experience.

College is expensive — almost $20,000 on average per year. And that doesn’t even account for opportunity cost if you have to stop working to enroll in your program.

But what if you could lower your college price tag by earning credits before you even start? Depending on your previous life experience, it is, in fact, possible to shave off several semesters from your total time-to-degree, saving you thousands on tuition.

Many schools offer the option to earn college credit by demonstrating equivalent professional experience or proving your competency through an exam or portfolio. Here are six ways you could cash in on this alternative credit pathway.

Find a Program That’s Right For You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

1. Military and Law Enforcement Experience

Military service members may be able to earn college credit based on their work experience, training, and courses taken while in the military. Service members need to request their Joint Services Transcript , which will list official college credit recommendations made by the American Council on Education (ACE) based on their service record.

Those with law enforcement experience may be able to earn credit toward a criminal justice degree from police academy courses completed during their training.

Students may be able to earn as many as 30 or more credits this way, saving a significant amount of time and money toward their bachelor’s degree.

2. National Testing Programs

Another way to gain credit for life and work experience is to prove your knowledge by taking a nationally recognized test. These testing programs are known as prior learning assessments , and many colleges will award you credit if you achieve a passing score.

Two of the most popular options are the College Level Exam Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST). These exam programs offer tests in dozens of different subject areas. For each test you pass, you have the opportunity to earn college credit. If you pass several of the tests, you could end up earning quite a few credits toward your degree.

3. Corporate Training Programs

If you work for a big company, you may be in luck — many businesses offer professional development opportunities that could end up earning you college credit. Some workplace training and courses have been evaluated by ACE and come with recommendations for credit equivalencies.

You can find out more about which specific training programs have been evaluated for academic credit by searching the ACE National Guide .

4. Professional Credentials

Professional licenses, certifications , and other credentials may also win you college credit. The ACE National Guide is the place to check to see if your specific certification will translate into college credit.

For example, five certifications from the National Healthcareer Association are eligible for earning credit at colleges that recognize ACE credit recommendations, including certification for medical assistants that can earn you five credits.

Purdue Global will award credits for a large number of IT certifications if the certification was earned within the last three years.

5. Competency-Based Education

With competency-based education, students are able to move at their own pace through course material and take assessments whenever they are ready.

Some competency-based systems may allow you to test out of a class altogether, awarding credit based on demonstrated knowledge rather than the number of classroom hours.

If you’re building on previous work experience, you may be able to progress much more quickly through a competency-based program than through a traditional pathway. Many competency-based programs are delivered online, like the ones at the University of Wisconsin , making them even more flexible.

6. Portfolio of Experience

If you have significant professional experience that doesn’t seem to line up with any of the previously mentioned pathways to earning college credit, a portfolio of materials demonstrating your breadth of knowledge may be another route you can take.

Schools that offer this option may have a team of evaluators assess your portfolio and determine how many credits should be awarded. There may be a fee associated with the evaluation.

For example, Pennsylvania State University offers students the option to submit multiple course-specific portfolios demonstrating equivalent experience in the subject area for a fee of $390. Students can earn three credits for each course that they submit a portfolio for.

5 Colleges That Offer Credit for Experience

Below are five schools that offer credit for work and life experience. Many more schools offer this option than the ones on this list, so be sure to research the possibilities at other schools you’re interested in.

1. Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University offers multiple nontraditional pathways to earn college credit based on your life and work experience. The school accepts CLEP and DSST scores, evaluates portfolios, and awards credit based on ACE recommendations for military and law enforcement experience. It also awards credit for corporate training and professional licenses, including nursing licenses.

2. Purdue Global

At Purdue Global , you can earn credits from professional training and certifications, national testing programs, and military experience, as well as by submitting a professional portfolio. The school also offers students the opportunity to take assessments in particular subjects that would grant them credit without having to take the course.

3. Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University offers credit for work experience through a competency-based program that uses the professional portfolio model to evaluate how many credits you may be eligible for. The program awards up to 60 undergraduate credits or 12 graduate credits, which translates to substantial tuition savings.

4. Colorado State University Global

At CSU Global, you have multiple options for earning credit from previous experience. CSU Global accepts scores from national testing programs such as CLEP and DSST, as well as ACE-evaluated corporate training and professional certifications. You can also choose to submit a portfolio of experience, which could earn you up to 30 credits.

5. Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University awards credit for military experience, professional training and apprenticeships, licenses and certifications, and national testing program scores. It also offers students the opportunity to take an exam in lieu of a course to earn credit and the option to submit a professional portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions About Work Experience for College Credit

How many credits can you earn from work experience.

Depending on the school, some programs award anywhere from 30-60 credits for previous work experience, which could end up saving you significant time and money when getting your degree.

Can you transfer work experience credits from one college to another?

You may not be able to transfer work experience credits from one college to another, but you may be able to earn work experience credits again from your new school based on your previous experience or national testing program scores.

Be sure to look into the rules around credit transfers and experience credits at each school you are interested in, as policies can vary.

Can work experience credits help you graduate sooner?

Work experience credits can definitely help you graduate sooner, as you won’t need to spend time in class for all the credits you earn through work experience equivalencies. You may be able to shave a year off your degree depending on how many credits you are able to earn through previous experience.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed March 21, 2024.

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Experience Plus – Earn Credit by Portfolio

Related Links

• Experience Plus Homepage
• Exam Credit
• Military Training Credit

Have questions?

Request Information

Earn college credit by submitting a professional portfolio.

Liberty University recognizes that adult learners have valuable experiences that they bring to the academic environment of higher education. For that reason, we believe students should receive college credit for learning that can be demonstrated through experience.

In some cases, credit may be awarded directly for job training, based on a precedent that has been established by our university. In other cases, students will need to petition for credit through the official portfolio process.

Learn More About Experience Plus

Note: If your degree involves any type of licensure and/or other certifications that are received from a state, government entity, or military branch following the conferral of the degree, then the associated courses are ineligible for any type of Experience Plus credit. (General Education courses may still accept E-Plus credit)

If you are unsure whether or not this pertains to you, please call Academic Advising (800) 424-9595 or email [email protected] . Also, for undergraduate students at least 25% of classes in your major must be completed at Liberty University and for graduate and doctoral at least 50% must be completed at Liberty.

Portfolio Application

The Portfolio Process

The following information can explain what you need to know about submitting a portfolio.

What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a way to evaluate your skills or experience for credit. Here is the process to create yours.

Application Process

• Students must be accepted to a degree program to pursue the portfolio review process.
• Students may submit their portfolio through the Experience Plus Portfolio Application Portal for review and evaluation by a faculty member. Students will select the school and specific course to be reviewed for credit approval.
• Based on learning objectives, students will answer a varying number of questions for which they are requesting to earn credit.
• Letters of verification from supervisors
• Certificates
• Transcripts
• Job descriptions/evaluations
• Work samples
• PowerPoint presentations
• Charts, graphs, and photographs
• Newspaper clippings
• A $100 non-refundable portfolio assessment fee will be charged for each portfolio submission to your student account in order to evaluate academic credit for knowledge demonstrated through the Experience Plus portfolio. Not all experience qualifies for academic credit.
• You will be notified by email once the portfolio has been approved or denied. If your portfolio is denied, you will have the opportunity to submit one appeal based on the feedback of the faculty member who has reviewed it.

Evaluation Process

• The Experience Plus Coordinator will assign your portfolio to a subject matter expert in the field.
• This process will be completed within five business days of submission. However, depending on the time of year (i.e. holiday, spring break, etc.), it could take longer.
• The Experience Plus Coordinator will contact you by email once the portfolio has been returned for final processing. Please be aware that there is no guarantee of approval.

Questions? Contact the Experience Plus Coordinator at [email protected] .

Eligibility

Undergraduate and graduate student qualifications for submitting a portfolio for credit.

• Must be accepted to a degree program and registered and/or have begun courses to pursue the portfolio review process
• Have a minimum of 3 years training in their field
• Demonstrate professional excellence in their field
• Work relates to a subject taught at Liberty
• Have experience in at least one of the following areas: missions, business, counseling, or education

For students pursuing a degree in nursing or aviation, please submit your RN credential or pilot license for credit by emailing [email protected] .

Ineligibility

Please note: This list of programs in which the major courses are ineligible for Portfolio experience is subject to change at any time and is inconclusive. PhD students must email [email protected] to inquire about portfolio eligibility.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (B.S.) Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Elementary Education – Licensure Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Middle Grades – Licensure Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Special Education – Licensure

Juris Master (J.M.) Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling (M.A.) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling (M.A.) Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) – 60-hour Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) — Community Chaplaincy Master of Arts in Sports Chaplaincy (M.A.) Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) — Elementary Education Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) — Middle Education Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) — Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) — Special Education Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Community Chaplaincy (Non-Thesis) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Community Chaplaincy (Thesis) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Healthcare Chaplaincy (Non-Thesis) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Healthcare Chaplaincy (Thesis) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Military Chaplaincy (Non-Thesis) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — Military Chaplaincy (Thesis) Master of Divinity in Chaplaincy (M.Div.) Master of Education (M.Ed.) — Administration and Supervision Master of Education (M.Ed.) — Math Specialist Endorsement Master of Education (M.Ed.) — Reading Specialist Endorsement Master of Education in School Counseling (M.Ed.)

School of Business DBA program core classes and dissertation classes School of Business DSL program

Helpful Information about Portfolio Submission

If you are interested in learning about how your portfolio submission will be graded, please review our grading rubric . Each area of experience will be evaluated for mastery or developing .

• Credit earned by portfolio is considered transfer credit and counts towards overall transfer credit hours and transfer allowance/limit for your program. It does not count towards your GPA requirements, minimum Liberty University credits, and it cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements, even if approved, if you have already reached the transfer limit for your program.
• Each portfolio request has a $100 submission fee. If your portfolio is denied, there is a $50 appeal fee to resubmit your request. The fees will be charged to your student’s account.
• Undergraduate: 100-400 level courses
• Master: 500-600 level courses
• Doctoral: 700-900 level courses
• As you answer the essay-type questions for your portfolio request, you must demonstrate competency in the course learning objectives. It is imperative that you prove academic learning through your experience.
• It is highly encouraged you provide supplementary documentation that validates competency in the specific areas. Refer to the below list of suggested documentation.
• Access to the Portfolio portal is not available before the term you are scheduled to begin courses or if you have any kind of hold on your account.
• Please review the grading rubric before you begin and be advised that the EPlus team does not review your portfolio requests. The submissions are reviewed by qualified faculty members in the respective academic departments.

Examples of supplementary documentation:

• Certificates of completion
• Digital portfolios
• Letters of verification from supervisors/employers
• Professional/Industry certifications
• Programming, coding, scripting, configurations, simulator, and software work and files
• Published works
• Résumés with years of experience

Examples of topics or experience not to use :

• Apprenticeship programs
• Basic vocabulary, spelling, grammar
• Career development
• Company or job-specific training
• Court reporting
• CPR and first aid
• Defensive driving
• Guns/firearms/concealed weapons/batons
• Internship/on-the-job training
• Job interviewing skills
• New hire training
• Notary public
• Office machines
• Orientations
• Remedial college preparatory classes
• Secondary coursework
• Silva mind control lecture series
• Smoke enders program
• Speed reading
• Truck driving
• Tutoring/mentoring/coaching
• Typing/keyboarding

List of Available Courses

College of arts and sciences.

College of Arts and Sciences Course Guides

College of Arts and Sciences course eligible for the portfolio access:

• CFRE 101 – Conversational French I
• CGRM 101 – Conversational German I
• CGRM 102 – Conversational German II
• CGRM 103 – Conversational German III
• CSPA 101 – Conversational Spanish I
• ENGL 103 – Technical Communication for the Professions
• GEOG 200 – Introduction to Geography
• HIST 305 – Introduction to Public History
• WRIT 201 – Introduction to Creative Writing

College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS)

College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS) Course Guides

College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS) courses coming soon!

Helms School of Government

Helms School of Government Course Guides

Helms School of Government courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• CJUS 200 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJUS 230 – Criminal Justice Research and Writing
• CJUS 300 – Administration of Justice Organizations
• CJUS 310 – Juvenile Justice
• CJUS 320 – Corrections
• CJUS 321 – Juvenile Corrections
• CJUS 322 – Community-Based Corrections
• CJUS 323 – Delinquency and Crime Prevention
• CJUS 324 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Juvenile Justice
• CJUS 330 – Judicial Process
• CJUS 340 – Criminology
• CJUS 350 – Criminal Justice Ethics
• CJUS 360 – Introduction to Forensics
• CJUS 361 – Crime Scene Photography
• CJUS 362 – Crime Scene Management
• CJUS 363 – Computer and Cyber Forensics
• CJUS 380 – Introduction to Homeland Security
• CJUS 381 – Incident Command System/Emergency Planning and Incident
• CJUS 382 – Critical Infrastructure Protection
• CJUS 383 – Behavioral Dimensions of Disaster
• CJUS 400 – Criminal Law
• CJUS 410 – Constitutional Criminal Procedure
• CJUS 420 – Criminal Investigations I
• ETHC 323 – Critical and Historical Development of Public Ethics
• ETHC 324 – Applied Ethics in Public Policy
• ETHC 325 – Legal Ethics
• FIRE 310 – Fire Prevention and Protection
• FIRE 320 – Legal and Political issues in Fire Administration
• FIRE 330 – Human Resources Management in Fire Services Organizations
• FIRE 340 – Administration of Fire and Emergency Services
• FIRE 450 – Leadership in Fire Services Organizations
• GOVT 210 – Introduction to Political Science
• GOVT 215 – Logic and Legal Reasoning
• GOVT 220 – American Government
• GOVT 230 – Public Policy Research and Writing
• GOVT 280 – Undergraduate Torts
• GOVT 302 – Modern Political and Economic Ideas
• GOVT 320 – American Executive Processes/Institutions
• GOVT 322 – American Legislative System
• GOVT 327 – State and Local Government
• GOVT 328 – American Political Processes
• GOVT 329 – American Exceptionalism
• GOVT 330 – Introduction to Comparative Politics
• GOVT 340 – International Relations
• GOVT 345 – Jurisprudence
• GOVT 346 – Legal Research and Writing
• GOVT 348 – Constitutional Studies – The 2nd Amendment – The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
• GOVT 350 – Political Economy and Public Policy
• GOVT 376 – Resilient Nations
• GOVT 380 – Introduction to Intelligence
• GOVT 381 – Intelligence Analysis
• GOVT 404 – Undergraduate Contracts
• GOVT 406 – Undergraduate Property
• GOVT 407 – Undergraduate Civil Procedure
• GOVT 408 – Negotiation
• GOVT 409 – Advanced Logic and Legal Reasoning
• GOVT 421 – American Constitutional History
• GOVT 422 – American Constitutional Law
• GOVT 425 – American Foreign Policy
• GOVT 460 – Contemporary Issues in Political Science
• GOVT 470 – Government Regulation of Business
• GOVT 476 – Persuasive Argumentation for Lawyers
• GOVT 480 – Terrorism
• GOVT 481 – Counter-terrorism
• GOVT 483 – Military Operations and Intelligence
• GOVT 484 – Strategic Intelligence
• GOVT 490 – Political Theory
• PADM 360 – Introduction to Public Administration
• PADM 462 – Public Finance and Budgeting
• PADM 475 – Advanced Public Administration
• PADM 480 – Legal and Political Issues in Public Administration
• PADM 485 – Public Administration Leadership and Community Engagement
• PLST 200 – Introduction to Paralegal Studies

John W. Rawlings School of Divinity

John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Course Guides

John W. Rawlings School of Divinity courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• APOL 201 – Apologetics and Cultural Engagement
• APOL 220 – Introduction to Apologetics
• APOL 311 – Foundational Issues in Apologetics
• APOL 325 – Christianity and the Cults
• APOL 431 – Introduction to Islam
• APOL 480 – Biblical Studies and Apologetics
• BIBL 104 – Survey of Old and New Testament
• BIBL 105 – Old Testament Survey
• BIBL 110 – New Testament Survey
• BIBL 205 – Old Testament Life and Literature
• BIBL 210 – New Testament Life and Literature
• BIBL 311 – Joshua thru Judges
• BIBL 314 – Old Testament Poetical Books
• BIBL 316 – Isaiah
• BIBL 323 – John
• BIBL 324 – Pastoral Epistles and Leadership Development
• BIBL 330 – Life of Christ
• BIBL 350 – Inductive Bible Study
• BIBL 360 – Methodical Study of Scripture
• BIBL 364 – Acts
• BIBL 370 – Logos Bible Software
• BIBL 410 – Genesis
• BIBL 425 – Romans
• BIBL 450 – Daniel-Revelation
• BIBL 460 – New Testament Theology
• BIBL 461 – Old Testament Theology
• BIBL 471 – Biblical Archeology
• BIBL 472 – New Testament Backgrounds
• BIBL 473 – Old Testament Backgrounds
• BIBL 480 – Hermeneutics
• CHHI 300 – Survey of the History of Christianity
• CHHI 301 – History of the Christian Church I
• CHHI 302 – History of the Christian Church II
• CHMN 201 – Introduction to Church Ministry
• CHMN 360 – Foundations in Ministry Programming
• CHMN 447 – Discipleship in Church Ministries
• CHMN 450 – Leadership and Management in Ministry
• CLED 300 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Christian Leadership
• CLED 310 – Foundations of Christian Leadership
• CLED 325 – Critical Issues in Ministry Leadership
• CLED 365 – The Personal Development of the Leader
• CLED 410 – Team Dynamics in Christian Leadership
• CLED 425 – Ethical Issues in Christian Leadership
• CLED 450 – Organization and Leadership in Ministry
• COAL 210 – Introduction to Camp and Outdoor Adventure Leadership
• COAL 220 – Foundations and Programming in Camp and Outdoor Leadership
• COAL 310 – Christian Camp: Site Plan and Design
• COAL 370 – Managing the Christian Ministry Organization
• COAL 460 – Camp and Outdoor Ministry: Property, Programs, Policies, and Procedures
• EVAN 101 – Evangelism and the Christian Life
• EVAN 201 – Preparation for Personal Evangelism
• EVAN 220 – Effective Message Preparation in Evangelism
• EVAN 301 – Evangelism and the Work of the Holy Spirit
• EVAN 401 – Discipleship in Evangelism
• GLST 200 – Introduction to Global Studies
• GLST 220 – Intercultural Communication and Engagement
• GLST 290 – Cultural Anthropology
• GLST 301 – Global Exposure
• GLST 385 – Career Preparation for Global Workers
• GLST 431 – Introduction to Islam
• GLST 485 – Engaging Tribal Cultures
• PLED 421 – Homiletics I
• PLED 422 – Homiletics II
• PLED 446 – Christocentric Preaching
• RLGN 104 – Christian Life and Biblical Worldview
• RLGN 105 – Biblical Worldview: From Creation to Redemption
• RLGN 350 – World Religions
• RLGN 360 – Practical Teaching of Scripture
• THEO 313 – The Person and Work of Christ
• THEO 324 – A Theology of Suffering and Disability
• THEO 330 – Theology of the Family
• THEO 340 – Theology and Politics
• THEO 360 – Theological Interpretation of Scripture
• THEO 362 – Historical Theology
• THEO 415 – Examining and Applying Biblical and Theological Concepts
• THEO 430 – Modern and Contemporary Theology
• THEO 450 – Middle East Conflict in Biblical Perspective
• WLED 220 – Survey of Women’s Ministries
• WLED 320 – Spiritual Formation and Development for Women in Leadership
• WLED 330 – The Role of Christian Women in Ministry
• WLED 387 – Methods of Teaching the Bible and Communication Skills for Women
• WLED 410 – Leadership Development and Strategies for Women in Ministry
• YOUT 201 – Survey of Youth Ministries
• YOUT 220 – Global Youth Culture
• YOUT 301 – Foundations of Youth Ministry
• YOUT 310 – Strategies for Student Outreach
• YOUT 340 – Current Issues in Youth Ministry
• YOUT 350 – Campus Ministry
• YOUT 360 – Camping Ministry
• YOUT 370 – Managing the Christian Youth Organization
• YOUT 380 – Ministering to Adolescents in Crisis
• YOUT 447 – Discipleship in Youth Ministry
• YOUT 448 – Contemporary Youth Communication
• YOUT 450 – Professional Orientation to Youth Ministry
• YOUT 460 – Programs for Youth Ministry

School of Behavioral Sciences

School of Behavioral Sciences Course Guides

School of Behavioral Sciences courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• CCOU 201 – Intro to Christian Counseling
• CCOU 202 – Issues of Christian Counseling
• CCOU 301 – Christian Counseling for Marriage and Family
• CCOU 302 – Christian Counseling for Children
• CCOU 304 – Christian Counseling for Women
• CCOU 305 – Issues in Human Sexuality
• CRIS 302 – Foundational Principles of Crisis Response
• CRIS 303 – Acute Stress, Grief, and Trauma
• CRIS 304 – PTSD and Combat-Related Trauma
• CRIS 305 – Trauma Assessments and Interventions
• CRIS 306 – Complex Trauma And Disaster: Offering Emotional And Spiritual Care
• DBFA 300 – Marriage, Family and Faith: Basic Worldviews
• DBFA 305 – Relationships, Public Policy, and Advocacy Strategies
• DBFA 400 – Child/Adolescent Development, Deviance, and Violence: Etiology, Assessment, and Treatment
• DBFA 410 – Contemporary Thought, Research and Emerging Paradigms in Marriage and Family Studies
• DBMF 300 – Child and Adolescent Issues and Helping Strategies
• DBMF 400 – Marriage and Family Systems – Foundations Models and Techniques
• DBMF 405 – Divorce Remarriage and Blended Families
• DBPC 300 – Child and Family Development: Psychological and Theological Perspectives
• DBPC 305 – Effective Parenting: Childhood Behavior and Discipline Strategies
• DBPC 400 – Human Development across the Lifespan
• DBPC 405 – Childhood Issues Trauma and Abuse
• DBPC 410 – Healthy Sexuality: Biblical and Developmental Factors
• LIFC 201 – Introduction to Life Coaching
• LIFC 202 – Advanced Skills in Life Coaching
• LIFC 301 – Health and Wellness Coaching
• LIFC 302 – Marriage Coaching
• LIFC 303 – Financial Life Coaching
• LIFC 304 – Leadership Coaching
• MILT 275 – The Resilient Warrior
• MILT 325 – Resilient Marriage and Family
• MILT 375 – Military Career and Community Transition
• MILT 475 – Military Mental and Behavioral Health
• PSYC 101 – General Psychology
• PSYC 210 – Developmental Psychology
• PSYC 221 – Psychology of Childhood
• PSYC 231 – Psychology of Adolescence
• PSYC 235 – Psychology of Adulthood
• PSYC 255 – Introduction to Research
• PSYC 305 – Overview of Theory and Treatment of Substance Abuse
• PSYC 306 – Advanced Theory and Treatment of Substance Abuse
• PSYC 307 – Treatment and Recovery of Addictions
• PSYC 308 – Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Addiction
• PSYC 309 – Healthy Sexuality
• PSYC 312 – Social Psychology
• PSYC 317 – Crisis Intervention
• PSYC 320 – Behavior Modification
• PSYC 336 – Gerontology
• PSYC 341 – Psychology of Personality
• PSYC 345 – Exceptional Child
• PSYC 351 – Multicultural Counseling and Research Issues
• PSYC 354 – Statistics for the Social Sciences
• PSYC 355 – Statistics in Psychology
• PSYC 365 – Psychological Foundations of Learning
• PSYC 371 – Theories in Counseling and Psychotherapy
• PSYC 380 – Physiological Psychology
• PSYC 405 – Group Dynamics
• PSYC 420 – Psychology and Christianity
• PSYC 421 – Psychological Measurement
• PSYC 430 – Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 475 – Psychology of Criminal Behavior
• SOCI 200 – Introduction to Sociology
• SOCI 201 – Social Problems

School of Business

School of Business Course Guides

School of Business courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• ACCT 211 – Financial Accounting
• ACCT 212 – Managerial Accounting
• ACCT 301 – Intermediate Accounting I
• ACCT 302 – Intermediate Accounting II
• ACCT 311 – Cost Accounting I
• ACCT 332 – Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 370 – Financial Statement Analysis
• ACCT 401 – Taxation I
• ACCT 402 – Advanced Accounting
• ACCT 403 – Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
• ACCT 404 – Auditing
• ACCT 412 – Taxation II
• ACCT 432 – IT Audit
• BUSI 101 – Introduction to Business
• BUSI 201 – Intermediate Business Computer Applications
• BUSI 223 – Personal Finance
• BUSI 240 – Organizational Behavior and Management
• BUSI 300 – Business Communications
• BUSI 301 – Legal and Ethical Concepts for Decision Makers
• BUSI 302 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare
• BUSI 303 – International Business
• BUSI 304 – Introduction to Health Policy
• BUSI 310 – Principles of Management
• BUSI 311 – Introduction to Healthcare Administration
• BUSI 313 – Foundations of Project Management
• BUSI 320 – Finance Principles
• BUSI 321 – Money and the Financial System
• BUSI 330 – Principles of Marketing
• BUSI 331 – Marketing Research
• BUSI 332 – Consumer Behavior
• BUSI 335 – Leading Change
• BUSI 336 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• BUSI 342 – Human Resources Management
• BUSI 343 – Employee and Labor Relations
• BUSI 344 – Human Resource Management in Healthcare Administration
• BUSI 345 – Leadership Theory and Practices
• BUSI 352 – Financial and Retirement Planning
• BUSI 354 – Estate Planning
• BUSI 360 – Contemporary Issues in International Business
• BUSI 365 – Global Industries and Operation
• BUSI 370 – Dynamics of the American Automotive Dealership Industry
• BUSI 405 – Forecasting and Predictive Analytics
• BUSI 409 – Nonprofit Management and Governance
• BUSI 411 – Operations Strategy
• BUSI 414 – Project Management I
• BUSI 415 – Advanced Project Management
• BUSI 416 – Leading Project Teams
• BUSI 418 – Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare
• BUSI 419 – Management of Quality Improvement and Outcomes
• BUSI 420 – Investments
• BUSI 421 – Insurance and Risk Management
• BUSI 422 – Real Estate Finance and Investment
• BUSI 427 – Team Dynamics
• BUSI 428 – Strategic Management and Marketing in Healthcare
• BUSI 430 – Promotion Strategy
• BUSI 431 – Sales Management and Professional Selling
• BUSI 436 – Digital Marketing in a Virtual World
• BUSI 438 – Marketing Brand Management
• BUSI 439 – Conversion and Optimization
• BUSI 440 – Compensation Management
• BUSI 442 – Consumer Retention Through Digital Marketing
• BUSI 443 – Workplace Planning and Employment
• BUSI 444 – Human Resource Development
• BUSI 446 – Retailing and Category Management
• BUSI 452 – Survey Design
• BUSI 453 – Applied Marketing Analysis
• BUSI 455 – Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• BUSI 464 – International Marketing Integration/Trade Agreements
• BUSI 465 – Export Management Strategy
• BUSI 472 – Organizational Ethics
• CSIS 100 – Introduction to Information Sciences and Systems
• CSIS 208 – Application Programming
• CSIS 209 – C Sharp Programming
• CSIS 212 – Object-Oriented Programming
• CSIS 310 – Web Architecture and Development
• CSIS 312 – Advanced Object-oriented Programming
• CSIS 320 – IS Hardware and Software
• CSIS 330 – Business Data Communication Systems
• CSIS 331 – Networks
• CSIS 335 – Network Security
• CSIS 340 – Studies in Information Security
• CSIS 341 – Information Security Planning
• CSIS 345 – Introduction to Linux
• CSIS 351 – System Analysis and Design
• CSIS 352 – System Administration
• CSIS 354 – Integrative Programming and Technologies
• CSIS 355 – Network Architecture and Protocols
• CSIS 375 – Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
• CSIS 405 – Business and Economic Forecasting
• CSIS 410 – Web Enterprise Technologies
• CSIS 440 – Digital Forensics
• CSIS 470 – Executive Perspectives on E-Commerce Technology
• ECON 110 – Survey of Economics
• ECON 213 – Principles of Economics I (Microeconomics)
• ECON 214 – Principles of Economics II (Macroeconomics)
• ECON 350 – Classical Economics
• INFO 305 – Quality Management and Decision Support
• INFO 310 – Foundations of Pharmacology
• INFO 320 – Healthcare Informatics
• INFO 321 – Healthcare Coding and Classification
• INFO 405 – Informatics Information Systems
• SMGT 200- Introduction to Sports Management
• SMGT 201 – History of Sport
• SMGT 300 – Introduction to Coaching
• SMGT 302 – Sport Facilities and Events
• SMGT 304 – Coaching Football
• SMGT 305 – Sport Law
• SMGT 306 – Coaching Basketball
• SMGT 307 – Coaching Fall Sports
• SMGT 308 – Coaching Spring Sports
• SMGT 310 – Communication in Sport
• SMGT 312 – Introduction to Sport Outreach
• SMGT 314 – Coaching Dynamics
• SMGT 315 – Concepts and Practices in Outreach
• SMGT 317 – Mentoring in Sport Ministry
• SMGT 321 – Global Sport Ministry
• SMGT 400 – Sport and Exercise Psychology
• SMGT 401 – Sport Methodology, Methods, and Practices
• SMGT 402 – Sports Chaplaincy
• SMGT 404 – Administration and Organization in Sport and Recreation
• SMGT 405 – Sports Finance
• SMGT 406 – Issues and Trends in Sport
• SMGT 410 – Sports Marketing

School of Communication and the Arts

School of Communication and the Arts Course Guides

School of Communication and the Arts courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• ARTS 222 – Introduction to Graphic Design
• ARTS 224 – Media Design
• ARTS 332 – Vector Illustration
• ARTS 340 – Publication Design
• ARTS 342 – Digital Imaging
• ARTS 361 – Digital Photography
• ARTS 380 – Interactive Publication
• ARTS 473 – Introduction to 3D Graphics
• ARTS 474 – Interactive Game Development
• ARTS 478 – Interactive Design II
• JOUR 225 – Media Writing
• SCOM 110 – Media and Culture
• STCO 307 – Strategic Communication
• STCO 356 – Digital/Social/Mobile Communication Strategies
• STCO 357 – Public Relations and Promotion Tactics

School of Education

School of Education Course Guides

School of Education courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• EDUC 200 – Principles of Education
• EDUC 205 – Learning Theory and Portfolio Development
• EDUC 210 – Early Childhood Education Fundamentals
• EDUC 215 – Wellness in the Early Childhood Setting
• EDUC 301 – Instructional Practices for Math Teachers
• EDUC 302 – Instructional Practices for Reading Teachers
• EDUC 303 – Instructional Practices for Content Teachers
• EDUC 304 – Classroom Management for Teachers
• EDUC 306 – Scholarly Writing and APA for Teachers
• EDUC 307 – Instructional Practice for Differentiated Instruction
• EDSP 360 – Learning and Behavior Problems
• EDSP 367 – Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
• EDSP 370 – Intervention for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
• EDSP 377 – Autism: Educational and Theoretical Approaches
• EDSP 410 – Instructional Adaptation for Special Education
• EDSP 429 – Survey of Trends in Special Education

School of Health Sciences

School of Health Sciences Course Guides

School of Health Sciences courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• AMOA 203 – Medical Office Systems and Procedures
• AMOA 207 – Medical Office Coding
• HLTH 491 – Grantsmanship

School of Nursing

School of Nursing Course Guides

School of Nursing courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• NURS 211 – Post-Licensure Health Assessment
• NURS 215 – Post-Licensure Pathophysiology
• NURS 220 – Advanced Nursing Communications
• NURS 325 – Nursing Concepts
• NURS 416 – Preceptorship in Nursing
• NURS 440 – Strategies for Community Health Care
• NURS 446 – Post-Licensure Population Health
• NURS 489 – Leadership in Nursing
• NURS 491 – Nursing Management

College of Arts and Sciences courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• HIST 505 – Public History
• HIST 701 – Historical Professions
• HIST 820 – Teaching History Online
• TESL 602 – Curriculum, Testing, and Assessment
• TESL 603 – Teaching Grammar, Lexicon, and Pronunciation
• CJUS 500 – Criminal Justice Integration
• CJUS 520 – Administration of Justice Organizations
• CJUS 530 – Human Resources Management in Criminal Justice Organizations
• CJUS 550 – Topics and Trends in Criminal Justice
• CJUS 601 – Criminal Justice Program Evaluation
• CJUS 610 – Leadership, Ethics, and Policing
• CJUS 620 – Fundamentals of Forensic Psychology
• CJUS 630 – Crisis Intervention in Law Enforcement
• CJUS 640 – Psychology and the Legal System
• CJUS 650 – Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders
• HLSC 500 – Foundations of Homeland Security
• HLSC 510 – Homeland Security Organization and Administration
• HLSC 520 – Legal Issues in Homeland Security
• HLSC 600 – Introduction to Disaster Management
• HLSC 610 – Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security
• HLSC 620 – Hazard Mitigation
• INTL 500 – Introduction to International Relations
• INTL 502 – Global Governance
• NSEC 502 – Christian Values in National Security
• NSEC 503 – National Security, National Defense, and Foreign Policy
• NSEC 504 – Historic Lessons of National Security in War and Peace
• NSEC 505 – Cybersecurity Policy / Operations and Political Challenges
• NSEC 506 – Sovereignty and National Security Challenges
• NSEC 507 – Terrorism and National Security
• PADM 501 – Fundamentals of Public Administration
• PADM 530 – Politics, Strategies, and Initiatives of Community Economic Development
• PADM 550 – Public Policy Analysis
• PADM 600 – Politics and Policy of Public Sector Budgeting
• PADM 610 – Management of Public Sector Organizations
• PADM 620 – Public Administration Praxis: Legal and Contemporary Issues
• PSCI 610 – Contemporary Political Process and Trends
• PPOG 500 – Introduction to Writing, Research, and Turabian
• PPOG 502 – Economics and Public Policy
• PPOG 503 – Political Philosophy
• PPOG 504 – Leadership, Statesmanship, and Governance
• PPOG 506 – Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy
• PPOG 624 – Presidential Leadership
• PPOG 625 – Legislative Leadership
• PPOG 626 – State and Local Leadership
• PPOG 635 – Speech Writing for Candidates and Officeholders
• PPOG 640 – Middle East Laws and Policy
• PPOG 641 – U.S. Middle East Foreign Policy
• PPOL 501 – Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy
• PPOL 505 – Applied Public Policy Research Methods
• PPOL 630 – Campaign Tactics, Strategies, and Management
• PPOL 631 – Message, Media, and Political Communications
• PPOL 650 – International Law, Policy, and Politics
• PPOL 652 – US Foreign Policy and Sovereignty Issues
• PSCI 501 – American Government
• PSCI 600 – Comparative Politics
• APOL 500 – Introduction to Apologetics
• CHPL 598 – Spiritual and Professional Development of the Chaplain
• CHPL 645 – Chaplain Resilient Leaders
• CHPL 655 – Chaplain Evangelism and Discipleship
• DSMN 500 – Discipleship Ministries
• DSMN 520 – Spiritual Formation
• DSMN 610 – Family Discipleship
• DSMN 630 – Small Group Ministries
• DSMN 660 – Leading a Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Church
• EVAN 500 – Spiritual Factors of Growing Churches
• EVAN 505 – Introduction to Church Planting
• EVAN 510 – Evangelism and the Growing Church
• EVAN 610 – Church Planting Methods and Culture
• EVAN 670 – Strategic Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
• GLST 600 – Cultural Anthropology
• LEAD 505 – Church Administration
• LEAD 520 – The Life of Leaders
• LEAD 610 – Team Leadership and Conflict Resolution
• LEAD 620 – Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning
• LEAD 625 – Preventing Ministry Failure
• LEAD 635 — Theology of Pastoral Ministry
• NBST 515 – New Testament Orientation I
• NBST 520 – New Testament Orientation II
• OBST 515 – Old Testament Orientation I
• OBST 520 – Old Testament Orientation II
• PACO 500 – Introduction to Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 501 – Foundational Doctrines for Pastoral Counselors
• PACO 504 – Multicultural Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 506 – Integration of Psychology and Theology
• PACO 507 – Theology and Spirituality in Counseling
• PACO 509 – Spiritual Formation in Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 600 – Survey of Christian Counseling Theories
• PACO 602 – Pastoral Counseling with Couples
• PACO 603 – Premarital and Marital Counseling
• PACO 604 – Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 611 – Counseling Children and their Families
• PACO 615 – Marriage and Family Counseling
• PACO 617 – Theories and Techniques in Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 618 – Advanced Marriage and Family Counseling
• PACO 620 – Counseling the Adolescent and Their Families
• PACO 625 – Healthy Sexuality
• PACO 630 – Gerontology and Counseling
• PACO 687 – Counseling Women
• PACO 825 – Growth and Development of the Contemporary Minister
• PACO 835 – Premarital and Marital Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• PACO 840 – Crisis and Current Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• THEO 510 – Survey of Theology
• THEO 525 – Systematic Theology I
• THEO 530 – Systematic Theology II
• YOUT 510 – Developing a Philosophy of Youth Ministry
• YOUT 520 – Leading Youth and Family Ministry
• YOUT 615 – Integrating Youth Ministry into the Home and Church
• YOUT 630 – Contextualization of Evangelism and Discipleship in Youth Ministry

School of Aeronautics

School of Aeronautics Course Guides

School of Aeronautics courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• AVIA 505 – Aviation Context and Foundations
• AVIA 525 – Applied Aviation Research
• AVIA 535 – Developing Aviation Leaders
• AVIA 536 – Contemporary Issues in Aviation Leadership
• AVIA 537 – Aviation Organizational Leadership
• AVIA 542 – Aviation Teaching and Learning Strategies
• AVIA 543 – Ethics in Aerospace Decision Making
• AVIA 544 – Aerospace Education and Training Leadership
• AVIA 545 – Aviation Curriculum Development
• AVIA 571 – Safety Fundamentals in Aeronautics
• AVIA 572 – Applied Human Factors
• AVIA 573 – Safety Culture Methods
• AVIA 574 – Graduate Safety Analysis
• AVIA 575 – Contemporary Issues in Aviation Safety
• AVIA 605 – Aviation Law
• CRIS 605 – Crisis and First Responder Training: Skills and Techniques
• CRIS 606 – Acute Stress, Grief and Trauma
• CRIS 607 – PTSD and Combat-Related Trauma
• CRIS 608 – Trauma Assessment and Interventions
• CRIS 609 – Complex Trauma and Disasters: Offering Emotional and Spiritual Care
• DBFA 600 – Family, Faith, and the Future: Worldview
• DBFA 605 – Public Policy and Advocacy Strategies
• DBFA 610 – Divorce, Remarriage, and Blended Families
• DBFA 615 – Child/Adolescent Development, Deviance, and Violence
• DBFA 620 – Research and Emerging Paradigms in Marriage and Family Studies
• DBMF 600 – Counseling Children and Adolescents: Issues and Strategies
• DBMF 605 – Parenting and Child Discipline Strategies: Raising Healthy Kids
• DBMF 610 – Marriage and Family Systems: Foundations, Models, and Techniques
• DBPC 600 – Child and Family Development: Psychological and Theological Perspectives
• DBPC 610 – Human Growth and Lifespan Development
• DBPC 615 – Childhood Issues, Trauma, and Abuse
• DBPC 620 – Healthy Sexuality: Biblical and Developmental Factors
• EDCO 705 – Issues and Trends in Community Counseling
• EDCO 711 – Advanced Group Counseling
• EDCO 715 – Applied Counseling Theories
• EDCO 725 – Teaching and Learning
• EDCO 735 – Statistics
• EDCO 740 – Diagnosis and Treatment of Addictive Behaviors
• EDCO 745 – Intermediate Statistics and Research
• EDCO 800 – Advanced Tests and Measures
• EDCO 801 – Assessment in Marital and Family Counseling
• EDCO 806 – Premarital and Remarriage Counseling
• EDCO 810 – Research Design
• EDCO 811 – Marriage Counseling
• EDCO 815 – Family Development
• EDCO 817 – Trauma and Current Issues in Marital Counseling
• EDCO 821 – Ethics and Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• EDCO 826 – Growth and Development of the Pastoral Counselor
• EDCO 831 – Individual and Family Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• EDCO 836 – Premarital and Marital Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• EDCO 841 – Crisis and Current Issues in Pastoral Counseling
• HSCO 502 – Human Growth and Development
• HSCO 506 – Integration of Spirituality and Counseling
• HSCO 508 – Studies in Interpersonal Communication
• HSCO 509 – Multicultural Issues In Human Services
• HSCO 511 – Group Dynamics
• HSMF 601 – Marriage and Family Counseling
• HSMF 603 – Premarital and Marital Counseling
• HSMF 611 – Counseling Children and Their Families
• HSMF 620 – Counseling Adolescents and Their Families
• HSMF 687 – Counseling Women
• LIFC 501 – Introduction to Life Coaching
• LIFC 502 – Advanced Life Coaching Skills
• LIFC 601 – Health and Wellness Coaching
• LIFC 602 – Marriage Coaching
• LIFC 603 – Financial Life Coaching
• LIFC 604 – Leadership Professional Life Coaching
• MILT 525 – Advanced Resilience for Leaders and Caregivers
• MILT 575 – Resilient Marriage and Family
• MILT 625 – Military Career and Community Transition
• MILT 675 – Advanced Military Mental and Behavioral Health
• PSYC 510 – Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I
• PSYC 512 – Advanced Social Psychology
• PSYC 515 – Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology II
• PSYC 516 – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PSYC 520 – Psychology and Christianity
• PSYC 525 – Advanced Developmental Psychology
• PSYC 545 – Test Construction/Validation
• PSYC 565 – Psychology of Learning
• PSYC 575 – Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC 620 – Intervention and Behavior Support
• PSYC 621 – Advanced Child Psychology
• PSYC 631 – Advanced Adolescent Psychology
• PSYC 635 – Advanced Adult Psychology
• PSYC 636 – Gerontology
• PSYC 640 – Organizational Behavior and Development
• PSYC 642 – Human Resource Training and Development
• PSYC 644 – Organizational Ethics
• PSYC 645 – Developmental Psychopathology
• PSYC 648 – Leadership and Motivation
• PSYC 651 – Personnel and Performance Management
• PSYC 676 – Developmental Neuropsychology
• TRMA 800 – Child and Adolescent Trauma
• TRMA 810 – Adult and Familial Trauma
• TRMA 820 – Disaster Mental Health and Community Response
• ACCT 622 – Advanced Auditing
• ACCT 632 – Advanced Financial Accounting Theory
• BMAL 500 – Organizational Behavior
• BMAL 501 – Strategic Leadership and Management
• BMAL 504 – Leading Organizational Change
• BMAL 530 – Accounting for Non-financial Managers
• BMAL 550 – Effective Executive Communication
• BMAL 560 – Corporate Responsibility
• BMAL 602 – Nonprofit Management
• BMAL 603 – Entrepreneurship
• BMAL 604 – Managing and Leading Across Cultures
• BMIS 501 – Executive Leadership and Management
• BMIS 510 – Enterprise Models
• BMIS 520 – IT Infrastructure
• BMIS 530 – Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design
• BMIS 570 – Ethics and Legal Issues
• BMIS 580 – Human Computer Interaction and Emerging Technology
• BMIS 601 – Decision Making and Executive Information Systems
• BMIS 603 – Business Simulation and Modeling
• BMIS 650 – Operations Management
• BMIS 662 – Telecommunications and Network Security
• BMIS 663 – Secure Enterprise Design and Development
• BMIS 664 – Information Forensics, Compliance, and Risk Management
• BMIS 665 – Information Operations and Security
• BMIS 680 – Advanced Project Management I
• BMIS 681 – Advanced IT Project Management II
• BUSI 502 – Servant Leadership
• BUSI 503 – Leadership Theory
• BUSI 504 – Leading Organizational Change
• BUSI 505 – Healthcare Informatics
• BUSI 506 – Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals
• BUSI 511 – Healthcare Administration
• BUSI 520 – Strategic Marketing Management
• BUSI 528 – Strategic Management and Marketing for Health Professionals
• BUSI 530 – Managerial Finance
• BUSI 538 – Investments and Derivatives
• BUSI 561 – Legal Issues in Business
• BUSI 570 – Ethical Leadership
• BUSI 600 – Business Research Methods
• BUSI 601 – Accounting for Decision Making
• BUSI 602 – Non-profit Management
• BUSI 603 – Entrepreneurship
• BUSI 604 – International Business
• BUSI 605 – Environment of International Business
• BUSI 606 – Global Financial Markets
• BUSI 607 – Developing Global Markets
• BUSI 610 – Organizational Design and Structure
• BUSI 611 – Operations Management for Health Organizations
• BUSI 612 – Marketing Promotions
• BUSI 613 – Supply Chain Management
• BUSI 614 – Marketing Research
• BUSI 619 – Quality Assessment and Evidence-based Decision Making
• BUSI 620 – Global Economic Environment
• BUSI 629 – Economic Analysis in Healthcare
• BUSI 642 – Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management
• BUSI 643 – Workforce Planning and Employment
• BUSI 644 – Human Resource Development
• BUSI 646 – Managing Human Capital in Healthcare
• BUSI 650 – Operations Management
• BUSI 680 – Advanced Project Management I
• BUSI 681 – Advanced Project Management II
• BUSI 682 – Global Project Management
• CSCI 501 – Overview of Computer Security
• CSCI 511 – Digital Forensics
• CSCI 561 – Ethics, Legal Issues & Policy
• CSCI 605 – Applied Cryptography
• CSIS 505 – Software Development
• CSIS 525 – Database Design and Development
• CSIS 535 – Computer Networks
• CSIS 643 – Software Design
• CSIS 651 – Advanced Topics in Computer Security
• CSIS 657 – Statistical Analysis and Data Mining
• INFO 505 – Health Informatics
• INFO 535 – Health Systems and Delivery
• INFO 545 – Health Care Information Systems and Integrated Technologies
• INFO 668 – Health Data Analytics and Decision-Making
• MRKT 600 – Applied Market Research
• MRKT 640 – Consumer Behavior
• MRKT 661 – Ethical and Legal Issues in Marketing
• MRKT 670 – Brand Management
• SMGT 501 – Social Issues in Sports Management
• SMGT 502 – Sports Marketing and Public Relations
• SMGT 503 – Ethics in Sport
• SMGT 504 – Foundations of Sport Ministry
• SMGT 505 – Legal Issues in Sports
• SMGT 506 – Economics and Financial Management in Sport
• SMGT 520 – Understanding Research in Sport, Recreation, and Tourism
• SMGT 611 – Foundations of Outdoor Adventure Sports
• SMGT 612 – Outdoor Adventure Programming
• SMGT 613 – Leadership and Administration of Outdoor Adventure Sports
• SMGT 631 – Sport Event and Facility Management
• SMGT 632 – Sport Development and Sales
• SMGT 633 – Management and Leadership in Sport Organizations
• TOUR 601 – Current Issues and Theories for Hospitality and Tourism Management
• TOUR 602 – Hospitality and Tourism Marketing Strategy
• TOUR 603 – Sport and Event Tourism Planning and Impacts
• ARTS 524 – Advanced Typography
• ARTS 532 – Vector Illustration
• ARTS 540 – Publication Design
• ARTS 542 – Digital Imaging
• ARTS 561 – Digital Photography
• ARTS 573 – 3D Graphics
• ARTS 574 – Interactive Game Design
• ARTS 578 – Interactive Design
• ARTS 580 – Interactive Publication
• EDSP 722 – History and Future of Special Education
• EDSP 724 – Collaboration and Communication in Special Education
• EDSP 725 – Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education
• EDSP 726 – Disability and Learning
• EDUC 500 – Learning Theory
• EDUC 518 – Understanding Educational Research and Assessment
• EDUC 521 – Foundations of Exceptionality
• EDUC 562 – Introduction to Higher Education
• EDUC 603 – Comparative Education
• EDUC 624 – Behavior Management
• EDUC 626 – Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Assessment
• EDUC 628 – Communication, Language, and Sensory Aspects for Autism
• EDUC 629 – Technology and Diversity
• EDUC 630 – Technology Practices for Instructional Improvement
• EDUC 631 – Foundations of Educational Technology and Online Learning
• EDUC 633 – Principles of Design and Management in Distance Education
• EDUC 635 – Teaching Science in the Middle School
• EDUC 637 – Teaching Social Studies in the Middle School
• EDUC 638 – Leadership in Educational Technology
• EDUC 639 – Trends and Issues in Educational Technology
• EDUC 642 – Leadership and Supervision in Education
• EDUC 643 – Contemporary Issues in Educational Policy
• EDUC 644 – School Leadership in Diverse Settings
• EDUC 658 – Introduction to Student Affairs
• EDUC 663 – Social and Political Aspects in Higher Education
• EDUC 664 – Economics and Finance of Higher Education
• EDUC 665 – Student Support Services and Retention
• EDUC 668 – Mathematics Instruction and Learning for K-8
• EDUC 669 – Literacy for Middle Level Learners
• EDUC 675 – Elementary Curriculum and Methods
• EDUC 676 – Middle Grades Curriculum and Methods
• EDUC 703 – Theories of Historical and Social Foundations of Education
• EDUC 710 – Introduction to Theory and Research
• EDUC 721 – Issues and Trends in Exceptionality
• EDUC 723 – Administration and Supervision of Special Education
• EDUC 730 – Technology Practice for Instructional Improvement
• EDUC 735 – Issues & Trends in Teaching and Learning
• EDUC 741 – Theories of Leadership
• EDUC 745 – Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving for Educators
• EDUC 746 – Conflict Resolution
• EDUC 747 – Advanced School Law
• EDUC 750 – Survey of Educational Research
• EDUC 758 – Teaching the College Student
• EDUC 759 – College and University Administration
• EDUC 771 – Curriculum Theory
• EDUC 782 – Historical Perspectives of Higher Education
• EDUC 784 – Assessment and Accreditation
• EDUC 812 – Advanced Educational Statistics
• EDUC 815 – Quantitative Methods of Research
• EDUC 817 – Qualitative Methods of Research
• EDUC 840 – Issues and Trends in Educational Leadership
• EDUC 848 – Culture and Educational Leadership
• EDUC 871 – Investigations in Curriculum Change
• HLTH 553 – Grant Acquisition and Management
• HLTH 620 – Introduction to Global Health
• HLTH 630 – Principles of Community Health
• HLTH 640 – Principles of Nutrition

School of Music

School of Music Course Guides

School of Music courses eligible for the portfolio process:

• ETHM 500 – Ethnic Music Theory
• ETHM 511 – Introduction to Ethnomusicology
• ETHM 512 – Field of Ethnomusicology (16-week)
• ETHM 513 – Anthropology of Music (16-week)
• ETHM 514 – Organology
• ETHM 530 – Worship and Culture
• ETHM 541 – Seminar in Ethnic Music: India
• ETHM 542 – Seminar in Ethnic Music
• ETHM 543 – Seminar in Ethnic Music: Africa
• ETHM 545 – Seminar in Ethnic Music: Middle East
• ETHM 546 – Seminar in Ethnic Music: China
• ETHM 549 – Seminar in Ethnic Music: Eastern Europe
• ETHM 560 – Ethnic Music Performance
• ETHM 600 – Transcription and Analysis of Non-Western Music
• ETHM 613 – Applied Ethnomusicology
• ETHM 688 – Field Experience in Ethnomusicology
• MUSC 510 – Foundations of Music Education
• MUSC 524 – Analytical Techniques
• MUSC 525 – Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques
• MUSC 531 – Bibliography and Research
• MUSC 620 – Music in America
• MUSC 630 – Principles of Music Technology
• MUSC 640 – History and Philosophy of Music Education in America
• MUSC 670 – Principles of Curricula and Pedagogy for Music Education
• WMUS 524 – Analytic Techniques for the Worship Leader
• WMUS 525 – Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques
• WMUS 630 – Principles of Music Technology
• WMUS 670 – Principles of Music and Worship Pedagogy
• WRSP 540 – Current Issues in Worship
• WRSP 650 – Bibliography and Research in Music and Worship
• WRSP 840 – Current Trends and Transitions in Christian Worship
• NURS 500 – Research
• NURS 501 – Health Policy and Ethics
• NURS 502 – Nursing Theory and Advanced Practices
• NURS 503 – Managing Population Health
• NURS 504 – Advanced Pharmacology
• NURS 505 – Advanced Health/Physical Assessment
• NURS 506 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
• NURS 519 – Strategies for End of Life Care
• NURS 521 – Nursing Issues, Informatics, and Technology
• NURS 522 – Performance Management in Health Care
• NURS 523 – Financial and Resource Management for Nurse Leaders
• NURS 524 – Systems Management and Leadership for Nurse Leaders
• NURS 700 – Advanced Nursing Research
• NURS 716 – Applications of Evidence-based Care
• NURS 718 – Informatics, Technology, and Trends for Transforming Health Care
• NURS 721 – Leadership, Policy, and Ethics
• NURS 732 – Interprofessional Collaboration and Outcomes Management for Quality in Health Care
• NURS 750 – Spiritual Care
• NURS 764 – Learning Theories and Teaching Methods for Nurse Educators
• NURS 765 – Curriculum Development and Program Evaluation for Nurse Educators
• NURS 766 – Advanced Evaluation Strategies for Nurse Educators
• NURS 767 – Transition to Nurse Educator Role
• NURS 832 – Clinical Prevention and Biostatistics
• NURS 834 – Health Care Operations and Financial Management
• NURS 836 – Translational Research in Health Care

Don’t see your course listed? Please email [email protected] or call Academic Advising (800) 424-9595 .

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10 Online Colleges That Give Work & Life Experience Credit

Find your degree.

Quick Look:

• Many colleges allow students to earn credits for prior professional, military, or life experiences through programs like the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE).
• Students can demonstrate their knowledge through standardized tests such as CLEP, DSST, or challenge exams, often reducing the time and cost needed to complete a degree.
• Schools also offer the option of submitting a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio, which documents training, certifications, and experiences to potentially earn credit.

You know that you have a lot to gain and to learn when you decide to pursue a college degree, that’s why you’ve decided to take this incredible step into your future. But, what about everything you already know in your chosen field? This is where work and life experience credits come in!

Originally published: September 2018 Last Updated: February 2024

Dozens of colleges and universities across America have the answer. Many institutions of higher learning have committed to giving credit where credit is due.

They will allow you to receive literal credits for your relevant experience whether that is from professional experience, life experience, prior training or credentials related to your field, or training you received in the military.

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When did the idea of work and life experience credits begin?

Since 1974, the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE) has existed to help students earn credits for formal training that happened outside of a traditional degree program.

They have partnered with a broad range of organizations and reviewed over 30,000 different programs in order to provide colleges and universities with course equivalency information. They evaluate standardized tests, work training programs, and more.

Colleges and universities across the country trust the council to determine if credits should be bestowed upon students. There are plenty of helpful resources and more information about the service on the ACE website.

How can I prove my work and life experience?

There are a variety of ways that you can earn credit for what you already know by demonstrating competency in specific areas. So, if you have all of the knowledge and skills that a course seeks to teach you, you may be able to receive credit by showing your proficiency instead of completing the course.

One way that schools do this is by offering different standardized tests. These tests usually have an associated fee, but some students may be able to get those fees waived based on financial need. These exams include:

• Challenge Exams: You would take the equivalent of an end-of-course exam and receive credit if you pass. You will have to contact individual schools to determine if this is an option for you.
• CLEPs: The College-Level Examination Program allows students to take a set of exams in specific content areas to test out of some classes. You can search the CLEP website to see if your school accepts these exams.
• DSSTs: DANTES Subject Standardized Tests are the option for students who have learned outside of an academic setting to prove that they are proficient in a particular subject. There are more than 30 of these exams currently available, which are all recommended by ACE. Close to 2,000 schools accept these credits.

After testing, are there other ways to demonstrate my work and life experience in my field of study?

Apart from sitting for an exam, you can potentially earn college credit for professional licenses or certificates, workforce training, and military training. This is done through the creation of a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio.

This portfolio should contain information regarding all of your workplace or military training, any licensure, certifications, or diplomas you may have received, and any civic activities, volunteer service, or similar ventures.

You should include supporting documents, any competency-based exam results, as well as plenty of writing that details what you know, how you learned it, and how you can demonstrate that knowledge.

Earning credit for your life or work experience doesn’t have to be difficult. The resources published by the ACE and the academic advisors at the schools you’re considering can show you how to get college credit for work experience. Additionally, many schools have a PLA Portfolio course that you are required to take, which will walk you through this process in great detail.

The benefits of going through this seemingly daunting process should not be overlooked. First of all, you deserve to have your skills recognized. Schools that offer credit for life experience can be a great choice for senior citizens who want to earn an affordable degree .

These programs can also help you earn a degree quickly. While there are a variety of fees that you may encounter by submitting a PLA or taking the aforementioned exams, they are saving you money in the long run. The average cost per credit hour in the United States is just a few dollars short of $600. Every course that you get credit for this way is a significant savings.

If this is something that you’re interested in doing, the ten schools on this list are a great place to start. Each of these schools awards credit for work and life experience. All were ranked according to the following.

Methodology

This article explores the top ten online colleges that give credit for work or life experience. In order to create this ranking, we began by curating a list of schools that met the following criteria:

• features at least one distance education degree program;
• allows students to earn credit for their past experience;
• is based in the United States;
• is properly accredited;
• is not a for-profit institution.

Once we had a complete list, we used our standard ranking factors of the Freshman Retention and Graduation Rate. These two percentages were added together to obtain a final score (out of a possible 200) for each school.

The schools that received the highest score are presented here, with the highest-scoring school coming in first place. In the event that any two institutions receive the same final score, they are presented in alphabetical order.

The data presented to you in this ranking came directly from the schools’ websites whenever it was available. Additional information was gathered from U.S. News & World Report and the National Center for Education Statistics.

As a disclaimer, OnlineCollegePlan doesn’t grant any institutions more favorable treatment. All of the schools are held to the same rigorous standards, and we openly provide our methodology so that you can understand how we came to these conclusions. Due to incomplete information, there may be a number of schools that are not represented here that otherwise may have ranked.

If none of the schools in this ranking seem like a good fit for you, you may want to check out our article featuring the Top 100 Best Online Colleges .

Tuition Disclaimer: All stated tuition values are based on a student’s in-state residency only and are subject to change.

Linfield is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and currently only offers bachelor’s degrees. Linfield offers a total of 72 different majors and minors to a student body of less than 2,000.

The college offers students credit for life experience through examinations with either CLEP or course finals. ACE-approved work-related credits are also accepted, and the college also provides portfolio examinations for those whose experience cannot be categorized.

Linfield College accepts up to 30 credits for past experience, listing standard sources as well as travel, personal interest, family, and life experience. This is a very welcoming policy, which is part of what makes this college the best online option for students seeking credit for experience.

Coupled with the exceptional educational quality that comes from a highly personalized environment, this is an impressive school. Majors offered online include:

• Business Information Systems
• Computer Information Systems
• Global Studies
• International Business
• Project Management

There are six minors and 18 certificates to customize your learning further. Linfield offers interesting certificates, such as Wine Management, and a Yoga Instructor program.

Online programs at Colorado State University are reasonably popular given the size of the university’s student body. More than a tenth of those students are studying entirely online through the Colorado State University Global campus which offers a variety of undergraduate degree completion programs, graduate degrees, certificates, and other continuing education opportunities.

The university accepts up to 90 transfer credits for some of its programs which is an excellent option for those of you who have completed some of your degree already.

In addition to that, the university also accepts credit from Advanced Placement testing at the high school level, college courses you completed during dual enrollment in high school, International Baccalaureate credits, CLEP testing, and more.

There are 20 online programs offered at DeSales University, including a selection of accelerated bachelor’s degrees and professional certificates. Online classes at DeSales are presented asynchronously, and the courses are condensed into six- and eight-week sessions depending on which class it is. There are 11 start dates throughout the year.

These programs are provided through what the university calls the ACCESS program which has garnered recognition several times throughout the past 40 years since it was established. You have the option to take classes in this accelerated format, or you can also take them on a more traditional schedule.

If something happens and you need to take time off to take care of other obligations, you can pick right back up where you left off. 75 transfer credits are accepted, and you can earn credit for your experience in several ways. DSSTs, CLEPs, and more are all accepted. You also have ample access to financial aid and academic support services while enrolled.

Wisconsin Lutheran College offers one online degree program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. As the college continues to grow, its offerings to distance-learning students will grow with it.

This degree program is provided in an accelerated format, allowing it to be completed in as little as 20 months of full-time study. There is a generous transfer policy that you could benefit from if you have any prior college experience.

If not, Wisconsin Lutheran College does accept up to 45 credits from other sources such as previous life and work experience. You can apply any CLEP test results to your degree, and you can also submit a portfolio.

Demonstrating competency in specific areas through a variety of ways will allow you to earn credit, as will any other learning experience you received in a professional setting.

Westfield State University is made up of the following:

• College of Education, Health, and Human Services
• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• College of Graduate and Continuing Education
• College of Mathematics and Sciences

There are six online degrees offered at the bachelor’s level:

• Business Management
• Criminal Justice
• Liberal Studies

The university has been recognized for the quality of its online programs in the past. Classes are offered all year, which may help you to complete your degree faster. Westfield accepts credit through the presentation of a Prior-Learning Portfolio.

You have the opportunity to earn credit for CLEP testing, internships, and can also demonstrate your proficiency in other ways.

Central Michigan University offers 53 total online degree programs. In addition to that, you can also explore your options with more than 20 certificate programs, professional development courses, and personal enrichment courses.

There are options for accelerated format programs that allow you to complete part of your master’s degree courses while you’re working on your bachelor’s degree. The majority of classes are asynchronous, and there are very few on-campus requirements across its entire repertoire.

Students of the CMU Global Campus can earn credit for prior learning. Prior Learning credit is awarded for work, training, and life experience at CMU. What sets the university apart is that it relies on competencies.

So, even if your knowledge doesn’t pertain to a specific course offered, you can still potentially have your knowledge recognized as a credit. In order to receive this credit, students would submit a PLA portfolio for review.

Online programs are offered at Walsh University; however, they are not very popular among the current student body. There are more than ten majors that can be completed in online and accelerated formats. Courses last just five- or eight-weeks and they are self-paced. Some programs can be finished in just over a year of full-time study.

The undergraduate programs accept up to 92 transfer credits, including those from prior learning. Majors include business, communication, a BSN, and more. If none of the offered majors suit your needs, you can also create your own major; Walsh University is one of the very few schools with this option for online students.

There are also four different graduate degrees you can earn online, with a further ten areas of interest to choose from. Walsh University welcomes credits from CLEP testing, work training or experience, and even life experience when students can adequately demonstrate their competency in their portfolios.

Albertus Magnus College has some of the most flexible online programs for students. There are online programs that are taken entirely via the web, and there are what AMC calls Flex programs. The Flex programs allow those students who are close enough to the school to take classes at the brick-and-mortar campus if they are interested in doing so.

There are accelerated degree programs that feature eight-week courses. The setup of these programs allows you to earn as much as 30 credits in just one year, and you can do that online or on-campus. The college is more than committed to enabling you to enroll in a program that is convenient, efficient, and meets all of your needs.

Prior learning credits can be earned from CLEP, DANTES exams, challenge exams, and by submitting a portfolio. Students are eligible for financial aid whether they are full- or part-time, and the college provides access to internships, experiential learning, career services, and more.

The University of Memphis has operated a Division of Professional and Continuing Education since the 1970s. Over time, in order to expand options for nontraditional students, the University of Memphis Global was created. This division offers more than 60 online programs that are fully online, don’t require any visits to campus, and feature predominantly asynchronous courses.

These programs are very flexible, making them an excellent opportunity to attend a highly respected university and receive a quality education that meets all of your needs. U of M offers prior learning credit through a PLA Portfolio because as it boasts, it understands that learning can happen anywhere.

Almost every course in the undergraduate curriculum allows for challenging exams. You can also earn CLEP, DSST, AP, and IB credit. Professional training and licensing are also considered.

There are more than 40 online degree programs to choose from through Eastern Kentucky University’s EKU Online division. Some of the fields offered include business, criminal justice, education, nursing, psychology, social work, and more.

There are six start dates throughout the year, and all of the courses are taught by the same faculty as their on-campus counterparts. EKU Online takes great care to make sure that its programs fit into the lives of busy students no matter what they have going on, so many of the courses are asynchronous. In addition, there are generous financial aid opportunities available.

Credit for life and work experience is formally recognized by the university as long as students are actively enrolled and seeking a degree. EKU currently accepts military training and CLEP examination credits as long as there is an equivalent course offered at the university.