What are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Portfolio and what courses can I currently select for this program?

In order to be eligible for the Graduate Portfolio, you must be matriculated into one of the specific graduate programs that include credit for prior learning experience within the degree program. Once you express an interest with the academic pathways team at gradpriorlearning@umgc.edu, a prior learning specialist will work with you to discuss planned targeted courses; provide an application and self-assessment; and discuss the process for completing a portfolio. These are the specific graduate courses that are currently eligible for the Graduate Portfolio program. Please note: Some of these courses are part of related graduate certificate programs as well.Graduate Programs Courses Approved for Graduate Portfolio MS in Accounting & Financial Management MS in CyberAccounting MS in Management: Accounting All courses except for the following: ((course.acct610!id)) ((course.acct690!id)) ((course.mgmt690!id)) ((course.msaf690!id)) MS in Cybersecurity Management & Policy ((course.cmap605!id)) ((course.cmap615!id)) ((course.cmap625!id)) ((course.cmap635!id)) ((course.cmap645!id)) MS in Cybersecurity Technology ((course.ctch605!id)) ((course.ctch615!id)) ((course.ctch625!id)) ((course.ctch635!id)) ((course.ctch645!id)) MS in Digital Forensics & Cyber Investigation ((course.dfcs605!id)) ((course.dfcs615!id)) ((course.dfcs625!id))* ((course.dfcs635!id)) ((course.dfcs645!id)) MS in Management: Emergency Management ((course.eman600!id)) MS in Environmental Management ((course.envm600!id)) ((course.envm610!id)) MS in Management: Homeland Security Management ((course.hsmn610!id)) MS in Management: Human Resource Management ((course.hrmd610!id))* ((course.hrmd620!id))* ((course.hrmd650!id)) Graduate Certificate in Strategic Human Resource Management ((course.hrmd620!id))* ((course.hrmd650!id)) MS in Information Technology: Informatics ((course.itec610!id)) ((course.itec625!id)) ((course.itec626!id)) ((course.itec630!id)) ((course.itec640!id))* MS in Management: Intelligence Management ((course.inms600!id)) ((course.inms610!id)) MS in Management: Project Management Graduate Certificate in Project Management ((course.pman634!id))* ((course.pman635!id)) ((course.pman637!id)) ((course.pman638!id)) ((course.pman639!id)) ((course.pman641!id))* Indicates that an active and current industry certification may satisfy that course requirement.

What type of work will be required to complete a Graduate Portfolio?

First, you will need to work with a prior learning specialist to target the right course for your needs. You cannot target any courses, certifications, or previous learning/experience that you have already attempted and/or completed for credit. You must target an approved UMGC graduate course in your program. For each Graduate Portfolio, you will need to provide documentation that will involve a great deal of graduate-level writing, including the following: Documentation of learning that meets the outcomes of the course you plan to target Providing an experiential resume Following rubrics designed to meet specific learning expectations Verification letters Examples of experiences that include specific program-related templates, skills, documents, articles, or projects, that can verify your learning Your portfolio will be reviewed by a faculty member who is a subject matter expert in the field and be assessed to determine whether you can receive academic credit for the portfolio.

Do I register for a specific course to complete a Graduate Portfolio?

You do not need to take a required credited course for the Graduate Portfolio program. Upon confirmation of program eligibility, you will be placed into a D2L classroom self-led space (non-credited course) by the academic pathways team. Within that classroom, you will be given direction and resources to complete a portfolio for submission to be reviewed by a faculty evaluator who is a subject matter expert in the course you have targeted.

How much does the Graduate Portfolio program cost?

Compared to tuition costs, you can save money by submitting a portfolio for review. The cost of the program is $250 per Graduate Portfolio submission. Each portfolio is designed to target one course. There is no additional cost associated with enrollment into the self-led course.

How long does it take to complete a Graduate Portfolio?

It is recommended you work on a portfolio within a 6–8 week timeframe, but you will have the dates of a specific semester/term to complete the work. The completed portfolio must be submitted by the end date of the semester/term.

Are there any limits to how many Graduate Portfolios I can complete?

You are limited to earning up to 12 credits for most master's programs or up to 6 credits for most graduate certificates via successful completions of the Graduate Portfolio program. These credit amounts align with what most master's programs (12) and graduate certificates (6) at UMGC accept in transfer credit/credit from other sources.

If I have an industry certification such as PMP or SHRM-CP, can I still complete a Graduate Portfolio?

You cannot do a portfolio for a course in which you are already receiving/have received credit for an industry certification in transfer. That certification should be considered first for transfer towards the specific graduate program. Please see UMGC's graduate credit transfer credit evaluation information for more details. You can also contact a prior learning specialist about certifications that you hold to see if they can be used to satisfy a program requirement.

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Prior and Experiential Learning

Translate your workplace, community, and volunteer activities into UMGC undergraduate or graduate credit.

At University of Maryland Global Campus, our students bring a wealth of experiences—from the workplace and community and volunteer activities—to the classroom. We value the learning you've acquired outside of the classroom. Turn your workplace, community, and volunteer experience into course credit and take advantage of the following benefits:

Save time: The average degree-seeking student at UMGC who works full-time completes 9 credits of coursework per year. Successful completion of a Portfolio (a written description of your college-level learning and a collection of documents that verify your college-level learning) or Course Challenge examinations (for undergraduate students only) can cut years off of the degree-completion process.
Save money: Credits awarded through the Prior Learning assessment are evaluated for a fee that is lower than the cost of tuition.
Gain understanding: The Portfolio process helps you understand the many ways you have acquired learning through your full- or part-time jobs and community and volunteer activities outside the classroom.
Value knowledge: Earning credit through Prior Learning programs helps you find value in lifelong experiential learning.

How to Earn Prior Learning Credit

UMGC offers four programs to turn your experiential learning into college credit:

Undergraduate Course Challenge: You can earn credit by passing the equivalent of a final exam for almost any undergraduate course for which UMGC can prepare and administer a suitable examination or assessment. Some courses are excluded. Read the Course Challenge criteria to see if you qualify.
Undergraduate Portfolio: You have the opportunity to earn credit by creating a portfolio outlining your college-level learning through previous experience. You are guided through the process in two courses, EXCL 301 or EXCL x001, in which you create and submit a portfolio for faculty review. Please contact priorlearning@umgc.edu to apply. You must submit applications for EXCL 301 or EXCL x001 before registering for the course. For specific session dates, please view the academic calendar.
Graduate Portfolio: You have the opportunity to earn credit for a limited number of graduate courses via the portfolio program. You are guided through this process via a self-led, non-credit course. To discuss application deadlines, eligibility, and program requirements, contact a prior learning specialist at gradpriorlearning@umgc.edu.
Workplace Learning: Earn upper-level credit by submitting a learning proposal and demonstrating skills you learn on the job while studying at UMGC. Apply classroom theory to real-world professional projects and earn credits that may apply to your degree or certificate program. To discuss deadlines, eligibility, and program requirements, contact Workplace Learning at workplacelearning@umgc.edu.

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Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center.

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