How can I earn credit for prior life and work experience via a portfolio?
Portfolio development at UMGC is a process that allows you to earn college credit for what you've already learned through work, volunteer activities, or other real-world experiences.
A portfolio (or documentation of learning) is a collection of materials that shows:
- What you learned
- Where and when you learned it
- How your learning aligns with UMGC course outcomes, objectives, and skills
Using written narratives and supporting documents, you'll draw connections between your experiences and the learning outcomes of specific UMGC courses.
- Undergraduate Students: Enroll in EXCL 301, a course that guides you step-by-step through building your portfolio. To confirm eligibility for the program, contact priorlearning@umgc.edu.
- Graduate Students: Enroll in GCPL 601, a self-paced format designed to help you create your graduate-level portfolio. Contact gradpriorlearning@umgc.edu for more information.
Before enrolling, connect with a Prior Learning Specialist to confirm your eligibility. You can also explore resources and FAQs at UMGC Prior Learning Website.
Note: Credit is not guaranteed. It depends on the quality of your written portfolio and how well your learning aligns with the targeted UMGC course.