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Credit for Prior Learning

EXPLORE MORE OF UMGC

What you've learned over your lifetime can translate to college credit at UMGC.

At UMGC, students bring a wealth of experience to the classroom—from their workplace, their community, volunteer efforts, and more. We value the learning you've acquired over your lifetime, so we offer ways to turn those experiences into credit.

Benefits of UMGC’s Prior Learning Programs

  • 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

Before you can participate in our prior learning programs, you will need to apply and be accepted to UMGC. Once you are a student at UMGC, you can learn more about signing up by speaking to a success coach or prior learning specialist. UMGC provides three prior learning programs designed to translate experiential learning (targeted toward UMGC courses) into college credit.

  • Undergraduate Course Challenge: Through Course Challenge, you earn credit by passing the equivalent of a final exam; credit can be earned for almost any undergraduate course for which UMGC can prepare and administer a suitable examination or assessment; some courses are excluded.
  • Undergraduate Portfolio: Portfolio is a unique way for you to document and verify the college-level learning that you earned through previous experience. For undergraduate programs, you are guided through the process in two courses: EXCL 301 and EXCL x001.
  • Graduate Portfolio: Graduate Portfolio provides a unique way for you to document your graduate-level learning through previous experience. You are guided through the process via a self-led non-credit course. Only specific programs are available through this process. 
UMGC accepted a lot of credits for my military training. They evaluated that experience and saw that I had that knowledge, so that I didn't have to spend time studying things I already knew.

Andre T., BS in Management Information Systems Aberdeen, MD

 
 

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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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