Prior Learning Assessment & Transfer Credit
As our 21st century economy evolves, there is growing recognition of the importance of an educated workforce. Economists are projecting widespread increases in skill requirements, partly due to the nature of the industries in which we are likely to see the most growth. In addition, individual workers improve their earnings and their employability as they increase their educational attainment. The challenge is how to help more people, particularly adults, succeed at the post secondary level, and earn degrees. The undergraduate transfer credit guidelines for Adult Degree Program (ADP) students enrolling at Concordia University, Irvine (CUI) include various accepted and established ways that adult students can receive credit for both traditional course credit units taken at US regionally accredited post secondary institutions as well as for learning acquired outside of the traditional academic environment, typically referred to as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credit.
CUI – ADP will accept and assist adult students with Prior learning Assessment (PLA) credits. PLA is a term used to describe the process by which an individual’s experiential learning is assessed and evaluated for purposes of granting college credit, certification, or advanced standing toward further education or training.
There are several generally accepted approaches to awarding PLA credit by regionally accrediting bodies of the Association of Schools and Colleges, and when properly conducted, all ensure academic quality: (1) national standardized exams in specified disciplines, e.g., Advanced Placement (AP) exams, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, Excelsior College exams, DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests); (2) evaluated non-college programs, e.g., American Council on Education (ACE) evaluations of corporate training and military training; and (3) individualized assessments, particularly portfolio-based assessments conducted according to national norms and standards set by ACE and The Council for Adult & Experiential Learning (CAEL) through LearningCounts.
Below are links to several partner organizations that provide these high quality and well established PLA options for adult students. Please contact the ADP academic advising (949) 214-3374 office with any questions or for additional detailed information. PLA provides an effective way to accelerate your degree completion time table, while also lowering the costs associated with obtaining a college degree.
Transfer Alignments and Guidelines
PLA provides an effective way to accelerate your degree completion time table, while also lowering the costs associated with obtaining a college degree. Below are links to several partner organizations that provide these high quality and well established PLA options for adult students. Please first refer to our Transfer Alignments and Guidelines to ensure that these course units will transfer to Concordia University. If you have any questions or for additional detailed information, please contact the ADP academic advising office at (949) 214-3374.
Straighterline
Through CUI’s relationship with StraighterLine, students now have access to over 37 affordable, flexible, high-quality general education college courses (all ACE credit recommended) that they can start and take on their own schedule. StraighterLine's online college courses start as low as $99 per month plus $49 per course. StraighterLine courses automatically transfer when you enroll at CUI. StraighterLine can help you fill in courses that you need in order to graduate on time. StraighterLine’s college courses are online, self-paced, and flexible with your schedule. Find out more and receive a $50 coupon off your first course by calling 949-214-3017 or clicking on the StraighterLine logo.
LearningCounts.org
LearningCounts.org is CAEL's (Council for Adult & Experiential Learning) online service offering credible, third-party assessment of college-level learning acquired outside the college classroom.
CLEP
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) gives you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. Earn credit for knowledge you've acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships.
DSST (Dantes)
DSST is an effective method to provide you evidence of prior learning. In fact, the 38 exams available at a competitive fee compliment other credit by exam programs such as CLEP. Prior learning assessment will help you accelerate your path to degree completion while saving you the time it takes to sit through a course as well as the additional dollars spent on tuition.
Concordia offers both CLEP and DSSTS testing on our Irvine campus for your convenience. To learn more or schedule a test, please contact Terilyn Colacino at the Disability and Learning Resource Center in Administration Building, Suite 114, or call (949) 214-3039.