Credit for Prior Learning

Matriculated undergraduate students may be eligible to earn undergraduate-level academic credit for prior learning (CPL) acquired during employment, non-collegiate training, or other formative life experiences.

In certain undergraduate programs, CPL may be awarded following a portfolio assessment process. CPL can only be awarded if the student has not enrolled in or completed the equivalent SCSU undergraduate course. Not all undergraduate programs accept credit for prior learning, and such credits can only be applied to a matriculated student’s degree program with the approval of the department chairperson.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Prior learning eligible for undergraduate level academic credit following portfolio assessment must be:

•  Aligned to the equivalent undergraduate-level course outcomes of a specific credit-bearing course currently taught in the undergraduate program at Southern.
• Well documented, thoroughly explained, and verifiable through evidence and an explanatory narrative.
•  Based on experience that is of sufficient duration to acquire the level and amount of learning required by the undergraduate program.

PORTFOLIO PROCESS

CPL may be awarded following a portfolio assessment review by content area faculty initiated by and submitted through the Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL).

• A non-refundable portfolio assessment fee of $250 will be charged per evaluation, regardless of the outcome. CPL portfolio assessment fees are not eligible for payment with SCSU scholarship dollars. CPL assessment fees are not covered by financial aid.
• Portfolios submitted for assessment are subject to SCSU’s Student Code of Conduct and are reviewed by faculty selected by the program’s department chairperson.
• The faculty member will evaluate the portfolio and recommend undergraduate credit for portfolios that demonstrate learning equivalent to successfully completing the specified undergraduate-level course with a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher.
• Submission of a portfolio does not guarantee that credit will be awarded. When credit is not recommended, it will not appear on the student's transcript.
• If credit is recommended after a portfolio review, the student’s official transcript will display a grade of “P” (pass) for the course requested along with the number of credit hours earned. The course will be transcribed to the term in which the assessment was evaluated.

CPL Portfolio Appeals Process

A student may submit a second portfolio challenging the same course and pay the assessment fee again. If credit is not recommended for the second portfolio, the student cannot resubmit.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES

In addition to the criteria for eligibility, the following policies apply:

1. With approval of the department chairperson, undergraduate students may apply up to 90 credits earned through prior learning assessment or transfer credit into a program. The combination of credit for prior learning and transfer credit cannot exceed this limit. Some undergraduate programs have more restrictive policies.
2. CPL can only be granted for a course if it meets a current and unmet requirement on the student’s degree evaluation.
3. If a student changes program, CPL awarded in a previous program of study is not guaranteed to apply toward the requirements of a new program. The new department may not accept a portfolio grade of 'P' towards certain program requirements.
4. CPL received through portfolio assessments by other institutions must be resubmitted through Southern’s portfolio assessment process for consideration.

Matriculated undergraduate students may be eligible to earn undergraduate-level academic credit for prior learning (CPL) acquired during employment, non-collegiate training, or other formative life experiences.

In certain undergraduate programs, CPL may be awarded following an examination process. CPL can only be awarded if the student has not enrolled in or completed the equivalent SCSU undergraduate course. Not all undergraduate programs accept credit for prior learning, and such credits can only be applied to a matriculated student’s degree program with the approval of the department chairperson.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Prior learning eligible for undergraduate level academic credit based on examination must be:

• Aligned to the equivalent undergraduate-level course outcomes of a specific credit-bearing course currently taught in the undergraduate program at Southern.
• Well documented, thoroughly explained, and verifiable through evidence of examination.
• Based on experience that is of sufficient duration to acquire the level and amount of learning required by the undergraduate program.

PORTFOLIO PROCESS

CPL may be awarded following examination review by content area faculty initiated by and submitted through the Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL).

• A non-refundable examination fee of $250 will be charged per evaluation, regardless of the outcome. CPL examination fees are not eligible for payment with SCSU scholarship dollars. CPL examination fees are not covered by financial aid.
• CPL examinations are subject to SCSU’s Student Code of Conduct and are reviewed by faculty selected by the program’s department chairperson.
• The faculty member will evaluate the examination and recommend undergraduate credit for examinations that demonstrate learning equivalent to successfully completing the specified undergraduate-level course with a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher.
• Completion of an examination does not guarantee that credit will be awarded. When credit is not recommended, it will not appear on the student's transcript.
• If credit is recommended after examination, the student’s official transcript will display a grade of “EP” (pass by examination) for the course requested along with the number of credit hours earned. The course will be transcribed to the term in which the assessment was evaluated.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES

In addition to the criteria for eligibility, the following policies apply:

1. With approval of the department chairperson, undergraduate students may apply up to 90 credits earned through prior learning examination or transfer credit into a program. The combination of credit for prior learning and transfer credit cannot exceed this limit. Some undergraduate programs have more restrictive policies.
2. CPL can only be granted for a course if it meets a current and unmet requirement on the student’s degree evaluation.
3. If a student changes program, CPL awarded in a previous program of study is not guaranteed to apply toward the requirements of a new program. The new department may not accept an examination grade of 'EP' towards certain program requirements.
4. CPL received through examination by other institutions must be retaken through Southern’s examination process for consideration.