Credit for Prior Learning by Portfolio

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

• Aligned to the equivalent graduate-level course outcomes of a specific credit-bearing course currently taught in the graduate 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 graduate program.

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 graduate coordinator or department chairperson.
• The faculty member will evaluate the portfolio and recommend graduate credit for portfolios that demonstrate learning equivalent to successfully completing the specified graduate-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.

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

1. With approval of the graduate program coordinator, graduate students may apply up to 9 credits earned through prior learning assessment into a program between 30-36 credits, or up to 25% of the total credits for longer programs. The combination of credit for prior learning and transfer credit cannot exceed this limit. Many graduate 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.