Credit for Prior Learning
- Credit for Prior (College-level) Learning
- What is "Credit for Prior Learning?"
- Why Seek Credit for Prior Learning?
- Options Available for Earning Credit for Prior Learning
Are you a candidate for Prior Learning Assessment? Can your knowledge gained through work and life experiences be assessed for college credit? Here are a few questions that will help you to decide if you should consider this option.
- Is your learning exactly or closely equivalent to a specific credit course listed in the DCCC catalog?
- Is your learning in subject areas that coincide with courses necessary to meet your degree requirements here at DCCC?
- Do you understand the principles behind what you do, or have done, as well as the steps involved in doing it?
- Is your knowledge current?
Plan to attend an orientation session called "College Credit for Non-College Learning." At these sessions, an Assessment Counselor will discuss the above options in greater detail. The counselor will also help you decide on your next step, should you wish to pursue Prior Learning Assessment.
These sessions are conducted twice each semester and are publicized in the College's direct mail tabloid, and in the Student Information Services bulletin. If you are unable to attend a session, you can call (610) 359-5322 or come to the Assessment Center to set up an appointment to speak with a counselor.
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT?
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING YESTERDAY'S LEARNING EXPERIENCES…TOMORROW'S COLLEGE DEGREE
Yesterday's living and learning have resulted in a great deal of experience in real life and business. This knowledge can possibly be translated into tomorrow's college credits and applied toward completion of a college degree.
WHAT IS COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING?Students may be eligible to receive or earn credit for knowledge that has been obtained through life and work experiences that are closely related to the learning expectations of DCCC credit courses.
This learning may have occurred through on-the-job experiences, professional workshops, non-credited classes at business or technical schools, volunteer activities, personal study or avocational pursuits. At DCCC, the method that helps students to earn college credit for non-traditional learning is called "CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING."
The Assessment Center is the place where students can explore opportunities that are available to translate knowledge from work/life experiences into college credits.
WHY SEEK CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING?CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING may help students reduce the course load they have to carry, enabling them to complete their college education in less time, with less expense, and with the additional convenience of working from home.
OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT
COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
CREDIT FOR MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOLS
NON-COLLEGIATE SPONSORED INSTRUCTION (PONSI)
TRANSFER CREDITS FROM OTHER COLLEGES
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
A portfolio is an organized folder or binder of information compiled by a student, detailing specific past accomplishments, experiences and learning. It documents that the student's experiential learning is equivalent or closely related to those that other students have gained after completing the same DCCC course(s) through traditional classroom studies.
A portfolio must conform to DCCC's format. It should be developed with the guidance of an Assessment Counselor. The counselor can explain procedures and techniques for assembling a successful portfolio. Each portfolio will be assessed by the appropriate faculty in that discipline.
DCCC reserves the right to determine whether a course can be assessed, as well as the appropriate assessment method.
COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAMCLEP exams are standardized tests that measure an individual's knowledge of the material covered in certain introductory college courses. CLEP credit is treated as transfer credit, and credit is only awarded for a passing score on an exam; non-passing scores do not appear on a student's transcript.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATIONAn examination that will assess the relationship of prior learning to that of DCCC courses is an option available to students when there is no CLEP examination offered in that subject area, or when students cannot fully document their previous learning for a portfolio. These exams are developed by DCCC faculty (note that occasionally Assessment Counselors determine that credit by exam is a more viable option that portfolio development).
Credit by Examination can be pursued only if students are not registered in the course for which the exam is sought. If a student is presently enrolled in a course and wishes the exam option, he or she may discuss the "challenge exam" option with the instructor. Additional information on this procedure is available in the DCCC Student Handbook.
CREDIT FOR MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOLSVeterans and current military personnel can have previous military educational experience and courses evaluated for transfer credit by the Assessment Center. Validated records of training programs or military courses must be submitted to begin this process.
The military training school/course must be recommended for credit in the ACE (the American Council on Education) Guide to Credit for Military Training.
NON-COLLEGIATE SPONSORED INSRUCTION (PONSI)Courses and programs offered through organizations (AT&T, GE, AIB, Police Academy, etc.) can be evaluated for credit. Consult with the Assessment Center for more information.
TRANSFER CREDITS FROM OTHER COLLEGESStudents may transfer course credits to DCCC from regionally accredited colleges and universities. This is accomplished by having an official transcript sent by each previously attended college or university sent directly to DCCC's Records office, and by completing a "Petition of Transfer Credit" form. These forms are available in the Assessment Center, room 2195.
ADVANCED PLACEMENTDelaware County Community College recognizes superior achievement in secondary schools by granting advanced-placement college credits to qualified students, with a maximum award of 15 credit hours. Advanced placement allows the student to fulfill the requirements for certain courses. The awarded credit will count toward the completion of an associate degree.
Eligibility to receive advanced placement and credit will be determined by performance on AP exams administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Students should have their scores sent directly to the Assessment Center at DCCC. AP credit is awarded to students earning a minimum score of three (3) on any of the following exams, subject to the approval of the instructor in the area involved:
American Government
Calculus
Chemistry
Computer Science - AB
English
European History
French
German
History of Art
Music
Psychology
Spanish
U.S. History
AP credit is awarded to students earning a minimum score of four (4) on either of the following AP exams, subject to the approval of the instructor:
Biology
Physics
Advanced placement is also available to students attending area vocational-technical schools in several programs including:
Automated Manufacturing/Robotics
Biomedical Technology
Computer Science
Data Processing
Drafting
Electronics
Refrigeration
In addition, DCCC has Tech Prep Articulations with several area schools including the following, subject to approval of the instructors involved:
Upper Darby High School:
Applied Accounting
Architectural Design Graphics I
Basic Foods
I DC Circuits
Keyboarding
Principles of Early Childhood Education
Technical Mathematics I
Technical Physics I
Ridley High School:
| Technical Graphics: | CADD Construction |
| Blueprint Reading | |
| Technical Physics I | |
| Basic Foods I |
Garnet Valley High School:
Principles of Early Childhood Education
Brandywine Center for Arts and Technology:
Principles of Early Childhood Education