Prior Learning

Is prior learning assessment right for you?

About Us

Welcome to Prior Learning

Adult learners bring a wealth of learning experiences from the workplace and community and volunteer activities to the college classroom. At UMUC, we believe that learning acquired outside of the classroom is valuable and may be eligible for college credit.

There are many benefits to taking part in a Prior Learning program.

Successful Prior Learning program students:

• Save Time. The average degree-seeking, working adult 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 a course challenge can cut years off of the degree-completion process.
  
  
• Save Money. Credits awarded through portfolio assessment are evaluated for a fee that is much lower than the cost of tuition.
  
  
• Gain Understanding. The process helps students understand the many ways they have acquired learning through their full- or part-time jobs and community and volunteer activities outside the classroom.
  
  
• Value Knowledge. Earning credit through Prior Learning programs helps students find value in lifelong experiential learning.

UMUC provides two Prior Learning programs designed to translate experiential learning into college credit:

1. EXCEL through Experiential Learning
   Students create a portfolio describing and documenting their learning experiences, which is evaluated for credit award by faculty experts.


2. Course Challenge
   Students complete the equivalent of a final exam.

Start earning college credit for what you already know at UMUC. Review both of the Prior Learning options above to determine which program best suits you.