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Nazarene Bible College

03/11/2010http://www.nbc.edu/advantage/prior-learning-assessment.php

Nazarene Bible College

Prior Learning

Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning Assessment

Entrance into the Advantage program requires a minimum of 60 hours of college credit through prior college work (see page 41 of the Catalog for specific details), CLEP or other recognized testing service, military training, and/or Prior Learning Assessment.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) refers to a unique opportunity for the student to earn college credit for learning experiences that have taken place in the work environment, volunteer setting, and/or other events that have significantly improved the student's knowledge and skills. The college, through the Advantage program, recognizes that learning takes place throughout life and that college level learning is not limited to the institutions of higher education or to classroom settings.

In the Advantage program, Prior Learning Assessment credit is considered under three broad categories:

  1. Credit acquired through a recognized testing service (i.e. CLEP, AP, DSST [Dante], etc.).
  2. Credit recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE). This credit would include military experience and training through the work place.
  3. Credit acquired through portfolio* submission of prior learning experiences.

* Portfolio submission of prior learning experiences refers to the process by which NBC assesses and grants credit for prior learning that is not validated under options 1 and 2 above. This process consists of a rigorous evaluation by a content specialist of prior learning based on the submission of a portfolio that validates prior learning.

All three elements of prior learning assessment will follow the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) standards.

As part of the Advantage Prior Learning Assessment program, the student will undergo a process of self-evaluation under the direction of a trained PLA director. From this, the student may earn up to 15 hours of college credit through careful assessment of these experiences, and the development and evaluation of a portfolio.

The following governs transfer and Prior Learning Assessment credit and applies to the initial 60 hours required to enter the program:

  1. A minimum of 10 semester hours credit must be earned through an accredited college classroom experience.
  2. A maximum of 30 semester hours may be earned through a recognized testing service.
  3. A maximum of 30 semester hours may be earned through ACE. Note: Military credit that has been transcripted will be considered as any other college transcript.
  4. A maximum of 15 semester hours may be earned through portfolio submission.

For More Information

Please contact an Advantage Counselor for additional information on earning college credit for prior learning experiences at:

Phone
(719) 884-5090
Email
Email