Prior Learning Policy

Rationale

Recognizing that students can bring to their educational process a wealth of college level knowledge gained from experiences and accomplishments outside the normal college setting, Trine University will offer students transfer credits toward their degree programs from alternative activities.

Students may be able to earn a maximum of 90 credits toward a Bachelor’s degree based on previous academic study through transfer credit from regionally accredited or approved college(s) or university(s) and course work completed is of similar rigor and content to the course offerings available at Trine University, standardized examination programs such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Defense Activity of Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) using the credit recommendations of the American Council of Education or examination by an academic department of Trine University. Students may also use alternative learning sources such as of employment, military, vocational training, and evaluation of a Prior Learning Portfolio to determine life experience credits.

Trine University’s general policies for awarding credit for alternative learning follow:

Prior Learning credits are considered transfer credits and are subject to the same policies as other transfer credits. A maximum of 90 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, where the course work completed is of similar rigor and content to the course offerings at Trine University, and those approved by the transfer coordinator, may be applied toward the minimum 120 hours required for a Bachelor’s degree.
Individuals who have not participated in similarly scheduled coursework are eligible to receive life experience credit.
Credit by examination may be earned only once in a single subject. A similar subject test in another testing program will not earn additional credits.
Credit may be granted for specific courses and electives based on prior learning as defined by particular requirements within individual degree programs. The maximum allowable amount of life experience and training credit for specific courses and electives is 60 credit hours.
Credits applied toward a degree may include hours earned by means of alternative activities such as credit by examination (30 hours maximum) and credit for life experience and training (60 hours maximum).
Life experience and training credit may be earned only for documented data to support knowledge, application, and implementation of degree related competencies and is not granted simply for experience.
Classroom-based corporate or military learning experiences are evaluated for college credit equivalency based upon recommendations of the American Council on Education or other nationally recognized organizations.
There are no costs or fees associated with any transfer credit or prior learning evaluations.

Trine University awards credit for college-level courses offered by business and professional organizations as recommended by the American Council on Education in its National Guide to Educational Credit. Credit is awarded for coursework offered by the military as recommended by the American Council on Education in its Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Credits are awarded subject to the approval of the Office of the Registrar.