Transfer Credit & Credit for Prior Learning

Goodwin College of Professional Studies recognizes that adults have many opportunities for valuable learning in their everyday lives and work. When this prior learning is college-level, it can be identified in an evaluative process designed to determine whether it is worthy of college credit. These policies and procedures are designed to help students understand the various ways they can demonstrate and earn credit for the college-level learning they may already have. Defining college-level learning can be a complex task. At Drexel University, we use the following standards to decide whether learning is college-level:

Credit is Granted for Learning, not Experience

In addition to learning evidenced by transcripted credit earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities, Drexel University recognizes that learning takes place in students' everyday lives and work. Consistent with CAEL's Standards for Assessing Prior Learning, Goodwin College grants credit only for verifiable, college-level, noncollegiate-supported learning acquired through life or work experience.

Possible Sources of College-Level Learning

Some of the possible sources of prior college-level learning that could be considered for evaluation include work, non-credit courses, seminars and in-service training programs, volunteer work in the community, research and military training, among others. This list is intended to give you an idea of possible sources. Other sources of college-level learning are possible.

Transcripted Credit

Students can transfer credit earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities on an official transcript that is sent from the original institution directly to Drexel University's Office of Admissions. Students must have earned grades of C or higher for coursework to be considered for transfer credit.

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Credit for Prior Learning Application Procedures

Credit is granted for demonstrated learning, not experience. The framework for assessing prior learning for credit is guided by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and The American Council on Education (ACE). Goodwin College uses the following standards to decide whether learning is college-level:

Step #1: Portfolio should include:

Your resume, documenting all applicable work experience(s)
List of skills, job responsibilities/specific duties
Projects undertaken (including detailed project description with outcomes)
Work samples (non-proprietary, if possible)
Relevant certifications/training completed (description, hours required and evidence of completion)
Letters of recommendation
Community service commendations (description, hours required and evidence of completion)
Specific course of credit request, if any.

Step #2: Goodwin identifies the learning outcomes from the content provided in the portfolio:

Interprets program content, length/hours completed
Reviews skills, knowledge, and competencies acquired
May request additional information from students if needed (i.e., essay)

Step #3 Mapping learning outcomes (step #2) with Drexel learning objectives and program requirements

Assesses learning as college-level i.e., introductory, or advanced course
Calculates prospective credit hours (quarter)
Assignment of course/credit equivalency

Note: There is a limit to the number of quarter credit hours that can be granted through the Portfolio Assessment of Credit for Prior Learning process.

Undergraduate: a maximum of 30 quarter credit hours
Graduate: a maximum of 15 quarter credit hours

Note: Assignment of CPL credit for your degree program can impact your plan of study and eligibility for federal financial aid. Consult your academic advisor. The above options are considered by Drexel's Goodwin College of Professional Studies and may or may not be considered by other colleges or programs at Drexel University. Acceptance of non-collegiate supported learning for credit is at the discretion of the individual college or program and must be vetted with an authorized representative.

Individualized Credit by Evaluation (CBE)

If you have college-level learning that cannot be evaluated by the methods already mentioned, you might consider individualized credit by evaluation.

Statement of Policy

Undergraduate students have a one-time opportunity during their Undergraduate career to gain course credit toward graduation by taking a comprehensive examination in a course, that is, without registering for the course or attending any classes. The student must never have attended (or currently be enrolled in) the course in which credit by examination is being sought.

Drexel University's Credit by Examination Policy

Military Training (American Council on Education Evaluated)

Since 1945, the American Council on Education (ACE) has provided a collaborative link between the U. S. Department of Defense and higher education through the review of military training and experiences for the award of equivalent college credits for members of the Armed Forces. Goodwin College will review ACE evaluated military training. A student must provide a Joint Services Transcript (JST) to Drexel Admissions for evaluation by an academic advisor.

Timing of Training

The student must have completed training during the time period that ACE evaluated the training program to be eligible for credit.

Even if a student completed training programs that have ACE credit recommendations, credit will often be granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the student's program of study, credit needs and the policies of the various colleges within Drexel.

Please visit ACE: Learning Evaluations for more information regarding the guidelines and experiences that are eligible for review by ACE.

Visit ACE: Transcripts for more information on requesting a transcript.

Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction and Professional Training

The National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and The American Council on Education (ACE) have pre-evaluated a variety of structured programs, experiences and licenses. If you have learning from a pre-evaluated experience, you may be able to gain credit by supplying the appropriate documentation. The dates, location and length of time of your training must match the dates, location and length of time stipulated in the NCCRS or ACE.

National CCRS evaluates courses, training programs, licenses and/or certificates and recommends credit. Credit recommendations apply only to training received during the period of time, at the locations, and for the length of time listed in the directory.

Among their evaluations are:

New York City Fire Department
New York City Police Department
J.P. Morgan
LOMA
Verizon

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends credit for training programs and courses offered by noncollegiate organizations. These recommendations are published in the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. Noncollegiate organizations include business and industry, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, professional associations, labor unions and some other types of organizations. Credit recommendations apply only to training received during the period of time, at the locations, and for the length of time listed in the guide and directory.

Examples include:

American Council on Exercise
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Court Reports Association RPR and RMR Examinations
Novell^®

Standardized Examinations

Standardized examinations such as CLEP (College Level Examination Program), Excelsior College Examinations (ECE), Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), NYU Foreign Language Testing, and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) are commonly used to verify college-level learning. After some independent study, you can take an exam covering the subject area you believe you have mastered. Study guides are available at bookstores and often on the examination organization's website. If your results meet those established by the college for credit, you can include that credit in your degree program.

Students should discuss these testing programs with their academic advisor to determine suitability for their degree program and transfer applicability. Any credit earned by examination follows the same rules that govern the acceptance of transfer credits at Drexel. Please see the Drexel University's official Transfer Credit Policy. Any examinations students take cannot duplicate courses for which a student has already earned credit, other examinations successfully completed, or assessed as prior learning.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers general examinations in Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and History, which validate non-traditional learning. About 30 additional subject examinations correspond to specific college courses taught across the country.

For more information regarding CLEP exams, please contact:

CLEP
Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone 800.257.9558
CLEP website

Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP)

The Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP) offers more than 100 examinations in liberal arts, business and management, and professional/vocational areas.

Obtaining a TECEP Transcript

The official score report indicates whether or not you passed the exam and are eligible for the credit. For more information regarding earning TECEP credit, please visit TECEP website.

Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST EXAMS)

Developed and owned by Thompson Prometric, DSST is a nationally recognized testing program and offers tests in 37 subject areas – applied technology, humanities, and more. For information regarding preparation and registration, please visit the DSST Credit-by-Exam Program website or call 1.877.471.9860.

Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

Formerly the Regents College Examinations (RCE), College Proficiency Examination Program (CPEP), the Regents External Degree (RED) Program, and ACT/PEP tests outside of New York.

Excelsior College Examinations are available in business, education, health, liberal arts and sciences, and nursing. Examination content outlines and study guides are available at no cost. For more information, please contact:

ECE
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203
Phone 888.723.9267
Excelsior College website

The official score report from Excelsior indicates whether or not you passed and are eligible for the credit.

Number of Credits Earned

There are limits to the number of credits that can be earned via the CPL process as delineated below:

The total number of transfer credit hours an undergraduate student can transfer through any combination of traditional transcripted credit and Credit for Prior Learning is 135 quarter hours as stipulated by Drexel University's Transfer Credit Policy.
The maximum number of credits graduate students may transfer via any of the above or following options is 15.0 quarter credits.
The maximum number of credits that can be earned via any combination of credit by external exam (CLEP, DSST, TECEP, NYU Foreign Language Testing, etc.) is 30.0 quarter credits.
The maximum number of credits that can be earned via any combination of ACE (military and corporate training) or NCCRS recommendations is 60.0 quarter credits.
The maximum number of credits that can be earned via individualized portfolio assessment is Undergraduate: 30.0 quarter credits; Graduate: 15.0 quarter credits.
The maximum number of credits that can be earned via individualized departmental assessment is 30.0 quarter credits.
The maximum number of credits that can be earned via any combination of CPL options listed above is 90.0 quarter credits.
Each college engaged in the assessment of academic and work experiences determines its own procedures for review and testing; students should contact the appropriate advising office at Drexel for information about the procedures for assessment.