Earning a university degree is a challenging and rewarding experience. Any degree that comes easily by paying fees and waiting for a degree to arrive in the mail is bogus and will not result in a long-lasting and meaningful career.
Prospective university students, particularly those in the job market impatient to seek a degree for career advancement or to change careers, should be aware of universities that offer so-called life experience degrees for a fee. These schemes simply allow people to purchase a university degree from scam artists looking to make fast money.
Instead, watch for university degrees offered at accredited institutions, either online programs or campus-based programs, that offer credit for several years of working experience. This advantage is known as “prior learning credit” for learning earned through work and volunteer experience.
Getting a Degree Using Life Experience for Credit
A good example of legitimate life experience counting towards a university degree is found at the City University of New York and its Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies. Prospective students examine life experiences against a list of courses then apply for advanced standing.
Most universities offering degree credit for life experience follow assessment standards by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. This Council ensures that students receive credit for knowledge from life experiences.
Applying for credit related to life experience may take up to several months. At DePaul University in Chicago, the School for New Learning requests that students take a six-credit course to develop writing skills. This program ensures that students can write effectively about life experiences which is a critical skill of university graduates.
The amount of university credit awarded for life experience varies considerably among universities. Above all, prospective university students wanting to pursue receiving credits from life experiences should have a complete understanding of the review process upon application to a degree program.
Credit for Life Experience Results in Higher Degree Success
In Canada, a number of universities accept applications for credit earned through life or work experiences. For example, at Royal Roads University in British Columbia, potential students who do not have the formal academic education to qualify for admission may be assessed on the basis of both formal education and informal learning.
This flexible admissions policy recognizes a student’s experience and increases success rates towards a university degree.
Universities will often recognize relevant life experience in admission requirements or towards degree credit at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The key to using life experience to earn a university degree is to ensure the accredited status of the institution and understand that life experience will not result in an entire degree being awarded.
Shelley Aylesworth-Spink - Shelley Aylesworth-Spink has worked in support of communications, marketing and advertising for nearly 25 years in the private and public ...
