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As experiential learning is an integral part of the philosophy of Prescott College, we recognize that a great deal of academically meaningful learning occurs through experiences outside of the classroom. The Conversion Portfolio, Life Experience Portfolio, and Practicum are the formats that the Adult Degree Program has established for adult learners to articulate and document learning acquired through life experience. Students document college-level experiential learning for college credits, which then can be applied toward degree requirements. All life experience documentation work must be substantiated with official documentation. The Life Experience Documentation is an application process. Students must complete the application and submit it with the $50 application fee.
Please note that some graduate schools do not accept bachelor’s degrees that include life experience work. Students who plan to attend graduate school may wish to research the policies of prospective graduate schools and/or discuss this option with their Core Faculty.
Important announcement from the Dean, Dr. Paul Burkhardt, regarding the discontinuation of the Student Teaching Challenge. Click here to read the March 4, 2008 letter.
The Conversion Portfolio (a $250 evaluation fee is charged to the student)
The Conversion Portfolio is used to document structured education that occurred in a non-accredited setting, such as the military, continuing education, and extended seminars and workshops. The Conversion Portfolio includes a course description or syllabus identifying what the student studied, when, where, with whom, and for what number of contact hours (those hours actually spent in a classroom, in structured "class time" with the teacher.) Contact hours are documented by transcript, certificate, or some other verification of completion. Finally, the student writes a one to two page learning summary for each course.
Practicum (students are charged a $50-100 evaluation fee)
As part of their program of study, students are required to complete a 10-credit Demonstration of Competence, usually through an internship or senior project. However, for students already working in the field of their competence, an internship may be redundant. These students often choose the Practicum, a written document describing their experiences and the learning acquired, in lieu of an additional demonstration. Students enroll in a 5-credit practicum course and, upon successful evaluation, typically receive between 10-20 credits (that do not count towards enrollment). The 5 credit practicum course is for lower division credits only – no grade is given. Professionals in the student’s competence area evaluate the Practicum. The Practicum is for Liberal Arts students.
The Life Experience Portfolio (students are charged a $100-300 evaluation fee)
The Life Experience Portfolio is the most academically challenging life-experience document available. Students must have strong writing skills, a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in their field, and a strong theoretical understanding. Students write portfolio chapters to communicate and document the college-level learning they have acquired. For example, a student who has been a crisis counselor for seven years and has done extensive reading on her own might agree that courses such as Counseling Theories, Personality Theories, Crisis Counseling, etc. should be part of her curriculum. However, she doesn't believe she needs to take these courses with a mentor. In fact, she believes she could teach these classes. This is the kind of learning the Life Experience Portfolio is designed for. The Portfolio is written in chapters, each titled to parallel a college course. Chapters average 20 pages and include relevant theory, history, philosophy, people and issues--illustrated with the student's own particular experiences. The average chapter is awarded 5 credits. Students enroll in a 5 to 10-credit portfolio course and, upon successful evaluation, typically receive an average of 5 credits per chapter (that do not count towards enrollment). The portfolio course is for lower division credits only – no grade is given. Professionals in the student’s competence area evaluate the Portfolio.
How to Start the Life Experience Documentation Process
Prior to contacting the Life Experience Coordinator, students should first discuss this option with their Core Faculty to determine whether the Life Experience Documentation is a viable option and how/where it will fit within the student’s Curriculum. Next, the student should complete the Life Experience Documentation application and submit the $50 application fee. Students planning to complete a Life Experience Portfolio must complete the essay section as well. Both the Life Experience Coordinator and Core Faculty must approve the application prior to starting the documentation process. Once approved, the student will begin working with the Life Experience Coordinator and receive the Life Experience Documentation Handbook.
View the Life Experience Documentation Application (Word).
Revised March 5, 2008
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