As I mentioned before, I came to Granite State College with two associate degrees. As I pursued my Behavioral Science classes, I was looking for ways to earn credits in non-traditional ways. One approach to this is to consider receiving "prior learning credit". Go to the "Prospective Students" tab on the GSC home page and click on the side bar for "prior learning credit". There are links for "testing", "workplace training", "military training", or "portfoloi ssessment" with tons of information and associated links.
Many of the class credits that I came with would have been duplicates of the tests offered. I was able to find a class that I was interested in and that I could earn three college credits as an elective. I found a suggested reading list and borrowed 2 or 3 books. After spending a few weeks reviewing them, I felt quite comfortable as the test date approached.
So manyof the test are now computerized that you know right away if you've passed them. I did well on my test and was able to earn those 3 credits. The results of the test are then sent back to Granite State College. Unfortuntely, somehow those results didn't show up for a long time. After talking with my advisor, she tracked down the results and they were added into my academic record.
This left me with a pesky little 1 credit that still needed to be filled. On occasion there are one or two credit classes that are offered. When I saw a one credit class offered, I pounced on it. It was a class about river ecology and included a research paper and a day spent along the river's edge. It was very different for me, but enjoyable and a nice change of pace and a terrific day out in a beautiful setting. The only downside of this was was getting closer to animal scat than I had intended!
The only cautions I would have about this approach to credit for prior learning is to keep checking in with your advisor to make sure the credits you've earned are properly posted to your record and also the availibity of classes to fill any left over credit requirements. It would be great if these one or two credit classes were offered more frequently, as I'm sure that many people scramble to try and fill those extra necessary credits. Prior learning testing is an easy (and easy on the budget) way to earn college credit for your adult education courses.
Many of the class credits that I came with would have been duplicates of the tests offered. I was able to find a class that I was interested in and that I could earn three college credits as an elective. I found a suggested reading list and borrowed 2 or 3 books. After spending a few weeks reviewing them, I felt quite comfortable as the test date approached.
So manyof the test are now computerized that you know right away if you've passed them. I did well on my test and was able to earn those 3 credits. The results of the test are then sent back to Granite State College. Unfortuntely, somehow those results didn't show up for a long time. After talking with my advisor, she tracked down the results and they were added into my academic record.
This left me with a pesky little 1 credit that still needed to be filled. On occasion there are one or two credit classes that are offered. When I saw a one credit class offered, I pounced on it. It was a class about river ecology and included a research paper and a day spent along the river's edge. It was very different for me, but enjoyable and a nice change of pace and a terrific day out in a beautiful setting. The only downside of this was was getting closer to animal scat than I had intended!
The only cautions I would have about this approach to credit for prior learning is to keep checking in with your advisor to make sure the credits you've earned are properly posted to your record and also the availibity of classes to fill any left over credit requirements. It would be great if these one or two credit classes were offered more frequently, as I'm sure that many people scramble to try and fill those extra necessary credits. Prior learning testing is an easy (and easy on the budget) way to earn college credit for your adult education courses.
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