Earn upper-level credit by demonstrating skills you learn on the job while studying at UMGC.
Apply classroom theory to real-world professional projects and earn credits that may apply to your degree or certificate program.
How to Participate
To participate in the program, you'll first complete an application so we can check to make sure you are eligible and have room in your program to use the credit.
Apply through the Workplace Learning Application in MyUMGC. Click on "Course Search and Registration" and then "Workplace Learning" to reach the application. Application deadlines are November 1 (for spring), April 1 (for summer), and July 1 (for fall).
You'll enter a learning agreement with your employer/supervisor and a faculty mentor. You will work with your employer/supervisor to complete project tasks that constitute the course content. You will complete reflective academic assignments for your faculty mentor to enhance the experience.
As an undergraduate student, you may earn 3 or 6 credits during each Workplace Learning session, which is typically 15 weeks. As a graduate student, you may earn 3 credits of Workplace Learning credit in one 8-week session.
An award of 3 credits requires at least 12 hours per week of tasks providing new learning, to complete a minimum of four project tasks. An award of 6 credits requires at least 20 hours per week of tasks providing new learning, to complete five to eight project tasks.
If you are engaged in new activities and new learning on the job, you are participating in Workplace Learning. Students who have already completed their work may consider participating in Prior Learning.
Note: Standard tuition rates apply.
Eligibility Requirements
There are different eligibility requirements depending on the type of student you are.
Undergraduate Requirements
To be eligible at the undergraduate level, you must
Be seeking an undergraduate degree at UMGC.
Have completed 30 credits, 6 of which must have been completed at UMGC.
Have completed 9 credits of coursework in the discipline of the workplace position. For example, if you plan to earn credit in human resource management, you should have at least 9 completed credits of human resource management courses.
Have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or better at UMGC.
Have submitted all official transcripts and contacted an academic advisor to request an official evaluation. Learn more about submitting your transcripts.
Have confirmed remaining degree requirements with an academic advisor.
- Be working in a position (paid or unpaid, part- or full-time) that offers an opportunity to apply classroom theory to practical projects that involve significant analysis and problem solving and are directly related to a given academic discipline.
Graduate Requirements
To be eligible at the graduate level, you must
- Be enrolled in a graduate program at UMGC.
- Have completed 12 credits in your graduate program.
- Have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better at UMGC.
- Have confirmed remaining degree requirements with an academic advisor.
- Be working in a position (paid or unpaid, part- or full-time) that offers an opportunity to apply classroom theory to practical projects that involve significant analysis and problem solving and are directly related to a given academic discipline.
After You Apply
It may take up to one week for your application to be reviewed. Once your application has been reviewed and it has been determined that you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive an e-mail from the Workplace Learning office with instructions on your next steps. You will receive the learning proposal form via email, an employer agreement form, a link to the orientation, and all appropriate deadlines. Learning proposals must be submitted by the stated deadline to allow enough time for review.
When you submit your learning proposal to Workplace Learning (via email), it will be forwarded to a faculty member in your academic discipline.
The faculty member from the relevant discipline will review your learning proposal to ensure it constitutes upper-level or graduate-level college learning. You may be contacted directly by the faculty member to provide clarifications or revisions to your learning proposal. Once approved, and any additional requirements completed, you will be assigned to a faculty mentor and registered for Workplace Learning. You will be notified by email when you've been registered to introduce your faculty mentor.
During your Workplace Learning session, you will complete the project tasks outlined in your learning proposal and academic assignments from your faculty mentor.