Find answers to your questions about using Portfolio to meet degree requirements at UMGC.
Learn all about prior learning at University of Maryland Global Campus.
FAQs: Deciding to Enroll
Portfolio can help you meet degree requirements more quickly and with less cost than completing classroom courses, but it is not for everyone. Talk with your advisor about how Portfolio can fit into your program. You can also e-mail Prior Learning at priorlearning@umgc.edu to discuss your questions.
You may enroll at any time in your program, although it is often best to take EXCL 301 early in your UMGC career. We recommend that you complete at least 3 credits at UMGC before beginning the Prior Learning Portfolio program. This will give you time to meet with your advisor to be sure that Portfolio is right for you.
FAQs: Eligibility and Application Requirements
To participate in Portfolio, you must:
- Have an official Academic Advisement Report (AAR) that is no more than six months old
- Be currently enrolled at UMGC as an undergraduate student (Portfolio is not available at the graduate level)
To apply, email priorlearning@umgc.edu.
Applications for EXCL 301 must be submitted before registering for the course. Contact priorlearning@umgc.edu for more information about applying to the program.
If you apply but do not register, you must reapply when you plan to take the class.
After your application is accepted, you will be instantly notified within the portal that you may register for EXCL 301, the eight-week 3-credit course that guides you through the completion of a portfolio for evaluation, and the EXCL 301 class will be placed in your shopping cart. Once the course is in your shopping cart, you may register immediately.
FAQs: The EXCL 301 Course
To complete EXCL 301 within one session, you need good time management and organizational skills. You will also need college writing skills, as this is a writing-intensive course. Since EXCL 301 is demanding, we recommend that you take no more than one other class at the same time.
If you complete EXCL 301 successfully, you will be eligible to take EXCL X001, which allows you to submit documentation for courses not previously targeted. If you earn a grade of D or F in EXCL 301, you must repeat EXCL 301 to earn portfolio credit.
EXCL 301 and EXCL X001 are currently available online only.
EXCL 301 is graded S, D, or F. If you complete EXCL 301 and submit a portfolio, you receive an S (satisfactory) grade, which does not affect your GPA. Credit awarded through portfolio evaluation also receives an S grade.
FAQs: Completing the Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of materials that documents what you have learned, where you learned it, and how that learning equates to college-level learning. Parallels are made between stated course outcomes, as shown on course syllabi, and your learning through work, volunteering, and other experiences by way of written narratives. A faculty member guides you through the creation of the portfolio.
Students may target active UMGC undergraduate courses only. Syllabi may be found in the online interactive schedule of classes.
It is crucial that you speak with your academic advisor and discuss your intention to take EXCL 301. You can also begin to look at the UMGC catalog and target courses you feel may be similar in outcomes to the learning you have achieved through your work, volunteer activities, and personal experiences. You can also begin to list all the pertinent experience you've had since high school and begin to think about who you can approach to provide documentation.
There are many kinds of documentation, most of which fall into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct documentation includes materials like computer programs you have written, art you have created, and other things you have done. Indirect documentation includes letters from supervisors detailing your learning, newspaper articles about your accomplishments, and other ways that demonstrate the learning you have acquired. These can include lists of books you read to become competent in an area, attendance certificates at training events, and other items that support your claims for credit.
EXCL 301 guides you through the process of learning about and creating an experiential portfolio. The faculty members teaching the course are experienced and have helped hundreds of students like you complete the process. In addition, EXCL 301 courses have access to and support from the Effective Writing Center as they write their portfolios.
FAQs: Credit Awards
UMGC's Prior Learning Portfolio is designed with a strong emphasis on quality following the Ten Standards for Assessing Learning as established by the Council for Adult & Experiential Learning.
No. You must earn a minimum of 15 credits in classes graded A, B, C, etc., to graduate. Portfolio credits do not receive a standard grade.
Credit awards depend on many things, including how well you document your learning, how well your learning fits into your degree plan, and how many credits you transferred to UMGC. It is possible to earn credits through experiential learning, which includes credit based on American Council on Education recommendations, military experience, and other sources. Review the UMGC transfer credit policies for more information.
If you complete a portfolio that is accepted by your faculty member and pass the course, you will earn 3 credits for EXCL 301. There is no guarantee that you will receive credit from evaluation of your portfolio.
Trained faculty subject matter experts review portfolios. Evaluation is a complex process that takes into account not only how well you describe what you have learned but also how well your documentation supports it.
Credits awarded through Portfolio can fulfill major, minor, elective, or general education requirements. However, no more than half the credits for the major and the minor may be earned through Portfolio. Contact your academic advisor to assist you in determining the academic areas in which Portfolio credits might be used best.
Perhaps, but the purpose of taking EXCL 301 is to help you earn your degree by translating what you already know into coursework needed for your degree. One of the first things to do is to become familiar with the degree requirements for your intended degree.
Policies are determined by the agency issuing the certification. Check with your academic advisor before applying to EXCL to be sure.
Transfer policies can affect how much credit can be earned through Portfolio. Check with your advisor before enrolling.
There is no guarantee that you will receive the credit award you expect. The Prior Learning office trains evaluators, many of whom have been evaluating portfolios for years. Students who don't earn credit for their portfolios have the opportunity to revise based on the evaluator's feedback. To do so, you must contact the Office of Prior Learning within 30 days of receiving your evaluation.
FAQs: Fees
Visit the tuition archive and select a semester to view Prior Learning fees.
Federal financial aid, Golden ID benefits, and employee tuition remission can be used toward tuition for (course.excl301!id)) only. Evaluation fees, should they apply to you, are not covered by these programs. If your employer provides tuition assistance, you need to verify whether fees will be included. Learn more about financial aid options at UMGC.