Degree Programs

Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) recognizes your life and work experience by awarding college credit for your knowledge and skills that are equivalent to college-level learning.

Consider how much you have learned in your life, and think about all the skills that you have gained from your experience. PLA recognizes that learning comes from many sources: employment, volunteer work, community service, church activity, adult education courses, in-service training, seminars, workshops, military service, travel, hobbies, reading, and other life situations. Martin University encourages you to earn college credits by demonstrating what you already know. While testing options are available, most students choose the internationally recognized Portfolio Assessment method. Credits gained towards PLA can only be used towards a Martin University Degree.

Portfolio Assessment

Martin University faculty will guide the preparation of your portfolio, which includes (1) an autobiography, (2) a resumé, (3) requests for college credit, (4) a degree plan, and (5) supporting documentation.

The portfolio not only helps you gain college credit, but also becomes a personally valuable record of your life and accomplishments. During the preparation process, you will strengthen your skills in writing, critical reading, and self-presentation.

Qualified Martin University faculty members will evaluate your portfolio and grant college credit, as appropriate. Both PLA and transfer credits can apply toward a degree, but in all cases you must also complete at least 34 in-residence hours and meet the course-distribution requirements of the degree program.

Credit Hours and Fees

Students who chose the portfolio method will enroll in the six credit hour PLA course, PLA 130. The course will meet once a week as a regular class period and once a week as a lab to provide student-focused meetings with PLA instructor and university faculty.

The tuition charged for the six hour PLA 130 class covers the administrative costs for the class, advising from the PLA office, evaluation of the portfolio, and transcription of credit. Any credits awarded through the portfolio evaluation process are awarded without further fees or tuition.

The following fees apply:

  1. $500 for reopening a portfolio.
  2. Maximum of $200 for employing an outside evaluator.

Eligibility and Requirements

  • Students desiring to pursue credit through PLA must complete a questionnaire to determine their eligibility. Approval for enrollment will be determined by the PLA Director.
  • The maximum allowable credits that can be earned via any PLA method such as portfolio preparation and CLEP will be 60 credit hours.
  • CLEP exams must be completed prior to start of PLA course.
  • Students may earn a maximum of 24 credit hours in their major; however, each division will have authority to decrease the maximum but none may increase it.
  • Students enrolling in PLA 130 must be eligible for or have completed EN 125 Freshman English or its equivalent.
  • Transfer students must have official transcripts on file with the Registrar before enrolling in PLA 130.
  • Students transferring from unaccredited colleges or universities may not use PLA as a means to transfer courses.
  • Students that are unable to provide official transcripts from accredited colleges and universities because of a balance owed, or any other reason, may not use PLA as a means to circumvent transferring credits.
  • Students must enroll in PLA 130 prior to the first day of class of each semester; the course may not be added after the class has met.
  • Students that do not attend the first day of the class will be dropped from the course.
  • Students may not petition for credit during their last semester of coursework.
  • Students enrolling in graduate programs are not eligible to earn credit through PLA.

For More Information

Contact Kamia Jackson, Director of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), at kjack@martin.edu or 317-917-3308.

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