What Is A Life Experience Degree? Life experience has become the norm for many people today. Unfortunately, not everyone has had a life-changing, or life-changing personal event that makes them want to pursue a degree in life experience. So, when online universities began developing life experience degree programs, what is a life experience degree, and why should students consider enrolling?
What Is A Life Experience Degree?
A life experience degree is one where you get the credit that you didn’t get in your prior learning assessment. It may be some old college coursework that you never completed. It could also be some extra coursework that was completed while you were in high school. There are some employers who will forgive some of your college coursework, but they will not excuse you from getting credit for it.
Many students have a portfolio of their work.
This portfolio includes not only their college coursework but also their prior work experience, evaluations, seminars, workshops, honors and awards, among other things. If you want to apply for employment at a company with which you’re not affiliated with, a manager’s job requires that you submit a portfolio of your work to show that you’re a hard worker. It also shows that you understand the challenges of the position, and that you can handle the work required. An employer’s standard of review for job candidates who have completed this type of program is to give them extra credit on their resume.
So what kind of extra credits are included in your portfolio?
Most online universities will allow you to submit an unlimited number of study guides. These will typically be used for all of your general education courses, plus any elective courses you want to take. At the end of your undergraduate career, you will receive your regular diploma and transferable credits towards either a Bachelors of Arts or Bachelors of Science, or a Masters Degree in whichever discipline you’ve chosen.
What if I already have a degree but want to pursue graduate work?
Life experience programs are great for pursuing graduate degrees. Many colleges recognize this, and offer courses in this field, even ones that are not specifically based on your major. Some of these include a diversity of core subjects and non-core courses. If you take the time to explore these options, you may be able to get credit towards your degree that was never offered to you before.
What is a competency-based education?
Competency-based education programs are also offered by many colleges. These are similar to traditional courses, but they do not award credit towards your degree. This allows you to continue studying while working, earning money, and fulfilling your obligations to family and to your community.
What about my academic portfolio?
An academic portfolio is comprised of your past academic accomplishments. It’s a record of your various accomplishments, both in school and beyond. When searching for the right college to enroll in, inquire whether your prospective colleges require a portfolio, and if so, what kind of documents they require. A few of the most common forms of documentation required by some colleges include your personal statement, transcripts, and recommendations.
The portfolio is also a good way to find out about what life experience training programs and opportunities might be available to you. For example, you may be interested in a particular program because it fits with your interests and your schedule. If you’re interested in working in a specific profession upon graduation, your portfolio will give prospective employers a clear picture of your abilities.
Do not overlook an important factor when you are applying to earn a life experience degree:
The cost of the program. Some students assume that financial aid will be available to them should they need it. While tuition prices vary widely from college to college, there are a number of scholarships and financial aid programs that specifically benefit returning students who demonstrate an interest in pursuing a degree in the field of life experience.
One factor to consider in your search for what is a life experience degree is your eligibility for transfer credits. If you’ve already earned general college credits, you can usually apply these toward your degree programs. If you haven’t taken any life experience credits, it may be necessary for you to complete your studies on your own, with no assistance. Contact your prospective college of choice to find out their specific requirements for transfer credits.
Conclusion
The amount of time it takes for your studies to begin will also affect the amount of time you have to devote to studying. Generally speaking, you will have less time to study once you’ve earned your life experience credits because you’ll be required to take an exam credits as part of your studies. This exam can be challenging, so you will want to make sure that you are up to the task before starting your studies. There are a number of accredited online colleges that offer what is a life experience degree, but you need to make sure that the college you select is accredited.
