Credit For Prior Learning

Sage recognizes skills or knowledge gained while outside of the traditional classroom through its Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio program.

Many students coming to Sage have amassed significant expertise through work, military, community service or through the development of personal skills in the arts. The credit for prior learning and life experience program grants credit after successful completion of a portfolio which demonstrates college level learning and a faculty evaluation. The proposal for prior learning should support a student's goals and academic degree program.

Students who meet the following criteria may participate in Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio program:

  • Must be a matriculated Sage student in a baccalaureate degree program
  • Must have completed at least 3 credits at Sage with a "C" or better and be enrolled in an additional 3 credit course before credit is awarded.
  • Overall average must be a 2.0 with a 2.2 in the major.

  • Credit caps exist for prior learning as reflected in the following categories:

    • 9 credits in their major concentration
    • 9 credits in General Education credits
    • or up to 30 credits in general electives.

On average, students can realistically expect to earn 12-15 credits through these options. Experiential learning credit is subject to certain guidelines including the following:

  1. Credit will be granted for documented learning only, not for experience per se.
  2. While the college will provide guidance and assistance, it is each student's responsibility to provide a portfolio of documentation, which will be the basis for awarding credit.
  3. The process of assessment and validation will have such control by the faculty that it can confidently certify such students for graduation.
  4. Credit under this program cannot be obtained for learning when proficiency exams are required by the appropriate department.
  5. A student who transfers more than 60 credits to Sage must take a minimum of 30 credits of Sage course work before graduation (prior learning credit is not included), effectively capping the number of potential prior learning credits.
  6. The maximum combined transfer credits including credit for prior learning is 90 credits.
  7. A student who has more credits at the time of application may be granted no more than one-half of the remaining credits for prior learning.
  8. No more than a total of 66 credits will be given for a combination of prior learning and college proficiency examination credit.
  9. Participation in the prior learning evaluation requires a one time enrollment fee of $150.00. Upon approval of prior learning credit, students will be assessed a per credit fee of $100.00 (up to a maximum of $1000.00 for 10 credits or more).

In preparation for discussion with the Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator, students may want to review college course offerings to determine an area or areas that their portfolios will address. The basic portfolio will focus on skills and experiences supporting a college-level expertise or learning experience. Proposals will provide a basis of approval for discretionary credit by faculty, following an extensive interview assessment.

For more information

Dr. Carol DiMambro, Faculty Coordinator, Credit for Prior Learning Program, dimamc@sage.edu.