Credit for Prior Learning

Semester Hour Limits to Credit for Prior Learning

Lakeland grants semester hours for prior learning at the undergraduate level only.

• Associate Degree - limited to 15 semester hours from any category of prior learning
• Bachelor’s Degree - limited 30 semester hours from any category of prior learning

Credit and Advanced Placement by Examination

Lakeland accepts College Board Advanced Placement Examination (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) tests as a service to students who wish to earn credit awarded as semester hours, for college-level achievement. On most tests, enrolling students who achieve a score of 3 or higher on an AP, a score of 4 or higher on all Higher Level IB exams, and 55 or higher on a CLEP or DANTES exam may be awarded college credit and will be exempted from the equivalent Lakeland course requirement. Students may not receive AP, IB, CLEP or DANTES credit for any subject area in which they have already taken college coursework. Associate degree students who have completed 42+ semester hours or bachelor’s degree students who have completed 85+ semester hours of college coursework are not eligible for AP, IB, CLEP or DANTES credit. Lakeland allows a maximum of 30 semester hours of credit through equivalency exams towards the completion of an associate or bachelor’s degree.

CLEP tests fall into two categories: (1) General Exams, and (2) Subject Area Exams.

The General Exams in English composition, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences/history are designed to assess knowledge of fundamental facts, concepts, and basic principles as well as the ability to perceive relationships.

The following specific CLEP exams with required score can satisfy Lakeland University course requirement(s):

Portfolio Assessment Credit - Lakeland University (LU)

• Students interested in completing portfolio assessments contact their academic advisor for approval to enroll in GEN 370 - Core II: Prior Learning Assessment Theory and Practice .
  • GEN 370  is a three semester hour course delivered by CAEL = Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in which a student learns the process to develop a portfolio assessment in order to earn semester hours for an identified Lakeland University course.
  • Completion of GEN 370  satisfies CORE II: Knowing the Self, General Education Requirement.
  • Semester hours earned are included in Lakeland University’s semester hours of Undergraduate residency.
• Upon completion of GEN 370 , a student submits up to two (2) portfolios to CAEL for evaluation.
  • Student submits a portfolio of artifacts and documentation for evaluation of LU course equivalency and learning outcomes.
• Student earns three semester hours per each course evaluated.

Retroactive Credit for Foreign Language Study

Students who complete a Lakeland University foreign language course above the first-semester level with a grade of “B” or better will also receive credit for all foreign language courses that are the prerequisite to that course. A student can earn retroactive credit who is studying a language that is not their native language. A student may earn a maximum of 14 semester hours, not including the completed course. The course taken to earn retroactive credit must be the student’s first college course in the language.