Earn Graduate Credit for What You Already Know
You can earn up to six credits towards a master's degree at Peirce for expertise you have gained in your career. This can save you thousands in tuition and reduce the time it takes to earn a master's degree or graduate certificate.
Mid-level professionals and managers and higher education professionals can take advantage of Peirce College's ability to award credit for prior learning at the graduate level.
FOR MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS & MANAGERS (various industries)
Mid-level professionals, managers and other working adults may be able to earn up to six credits for the following graduate courses:
- OLM 501 Foundations of Contemporary Leadership: Theory and Practice
- OLM 521 Ethical Decision Making
Saving You Money: The cost of earning graduate credit through Prior Learning Assessment is $350 per course, which is a fraction of the cost of graduate tuition.
Credits for these courses can apply directly to the following programs:
Master of Business Administration (30 - 36 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 24 credits left to complete the 30-credit track of the MBA; 30 credits left to complete the 36-credit track of the MBA; or 36 credits left to complete the 42-credit track of the MBA.
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management (30 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 24 credits left to complete the master's degree.
Master of Science in Professional Studies (30 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 24 credits left to complete the master's degree.
How It Works
Students work with Peirce College faculty members to develop a portfolio that documents the evidence they possess the college-level knowledge that is equivalent to what is taught in the course.
OLM 501 Foundations of Contemporary Leadership: Theory and Practice
Applicants should be able to document their management and leadership experience in a variety of industries. This includes managing and leading teams in organizational settings and being able to provide evidence of experience in navigating organizational change in various settings.
OLM 521 Ethical Decision Making
Applicants should be able to document their management and leadership experience, including responsibility for decision making, in a variety of industries. This includes taking part in making departmental leadership decisions and participation in organizational-wide decision-making processes, including strategic planning.
Potential evidence to be included in a portfolio submission can include:
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- A comprehensive job description and verification of professional employment
- Evidence of professional certifications, completion of professional development workshops, courses, etc., along with appropriate descriptions of activities
- Presentations made at professional conferences or organizational meetings
- Professional conferences attended
- Related graduate credit completed (with official transcripts and course descriptions)
- Written narrative describing how the completion of experiences noted above equates to the learning outcomes of the course
Questions?
Contact Dr. Cathy Littlefield, Dean of Graduate Education and Business Programs, at clittlefield@peirce.edu or 215.670.9325.
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS
Higher education professionals may be able to earn up to six credits from the following Higher Education Leadership courses:
- OHL 510 Theories of Adult and Non-Traditional Education
- OHL 520 Diversity, Social Justice and Inclusion in Higher Education
- OHL 530 Assessment, Accreditation and Compliance in Higher Education
- OHL 540 Developing Trends in Higher Education
Saving You Money: The cost of earning graduate credit through Prior Learning Assessment is $350 per course, which is a fraction of the cost of graduate tuition.
Credits earned for these courses apply directly to the following programs:
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (12 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 6 credits left to complete the certificate, which stacks entirely to the MS in Higher Education Leadership or the MS in Professional Studies.
Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership (30 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 24 credits left to complete the master’s degree.
Master of Science in Professional Studies (30 credits)
Students who earn six credits via prior learning assessment only have 24 credits left to complete the master’s degree.
How It Works
Students work with Peirce College faculty members to develop a portfolio that documents the evidence they possess the college-level knowledge that is equivalent to what is taught in the course.
Earning credit for OHL 510: Theories of Adult and Non-Traditional Education
Applicants should be able to document their experience working with adults and non-traditional learners in academic, advising, and student service areas and the ability to demonstrate their expertise in adult learning theory as applied to higher education settings.
Earning credit for OHL 520: Diversity, Social Justice and Inclusion in Higher Education
Applicants should be able to document their experience working in diversity and inclusion offices in higher education settings or other environments, or in a faculty or advising role directly related to a diversity and inclusion initiative. They should be able to demonstrate expertise in diversity, social justice, inclusion and belonging issues as applied to higher education settings.
Earning credit for OHL 530 Assessment, Accreditation and Compliance in Higher Education
Applicants should be able to document their experience working in institutional assessment, accreditation and/or state/federal compliance in a higher education environment as a faculty member or administrator. They should be able to demonstrate expertise in the regulatory landscape of higher education, including assessment of learning outcomes and institutional goals, regional and specialized accreditation, and reporting of institutional data to outside regulatory agencies at state and national levels.
Earning credit for OHL 540: Developing Trends in Higher Education
Applicants should be able to document their experience in a leadership role within higher education or a faculty, staff or student services role in an alternative higher education setting (such as competency-based education, online learning, prior learning assessment/credit for prior learning, or other similar higher education initiatives). They should be able to demonstrate expertise in emerging trends in higher education, including distance/online learning, prior learning assessment, student service needs, and the influence of these and other trends on higher education leadership.
Potential evidence to be included in a portfolio submission can include:
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- A comprehensive job description and verification of professional employment
- Evidence of professional certifications, completion of professional development workshops, courses, etc., along with appropriate descriptions of activities
- Presentations made at professional conferences or institutional meetings
- Professional conferences attended
- Related graduate credit completed (with official transcripts and course descriptions)
- Written narrative describing how the completion of experiences noted above equates to the learning outcomes of the course
Questions?
Contact Dr. Cathy Littlefield, Dean of Graduate Education and Business Programs, at clittlefield@peirce.edu or 215.670.9325.