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Credits for Prior Learning - Video

This article was originally published February 19, 2024, and was updated.

If you’re thinking about going back to college as an adult, you should find a school that respects all your previous life experiences – and reviews the possibilities of translating those experiences into college credits. By applying your school, work, and life experience toward your degree, you could reduce the cost of tuition and graduate faster.

Image Still for Video: UMGC Credits for Prior Learning

Transcript

VIDEOAUDIO

Title: Credits for Prior Learning

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See students from different walks of life

Graphic:

Translate your life experiences into college credits Reduce the cost of tuition

Graduate faster

Grad walk shots

Narration: Want to know how to apply your school, work, and life experience toward your degree? If you’re an adult, maybe a working parent, or even in the military; and you’re thinking about going back to college, you should find a school that respects all your previous life experiences – and reviews the possibilities of translating those experiences into college credits. By doing that, you could reduce the cost of tuition and graduate faster.

Cupola shot

Maddie Loveless on camera Lower third

Maddie Loveless

Office of Student Success

All while earning a top-notch degree from the university founded for working adults more than 75 years ago.

Hi, my name is Maddie. I work here at University of Maryland Global Campus in the Office of Student Success, and I am here to tell you to look no further than UMGC when it comes to what we call -- credits for prior learning.

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UMGC is the #1 public university for transfer students in the United States

Maddie on camera

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You can earn credits from another college

Narration: We truly put students first. We want you to succeed.  

So, what are some ways you can earn prior learning credits from UMGC?

The most common is credit from time spent in a   classroom at another four-year institution or a community college.

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Tia Little John-Adams UMGC Graduate

UMGC Webpage screenshots: Transfer credits

Tia Little John-Adams:

I didn't have to retake anything. And of course, everything that came over from the community college. So, I think when I started back here, I had like 70 credits, so I didn't have that long to go, to finish.

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You can earn credits from

Military service

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Alan Dinsmore

UMGC Graduate

Military students b-roll

Narration: If you are currently serving in the military or have in the past, that training can translate into academic credits, too.

Alan Dinsmore:

When I went to transfer my military experience, they were the best college to actually take most of those credits. So, it really cut down on the expense and time it took for me to get to this degree.

Maddie on camera

Graphic:

You can earn credits from

Job or life experiences

Narration: We also look at certificates earned while on the job, corporate or vocational training, and credits for work or life achievements presented in a written report that aligns with the requirements of specific ÐÒ¸£±¦µ¼º½ courses.

UMGC Webpage screenshot: Portfolio

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Bernetta Reese
UMGC Graduate

Bernetta on her laptop

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Dominique Hawkins UMGC Graduate

UMGC Webpage screenshots: Credit for industry certification

Bernetta Reese:

So, with 20 years in public service, I had a lot of experience. I think I knocked off at least a good semester's worth of classes

Dominique Hawkins:

I had my Cisco Certified Networking Plus certification that allowed me to transfer into college credits as well as my MCSE certification through Microsoft which allowed me to further complete my degree a lot faster than it would have normally taken.

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You can earn credits from testing knowledge level

Narration: You can even earn credits by taking an exam and testing your knowledge level. Our goal is to help you find the fastest path to your dream degree.

Maddie on camera

UMGC Webpage screenshot: Transfers & Credits Graphic:

UMGC may accept up to

90 credits toward a bachelor's degree
45 credits toward an associate’s degree

Disclaimer: the awarding of prior learning credits is not guaranteed. UMGC uses a number of different criteria to decide whether your credit is transferable and applicable to your UMGC program.

Narration: In total, UMGC’s transfer credit policy is very generous. From a combination of different eligible sources, we may be able accept up to:

90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree, or
45 credits toward an associate’s degree

Maddie on camera

UMGC Webpage screenshot: Transferology

website Advisor broll

Madeline on camera

Narration: If you are applying to a bachelor’s program at UMGC, and want to see how many credits you might be able to apply here, go to the Transferology website for an unofficial evaluation. Or talk to someone in Admissions. If it takes 120 credits to graduate with a bachelor’s, you can quickly see the advantage of   bringing credits with you.

Student b-roll

Graphic: UMGC may award up to

9 credits for an undergraduate certificate 12 credits for a graduate degree

6 credits for a graduate certificate

If you have already completed some other college experience, some of those credits can be applied too. We can award up to:

9 credits for an undergraduate certificate,

12 credits for a graduate degree, and

6 credits for a graduate certificate.

Maddie on camera

Student b-roll

Narration: Your work and life experiences matter and we want you to get credit for that so you can graduate faster and begin the next phase of your life.

So, apply to ÐÒ¸£±¦µ¼º½ and find out how much your previous life successes can help you succeed again.

UMGC Logo Animation Learn more at umgc.edu

ADMISSIONS PHONE NUMBER

855-655-8682

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Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.