Distance Education Leader Gives Students Credit Where Credit Is Due with Credit For Life Experience

May 28, 2010 - PRLog -- NORCROSS, Georgia – It’s true that as we get older we gain more experience – life experience. At a time when the nation’s student population is growing older, many colleges like Ashworth College (www.AshworthCollege.edu), a leader in distance education, are starting to recognize the value of life experience and the lessons learned in the "real world" outside the classroom.

The majority of today’s college students are 24 or older - with the average age of an online degree student being 36. Often, many of these older students have acquired specialized knowledge through on the job training, independent study, prior course work, cultural pursuits, or internships, even through independent reading or hobbies. Most are unaware that these experiences can translate to college credit.

"Credit for life experience" programs are available at accredited colleges like Ashworth College. It’s though these programs, that students can earn their online college degrees more quickly and at considerable cost savings.

“Simply put, you can earn college credit for what you already know,” says Dr. Milton Miller, Vice President of Education, Ashworth College. “Many of our online Associate and online Bachelor’s degree students have gained valuable experience through the workplace, military, and even volunteer work. By accepting life credits we can help to accelerate the college experience and save the student money.”

“Perhaps you work with computers at your current job, or you’ve volunteered at the local school or library and have a lot of experience working with children,” Miller explains. “These are good examples of valuable life experience that could convert into college credit.”

Credit for military experience is another good example. Ashworth College students who serve in the military may obtain college credit through Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support (DANTES). DANTES is used to award credit to students who can demonstrate knowledge of subjects commonly taught in introductory college courses. It provides a testing program, an evaluation system for military technical training and a system for documenting learning experiences gained through military services.

Ashworth uses "prior learning assessments" to evaluate the knowledge a student has gained through life experience. “Prior learning assessment enables college instructors to gauge life experiences as potentially equivalent to courses taught at the college level,” explains Deepa Chadha, Degree Program Director at Ashworth College.

In addition, life credits make it easier than ever for motivated students pursuing an online education to complete a degree program. “Life credits offer the potential for you to reduce the time required to complete your degree.” Chadha says. “For older Ashworth students, this removes an incredible roadblock to continuing education.”

Adult students often bring a great deal of knowledge with them when they decide to pursue education online. Through prior learning assessment, some colleges may award credit to students for their past life experiences as well as past formal education. “Wouldn’t it be great motivation to know on your first day of class you’re ahead of the game,” says Chada. “Ashworth College accepts up to 30 credit hours for prior learning experiences.”

Ashworth Life/Work Experience Credit

Ashworth students may receive credit for life/work experience relevant to a particular course or courses in select programs by passing a proctored exam of multiple-choice questions to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter. To be awarded credit, students must provide either CLEP (College Level Examination Program) certification or pass an equivalent exam proctored by Ashworth. Proof of employment history is not required.

CLEP is a series of exams covering general subjects in mathematics, English composition, humanities, natural science, social science and history. Another type of CLEP exam, a subject exam, covers specific subjects typically taught in undergraduate courses having similar names. Students may be able to obtain 3 -12 hours of credit per general exam for a passing score.

Ashworth’s associate degree program limits life/work experience credits to a maximum of 15 credit hours (5 courses), while the bachelor’s degree program allows a maximum of 30 credit hours (10 courses).

“For example, if you have worked in an accounting role for several years and are enrolled in the Ashworth accounting program, you may not need to take the course Accounting Spreadsheet Fundamentals and you will be allowed to test out of that course,” Chadha explains.

Some subjects are offered as two or more separate courses at Ashworth. “You may not test out of any subject that is offered as a series of courses unless you attempt and pass a life/work experience exam for each course in the series,” Chadha points out.

For example: students may not attempt to take the life/work experience exam for Anatomy and Physiology I unless they take the life/work experience exam for Anatomy and Physiology II. You must pass both exams with a grade of 70 percent or higher on your first attempt to receive credit.

Students who pass a proctored life/work experience exam on their first attempt will receive credit for that course. Those who do not receive a passing grade of 70 percent or higher will have to take the course as scheduled in their program.

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About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in online education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused online high school and online career diplomas; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and online Associate degree, online Bachelor’s degree and online Master’s degree programs that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth High School is further accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information, visit AshworthCollege.edu.