Hey there!!

I'm getting ready to wrap up my degree pursuit here in the next few months, and was talking to my dad about it this evening. He's very interested in getting his degree, and his ears really perked up when I told him I thought he could get a significant amount of college credit by using a portfolio.

He's been a project manager in the construction field for the last ten years, and has kept detailed records of his different jobs up to this past year. He's got his PMP, and earned several other hours on project management from community colleges. He's also owned his own business for a number of years, and has some verrrry old college credits from the semester he took after high school. He's not too worried about the basics, as he taught high school Math, English, and History.

I really don't know how portfolios work, or how to go about getting one. Would that be the way for my dad to go? Are they hard to do? Does Thomas Edison work well with Portfolios, or would another school be a better choice? (both my brother, Jumpin Dinner Rolls, and I are going through TESC, so we don't know much about the other colleges). From dad's background what major should he go for? And for all of you who have "gone back" to college after a significant period of time--do you have any words of wisdom to pass on to my dad?

Thanks!!!

Do a forum search for PLA or "prior learning assessment." That is college-speak for portfolio credit. Generally speaking, I don't consider them efficient, affordable, or reasonable for most subjects. There are exceptions though, so I don't want to be discouraging.
I also think there might be a way to squeeze credit out of his PMP, but that's not my area of expertise. For the PMP question, you might get more help here: DegreeInfo Distance Learning Discussion Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Hello all-

I am less than a week away from finishing my degree. I started in 1973, yes, that's when I started college, not when I was born. I had a lot of B&M credits, as that was about the only way you could get them back then. TESC took most of them, but I still needed 51 semester credits for my BSBA Gen Mgmt. Without this forum, w/o IC, I would not have found TESC, nor would it have even been possible for me to finish my degree. In less than 6 months, I have taken 11 CLEP/DSST exams, 4 TECEPS and just finishing my Guided Study Man-373 Managerial Communcations class- one more essay, one more final and I'm DONE!

This degree will open up many things for me, especially my own mind. The "classes" have already helped me in my business, which I may continue ( I've owned a small family-run used car store for most of the last 25 yrs), but I'm also heading for a new venture or two- maybe an MBA as well. My point is: I no longer have that irrational feeling that I'm supposed to apologize to someone, because now I HAVE the credentials.

My suggestion, choose what you want your life to look like. Write those things down, read them, picture them vividly in your mind several times a day, until you create a burning desire inside. The hardest thing for me is figuring out what I want. Once I do that, it is just a matter of time.

I want to thank all of you who have helped, esp. Cookderosa, Farmerboy, Thatbrian, YokatoJo (?) and many others I haven't mentioned. The info I gained from this forum was MORE VALUABLE than the IC flashcards themselves. You were able to provide answers to questions I didn't even realize needed to be asked. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

I will still stop by, and my wife will be joining shortly. She just took early retirement from NW Airlines, instead of waiting to be laid off. She has taken 20+ FEMAs toward her BS Homeland Security/ Emegency Services degree at TESC, again something started by finding this forum.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. Greg

Before your Dad decides on PLA's which cost time and money, I'd talk with him about his long term goals. He may consider banging out a TESC Liberal Arts degree, then going for a MBA or something like this. Penn State | Online Master of Project Management

He could probably test out of the TESC LA degree with minimal effort, especially with his background.

I would first get him the Official CLEP guide that has all 30+ sample exams. It costs about $25 bucks. Then let him go through the examples and see which exams he scores over 50% on. When I needed to improve my GPA, I leafed through the book and realized that I knew most of the SS&H and Humanities answers. I went and took both 6 credit CLEP's without any study and passed both. My point is that it is probably easier and less costly for your Dad to scan the exams, pick out the ones that he can do....knock them off, get the RA Bachelors then put the time, effort and money into a quality Masters.

If he is not interested in a Masters or the Big Three, then I would also point out the Bachelors that Joe Willie Namath earned, it also has PLA type credit options...Home | BA or BS in Interdisciplinary Studies (External Degree Program) | Academic Outreach | The University of Alabama

or the one from Indiana University Indiana University Online and Distance Education, Undergraduate, Associate Bachelor's Degrees, General Studies

I believe Ace awards credit for the PMP so I would suggest going to their site and running a couple of searches. I have my Sig Sigma Black Belt and they would have given me 6 credit hours if I had obtained my training through a school who is registered with ACE. That being said I believe the PMP credit is easier to obtain through ACE.

Regarding the PLA, Jennifer is correct, CLEPS and DSSTs will be a more efficient route to take.

Just finished my first and only PLA with TESC and can vouch that it is faster to just study for/take a standardized test.

Start him off with a couple of the easier tests such as Marketing, Management, or Supervision and then he will be hooked. With his experience he will breeze through a lot of the business tests.

I know it seems like I am always downing PLAs....they have a place. Let's say you are earning a BA degree in music from TESC. All of the BAs require 60 gen eds- those you can knock out with CLEPs/DSSTs/local classes cheap and fast. Now- there are an additional 27 free electives. So, lets say you have some culinary or flying/pilot experience you want to put in a PLA. Bad idea- FEMA can be used as free electives for no cost-no real effort- and no time. Never use PLAs for free electives or gen eds- in any major.

But, now lets say you have lots of music experience! In this case, you'll need 33 music credits- and CLEP/DSST isn't an option. TESC doesn't offer credit, so you have to find 33 credits somewhere. Additionally, let's say your community college can only offer a handful of credit- so in that case, a PLA might work for you. Keep in mind though, that it is at full price tuition (about $500 per class) and can still be denied! So, the questions are now about cost, time to assemble a PLA, and availability of that credit via other sources. If your only other option is at the university down the street for $425/credit, then clearly going for a PLA is a better plan.

Generically speaking, there isn't any reason on this earth to go for a PLA if your TESC degree is in business, liberal arts, humanities, or social science.

Jubilee Wrote:. He's got his PMP, and earned several other hours on project management from community colleges.
Thanks!!!

Check with Western Governors University (WGU), I believe they maybe granting credits for PMP certification.