Portfolio 

Portfolio and Credit for Prior Learning

Q. WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO?

Adult students never stop learning, and a great deal of learning occurs outside the traditional classroom. Learning is gained from your career experiences, your community activities, professional organizations, etc. These sources of learning are referred to as “experiential learning” or learning acquired outside a traditional classroom setting.

The School of Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) at Barry University is a leader in the assessment of experiential learning and equating adult learning experiences to academic disciplines. This type of learning is considered comparable to traditional university learning, and the Portfolio is a method used by over 1,200 colleges and universities in the United States for granting academic credit for such learning.

Currently, up to 30 credits may be earned from this source of experiential learning and applied to qualified bachelor’s degree programs at ACE. That’s the equivalent of one year of college courses! That’s why the Portfolio can be an essential tool to assist in the achievement of your undergraduate degree.

Q. I HAVE OTHER AREAS OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THAT I’D LIKE TO HAVE CONSIDERED FOR CREDIT. WHAT ELSE MAY BE CONSIDERED?

College credit may also be earned through licensure/certification, CLEP testing, military service (DD214), DANTES, PONSI, and othermethods that enable learning and knowledge to be evaluated. Ask your advisor about all eligible sources.

Q. HOW DO I START THE PORTFOLIO PROCESS? WHAT IS INVOLVED?

A. Remember that the Portfolio is a process to explore what you know, how you learned it, and how that learning is applicable in an academic setting. Please know that you are not alone in the process; your academic advisor will serve as your educational partner.

All students pursuing the Portfolio option must attend a Portfolio seminar, where all the tools you need to begin the process will be provided. This includes a sample portfolio to use as a guide to document your own learning experiences. Remember: You may be able to have your learning evaluated for up to 30 college credits!