Publication Date

2021

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Kortegast, Carrie A.

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Counseling and Higher Education (CAHE)

Abstract

Credit for prior learning is a way to recognize previous experiences and knowledge as an equivalent to college level learning. Determining effective ways to accept credit for prior learning experiences can have a positive impact on students, including community college students, as they work to reach academic goals. This qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences of community colleges students who have received credit for prior learning on their academic transcript. Through interviews with students, benefits and barriers of credit for prior learning were discussed. Barriers to credit for prior learning included a lack of overall knowledge on the types of credit for prior learning and the reliance on specific individuals, often academic advisors, to explain the process. Benefits of credit for prior learning included students feeling better prepared and more confident due to the rigor of their prior work as well as the ability for students to take courses more aligned to their interests because other general education courses had been completed. The results suggest that credit for prior learning is a valuable step in helping community college students complete their degree or transfer to a four-year institution.

Extent

81 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS