CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

First, your credits from previous accredited college learning do not expire so be sure to send any previous transcripts to Admissions at SOU to be sure to have them counted.

Additionally you can:

Take an Exam

• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exam – This is a nationally recognized series of examinations which allow the student to demonstrate knowledge acquired in a non-college setting.
• SOU accepts many of the CLEP exams. See the CLEP listings at https://sou.edu/admissions/apply/equivalencies/ (will be updated by fall of 2023) to learn which ones SOU accepts.
• These courses cost an average of $90, and earn 4 credits, saving you $900

Create a Portfolio

Document your prior learning through personal study, work, professional licensure, certification or volunteer experience through a Portfolio of your work.

At Southern Oregon University, you can produce a portfolio of your work documenting that you have met the course outcomes for courses such as:

• Business Communications
• Event Management
• Interviewing and Listening
• Digital Video Production
• Environmental Science Applied Projects
• Innovation and Leadership Applied Projects

The portfolio process costs $150 for a portfolio review which includes enrollment in a “how to” self paced tutorial where your questions will be answered about how to produce a successful portfolio. If your portfolio passes, you pay $25 per credit for the number of credits applied.

Full List of CPL Courses Completed by Portfolio Here

Submit Pre-approved Professional Certifications or Licenses

If you have completed an SOU approved industry recognized professional certification or license, you can submit it as your portfolio of learning to earn the credits associated with a specific course. Credits may range from 2 to 18.

Some examples are:

• The American Society for Quality (ASQ) Green Belt certification or American Society for Quality (ASQ) Black Belt certification.can be submitted to earn 4 credits in BA 484 Process Improvement.
• The DPSST (Department of Public Safety standards and Training) certification completed within the last 20 years and documented employment by a law enforcement organization for at least one year earns 18 credits in CCJ 230 and CCJ 409L.
• The Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification earns 3 credits in OAL 252.

This Credit for Prior learning process costs $25 per credit.

Submit a Joint Services (Military) Transcript

• SOU accepts transcripts created by the American Council on Education (ACE) for prior learning obtained military service.
• Submit your JST transcripts when applying to SOU to have your military coursework applied.

There is no additional cost to this process.

Place into Advanced Spanish course and earn back the previous credits.

• If you earn a B- or better in the course you placed into, you can apply to buy credit from the language department within one term of finishing the language course. For example, if you place into and pass Spanish 202 with a B- or better and go to the language department within a term, you can pay to have the 16 credits from Spanish 101, 102, 103, 201 transcripted at $25 per credit. See https://inside.sou.edu/languages/lab.html#world-language-placement-and-credit-buy-back for more information.

While SOU will accept these credits earned through prior learning towards your degree completion, there isn’t a guarantee that another institution will accept their transferability.

If you are interested in using your life, work and military experience for credit but are not yet an admitted SOU student, contact SOU Admission to discuss how your credit for prior learning supports your degree completion at https://sou.edu/admissions/ .

If you are a currently admitted SOU student and want more information about these options fill out Credit for Prior Learning Form https://forms.gle/vgUy5rMWjTUj4gtv6 or contact Moneeka Settles for more information at settlesm@sou.edu .

See SOU Academic Policy for Credit for Prior Learning