Ways to Earn Credit

Online courses (OL) are the most popular way to earn credit. Each course at TESU has a required number of times per week that students must log in, but you decide when those times will be. There are more than 300 online courses in various subjects.

Guided Study (GS) courses cover the same content as online courses but lack discussion boards since you are working a little more independently. In these 12-week distance-learning courses, students complete assignments independently using textbooks, study guides, video and audio recordings, CD-ROMs, DVDs, streaming video and other materials. A mentor works with each student by email or telephone, answering questions and grading work.

e-Pack^® courses are courses delivered online and designed around study materials and a series of online quizzes. This is ideal for students who want maximum flexibility or prefer to work more independently. The courses still run on a 12-week semester basis and are well suited for independent learners who prefer a study schedule that does not require assignments or mentor interaction.

Prior learning assessment (PLA) is one of the most rewarding ways to earn credit because it acknowledges and validates the knowledge you have already gained in your lifetime. This is knowledge you already have — whether through work, the military, hobbies or some kind of training — so there is no textbook or studying required. You can earn credit for your accomplishments and capabilities by creating a portfolio through the PLA process. A portfolio is a collection of work that you assemble and submit to earn credit for knowledge you have, provided that this knowledge is equivalent to what would be taught in a course. The University offers two preparatory courses to guide you through this process.

A portfolio is a collection of artifacts you put together to show what you have already learned and what you can do. Many professionals in business, education, design and consulting use portfolios in their work. Your PLA portfolio includes a narrative usually accompanied by evidence such as certificates, letters of recommendation and samples of work that will support your narrative and verify to the subject matter expert what you have already learned and that you should be awarded credit.

The Thomas Edison Credit-by-Examination Program (TECEP^®) has been around for more than 40 years. TECEP^® is designed to be a kind of PLA or assessment of what you already know. If you already have knowledge in a subject and think you could pass a comprehensive final exam in that subject, then the TECEP^® may be the best way to earn credit for it.

Here are seven options to help you transfer credit or earn credit based on what you already know:

1. Professional Licenses and Certifications
2. Professional and Workplace Training Programs
3. Portfolio Assessment
4. Military Training
5. Teaching College-Level Courses
6. Credit by Exam Programs
7. College Courses