Course Syllabus

GNST 1000 Prior Learning Assessment Preparation

Course Description

Students with significant levels of knowledge, skills, and experience can earn Snow College credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). In this course, students will prepare to demonstrate their learning on a rigorous Prior Learning Assessment submission such as a portfolio. The amount of credit awarded is consistent with established Snow College credit-hour parameters. Credit is variable. Course can be repeated. Students can earn a maximum of 9 credits through PLA at Snow College.

Justification

USHE has been working with other institutions to establish a PLA approach for the state. Snow College has the expertise to implement PLA now and demand for PLA is growing across the industry. Soon all USHE schools will be offering it. Further, Snow College has existing partners who have documented demand for this option. Offering PLA will also serve rural and other underserved populations by increasing access to relevant educational opportunities. Being on the forefront of PLA in Utah will help Snow College secure its spot as a valuable and innovative institution.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will identify specific Snow College course or learning outcomes for which they are seeking to earn credit through PLA.
2. Students will describe how their knowledge, skills, and experience have helped them meet the Snow College course or learning outcomes for which they seek to earn credit though PLA.
3. Students will provide verifiable documentation supporting their written responses to PLA prompts.
4. Consistent with credit hour norms, students will earn 1 credit for approximately 45 clock hours of relevant learning, work, or experience they can document. Two credit hours would require students to demonstrate approximately 90 clock hours of engagement, and so on. Total credit allowed through PLA is 9 credits or approximately 405 hours.
5. Students will demonstrate mastery by providing accurate responses to questions from evaluators regarding their PLA submissions.
6. Students will successfully submit a completed Prior Learning Assessment by the end of the term in which they are enrolled in the PLA Preparation course.

Course Content

Snow College utilizes a consistent PLA template where students will provide detailed information demonstrating how their prior learning meets college-level course objectives. Scoring of all PLA submissions will be done by Snow College faculty using a specifically designed analytic rubric. PLA increases accessibility for all learners as it provides a generic platform through which students can leverage a broad range of previous learning, work, and life experiences to earn college credit. Students will demonstrate how their prior learning and experience meets the outcomes for the course for which they are seeking credit. Students will also be required to provide verifiable documentation to support their claims. For this course, we anticipate that students will be attempting Prior Learning Assessments to fulfill elective credit requirements.