Prior Learning Assessment – First Steps

As you consider the relevance of prior learning assessment (PLA) to your situation, there is some important information that you should review.  First, you should familiarize yourself with the current editions of the MSU Undergraduate Catalog and Learning Portfolio Development Guide.  You can access and review copies of both of these resources by visiting the MSU web-site.  The URL to the most current MSU Undergraduate Catalog is http://www.mountainstate.edu/majors/onlinecatalogs/   The URL to the most current Learning Portfolio Development Guide is http://www.mountainstate.edu/webed/PDF/PLAGuide.pdf.

MSU’s undergraduate catalog contains important information about the University’s academic policies and procedures, and detailed descriptions of degree programs and courses.  The catalog also contains detailed information about the University Prior Learning Assessment Program.  The Learning Portfolio Development Guide provides a description of prior learning assessment and step-by-step instructions on how to develop a learning portfolio.

REVIEW THE MSU CATALOG
First, review the section in the catalog entitled Prior Learning Assessment found on pages 114-115.  Read this section to gain a general understanding of prior learning assessment and the current policies and procedures that govern MSU’s PLA program

Second, review the sections entitled University Wide Academic Information (pp. 39-46), General Education Requirements (pp. 47-50), and Academic Organization (pp. 51-54).  These three sections provide a general overview of academics at Mountain State University.

Third, review the information relating to the degree program that you want to earn at MSU.  A listing of current degree programs is available at the following URL http://www.mountainstate.edu/majors/.  Once you identify a degree program, you should review the detailed programmatic / degree information about that degree program.  This information can be found in one of the following four sections dedicated to each of MSU’s undergraduate schools and distance learning programs-- the School of Arts and Sciences (pp. 55-71), the School of Business and Technology (pp. 73-89), the School of Health Sciences (pp. 91-111), and Options for Extended and Distance Education (pp. 113-123).  This programmatic information will include:  a program description, a suggested progression of courses, and all other degree-related requirements.  Once you decide on a specific degree program, be sure to discuss your interests with one of MSU’s advisors to ensure that you learn about any program requirements that may have changed.

Fourth, review the entire section entitled Courses of Instruction (pp 125-205).  This section contains a listing of all courses currently offered by the University.  Each course listing contains a brief course description that provides specific information about the course and its associated learning goals.  Begin by scanning through all the course descriptions.  Focus on, and read in detail, those course descriptions that seem to reference familiar content—content for which you think you might have some level of comparable knowledge and competency.  After this initial review, get a highlighter and mark only those courses for which you have a “been-there-done-that” feeling after reading the course description.  If you read the course description and get a real sense that you may have already mastered the learning that course describes, then that course may be a good candidate for inclusion in your learning portfolio.  After highlighting all such courses, go back through the entire section and make a list containing all of the courses you highlighted.  Keep this list handy because you will discuss it during your initial PLA advising session.

REVIEW of MSU’s Learning Portfolio Development Guide
The Learning Portfolio Development Guide provides important information about prior learning assessment, learning styles, and the development of a learning portfolio.  Student’s who are interested in petitioning for equivalent academic credit through MSU’s Prior Learning Assessment Program, must review the contents of this Guide before registering a beginning to work on the development of a learning portfolio.  This Guide identifies the eleven essential elements that comprise a learning portfolio at MSU.  The appendix to this Guide also contains several helpful worksheets and forms designed to aid the student as they work on developing a learning portfolio.  A copy of this Guide can be downloaded here.

PLA ADVISING AND REGISTRATION
Once you complete these initial steps, you will need to contact the School of Extended and Distance Education to schedule a PLA advising session.  This initial session can be conducted by telephone and should only take a few minutes.  Students interested in participating in Mountain State University’s Prior Learning Assessment Program must review the University’s Learning Portfolio Development Guide and complete the initial advising session before they can register.  Students should contact Mr. Mark Miller at (304) 929-1392 to request a PLA Registration Form, or you can find one on page 26 in the appendix to the Portfolio Development Guide.