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Education beyond boundaries :: Distance Learning Degrees
APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)
European-American
University offers a progressive program of APEL aimed at the working
professional. APEL applies the learning gained in professional
experience via the submission and assessment of a formal portfolio of
evidence for degree credit. It is suitable for mature professionals who
wish to recognise their valuable learning in an employment context and
beyond. There is no minimum period of enrolment for a APEL award other
than the time required for assessment (see below). However, APEL is not
an "easy route" to a degree since considerable documentary evidence is
required before credit can be awarded.
Converting Experience to Education
Only those with a minimum of three years of full-time professional experience (or an equivalent in part-time work or via a combination of education and experience) may be admitted to the APEL procedure.
Like other institutions employing APEL and similar methods, we have adopted the standards used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (for bachelor's and master's degrees) as an overall basis for converting professional experience to education. Our guidelines are as follows:
Is the APEL process a legitimate way to earn a degree?
Many institutions offer degree awards for "life experience" with some offering degrees on the basis of a candidate's unverified resumé. The US Department of Education says,
At European-American University, we use the methods of prior learning portfolio, past college credit and professional certification to determine the award of credit in our APEL program, and require considerable documentation of prior learning before a degree is awarded. In addition, the claimed standing of each candidate is externally verified wherever possible. We only award credit when the work experience demonstrated is equivalent to knowledge gained at college level. The process is thorough, rigorous and is not an "easy" way to earn a degree.
General assessment of experiential learning
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) based in Chicago, The American Council on Education, the University of the State of New York, and other international educational agencies - for example, the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) in the United Kingdom - have established and published comprehensive guidelines for converting prior learning and experience into academic credit. It is estimated that over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide now follow these and other guidelines, or have adapted them to meet their own needs and situations. For example, according to the guidelines of the Modern Language Association, perfect fluency in a second language is equivalent to 36 of the 120 required credits at the bachelor's level. A private pilot's license is equivalent to 6 to 15 credits depending on its type. Various military or company-sponsored courses are worth anywhere from 1 to 40 credits depending on the degree to be earned. "Principles of Good Practice in Assessing Experiential Learning" (Warren W. Willingham, 1977), a publication of the former Co-operative for the Advancement of Experiential Learning (subsequently the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning: CAEL) summarizes the situation clearly:
Initial assessment
The first stage is an initial assessment to ascertain whether the applicant meets the criteria for acceptance into the program. The applicant must first complete and submit the application form. On receipt of an acknowledgement from the University, they must compile and present a portfolio and submit this electronically via email according to the instructions given by the University.
In order to protect students from a high initial outlay against an uncertain outcome, the University has devised a two-stage tuition structure for APEL programs. This means that students who are not successful in the program will be liable only for the first stage of these fees. The first stage is the Initial Assessment fee, payable online (see Tuition). This fee is not refundable.
The portfolio should consist of the following materials: a full resumé or curriculum vitæ; full transcripts and documentation of all previous post-secondary education; references from employers confirming the dates and responsibilities of employment positions held; publications; reports in journals and similar evidence (see link below). Affidavits from co-workers or yourself are also acceptable. All documentation must be in English and foreign language documents must be accompanied by a translation. The University does not provide a translation service, though there are many available on the internet. The University requests that materials be compressed in a .zip or .rar file before sending, in order to avoid difficulties in transmission of large files.
>>Please see our additional guidance on materials for assessment and the nature of the process
We accept transfer credit from other schools, always on a case by case basis, without limit to the transfer that is possible within the curriculum requirements as stated above. We do not accept transfer credit into an APEL program from schools that do not, in our judgement, award credits responsibly. In such cases, the candidate will need to find alternative ways to prove the knowledge and skills asserted in their educational record.
The University convenes a jury for the purpose of examining APEL portfolios, which will usually be comprised of a minimum of three persons. All jury members must hold graduate-level qualifications and at least two must hold a doctorate or its equivalent and have previous experience of examining at the required level. Details of some of the members of the University's adjunct faculty may be found here.
The jury may ask the applicant for further documentation and interview them via email or telephone on any areas that need clarification. The jury may itself conduct verification procedures concerning the evidence submitted or delegate these procedures to third parties. It is usual for a majority of members of the jury to meet face-to-face where possible although other members may participate via email conference. The identity of members of the jury will only be disclosed to the student where the jury member in question has given specific permission to be so identified. This policy is to protect the jury from the possibility of being unfairly influenced or otherwise contacted by candidates during or after their deliberations.
The jury will make a formal report within 60 days and will determine either that the candidate is provisionally qualified for the degree that they have applied for, or for a lesser degree, or for no degree awarded by the University. For candidates at the associate's or bachelor's level, if the result of the deliberation is not admission to the degree the candidate has applied for, the candidate may be allowed at the discretion of the University to submit new academic work, usually a dissertation, to meet the requirements. This will usually incur additional mentoring fees.
Formal candidature for associate's and bachelor's degree candidates
If the applicant is accepted to the program after successful completion of the initial assessment stage, they will enter the stage of formal candidature. At this stage the candidate cannot fail and will graduate on payment of the required formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). Once this has been received, the University will inform the applicant that they have been approved to graduate and will organise the despatch of graduation documentation if the candidate has been successful.
Formal candidature for master's degree candidates
Applicants accepted to the program after initial assessment will enter the stage of formal candidature and will pay the formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). At this stage they will be required to prepare either a dissertation or an alternative creative project in their field that has been approved by the University. The length and scope of the dissertation will depend on the amount of APEL credit awarded and will be advised by the University individually. The candidate will be assigned a Mentor from the adjunct faculty or may propose a Mentor by agreement with the University. The dissertation or project will be examined by the University in the usual manner, and if successful, the candidate will be cleared to graduate. There is an annual continuation fee payable on the anniversary of matriculation.
Formal candidature for doctorates
Applicants accepted to the program after initial assessment will enter the stage of formal candidature and will pay the formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). At this stage they will be required to prepare either a dissertation or an alternative creative project in their field that has been approved by the University. The length and scope of the dissertation will depend on the amount of APEL credit awarded and will be advised by the University individually. The candidate will be assigned a Mentor from the adjunct faculty or may propose a Mentor by agreement with the University. The dissertation or project will be examined by the University in the usual manner, and if successful, the candidate will be cleared to graduate. There is an annual continuation fee payable on the anniversary of matriculation.
>>Information about dissertations
Graduation documentation
Successful applicants receive an official diploma of their degree award in the University's standard format. Rather than a transcript, graduates receive an official attestation of graduation under University seal following the jury deliberation.
>>To apply, please click here
Misrepresentation
Should documents be found after verification to be inauthentic, misrepresented or altered in any material fashion, the candidate will be dismissed from the program without refund of fees and debarred from further study within the University. The University reserves the right to report cases of fraudulent misrepresentation to law enforcement officials. Where such a discovery is made after a candidate has graduated, the degree awarded may additionally be rescinded.
"It is immoral to teach someone something he or she already knows."
Elizabeth Monroe Drews, former Professor of Education, Michigan State University
Elizabeth Monroe Drews, former Professor of Education, Michigan State University
Converting Experience to Education
Only those with a minimum of three years of full-time professional experience (or an equivalent in part-time work or via a combination of education and experience) may be admitted to the APEL procedure.
Like other institutions employing APEL and similar methods, we have adopted the standards used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (for bachelor's and master's degrees) as an overall basis for converting professional experience to education. Our guidelines are as follows:
Up to the level of a bachelor's
degree (four years of postsecondary education)
Every three years of professional experience are considered equivalent to one year of education.
To reach the level of a master's degree (six years of postsecondary education)
The applicant must have the equivalent of four years of postsecondary education (through the experience formula above or a combination of education and experience) and the equivalent of an additional five years of education. Note that only a maximum of the first 60% of the degree requirements for a master's degree can be earned via APEL portfolio. The remainder must be earned via a dissertation or similar creative project.
To reach the doctoral level
The applicant must have the equivalent of six years of postsecondary education (through the experience formula above or a combination of education and experience) and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that he or she has additional experience that places him or her at the forefront of professional life, amounting to at least a further two years of education. Note that only a maximum of the first 60% of the degree requirements for a doctorate can be earned via APEL portfolio. The remainder must be earned via a dissertation or similar creative project.
Every three years of professional experience are considered equivalent to one year of education.
To reach the level of a master's degree (six years of postsecondary education)
The applicant must have the equivalent of four years of postsecondary education (through the experience formula above or a combination of education and experience) and the equivalent of an additional five years of education. Note that only a maximum of the first 60% of the degree requirements for a master's degree can be earned via APEL portfolio. The remainder must be earned via a dissertation or similar creative project.
To reach the doctoral level
The applicant must have the equivalent of six years of postsecondary education (through the experience formula above or a combination of education and experience) and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that he or she has additional experience that places him or her at the forefront of professional life, amounting to at least a further two years of education. Note that only a maximum of the first 60% of the degree requirements for a doctorate can be earned via APEL portfolio. The remainder must be earned via a dissertation or similar creative project.
Is the APEL process a legitimate way to earn a degree?
Many institutions offer degree awards for "life experience" with some offering degrees on the basis of a candidate's unverified resumé. The US Department of Education says,
"Although many legitimate
institutions give academic credit for life and work experiences, beware
of institutions that offer college credit and degrees based on life
experience, with little or no documentation of prior learning. These
institutions do not use valid methods to determine the amount of credit
to be awarded...
Legitimate institutions offering credit for life or work experiences may use any combination of the following methods to determine how much credit is given: standardized tests, prior learning portfolio, oral exams, past college credit, and professional certification. The amount of credit awarded will vary from institution to institution. At legitimate institutions credit is awarded only if the work experience is equivalent to what would have been taught in a college level course."
Legitimate institutions offering credit for life or work experiences may use any combination of the following methods to determine how much credit is given: standardized tests, prior learning portfolio, oral exams, past college credit, and professional certification. The amount of credit awarded will vary from institution to institution. At legitimate institutions credit is awarded only if the work experience is equivalent to what would have been taught in a college level course."
At European-American University, we use the methods of prior learning portfolio, past college credit and professional certification to determine the award of credit in our APEL program, and require considerable documentation of prior learning before a degree is awarded. In addition, the claimed standing of each candidate is externally verified wherever possible. We only award credit when the work experience demonstrated is equivalent to knowledge gained at college level. The process is thorough, rigorous and is not an "easy" way to earn a degree.
General assessment of experiential learning
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) based in Chicago, The American Council on Education, the University of the State of New York, and other international educational agencies - for example, the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) in the United Kingdom - have established and published comprehensive guidelines for converting prior learning and experience into academic credit. It is estimated that over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide now follow these and other guidelines, or have adapted them to meet their own needs and situations. For example, according to the guidelines of the Modern Language Association, perfect fluency in a second language is equivalent to 36 of the 120 required credits at the bachelor's level. A private pilot's license is equivalent to 6 to 15 credits depending on its type. Various military or company-sponsored courses are worth anywhere from 1 to 40 credits depending on the degree to be earned. "Principles of Good Practice in Assessing Experiential Learning" (Warren W. Willingham, 1977), a publication of the former Co-operative for the Advancement of Experiential Learning (subsequently the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning: CAEL) summarizes the situation clearly:
"...all learning in order to be most effective should have both an experiential and a theoretic component."CAEL has sought to emphasize assessment of adult learning in situations in which:
"...the priority is upon observing, interacting, performing, making things happen, feeling the effects of ... activities, noting responses of others, etc..."Assessment and application procedures
Initial assessment
The first stage is an initial assessment to ascertain whether the applicant meets the criteria for acceptance into the program. The applicant must first complete and submit the application form. On receipt of an acknowledgement from the University, they must compile and present a portfolio and submit this electronically via email according to the instructions given by the University.
In order to protect students from a high initial outlay against an uncertain outcome, the University has devised a two-stage tuition structure for APEL programs. This means that students who are not successful in the program will be liable only for the first stage of these fees. The first stage is the Initial Assessment fee, payable online (see Tuition). This fee is not refundable.
The portfolio should consist of the following materials: a full resumé or curriculum vitæ; full transcripts and documentation of all previous post-secondary education; references from employers confirming the dates and responsibilities of employment positions held; publications; reports in journals and similar evidence (see link below). Affidavits from co-workers or yourself are also acceptable. All documentation must be in English and foreign language documents must be accompanied by a translation. The University does not provide a translation service, though there are many available on the internet. The University requests that materials be compressed in a .zip or .rar file before sending, in order to avoid difficulties in transmission of large files.
>>Please see our additional guidance on materials for assessment and the nature of the process
We accept transfer credit from other schools, always on a case by case basis, without limit to the transfer that is possible within the curriculum requirements as stated above. We do not accept transfer credit into an APEL program from schools that do not, in our judgement, award credits responsibly. In such cases, the candidate will need to find alternative ways to prove the knowledge and skills asserted in their educational record.
The University convenes a jury for the purpose of examining APEL portfolios, which will usually be comprised of a minimum of three persons. All jury members must hold graduate-level qualifications and at least two must hold a doctorate or its equivalent and have previous experience of examining at the required level. Details of some of the members of the University's adjunct faculty may be found here.
The jury may ask the applicant for further documentation and interview them via email or telephone on any areas that need clarification. The jury may itself conduct verification procedures concerning the evidence submitted or delegate these procedures to third parties. It is usual for a majority of members of the jury to meet face-to-face where possible although other members may participate via email conference. The identity of members of the jury will only be disclosed to the student where the jury member in question has given specific permission to be so identified. This policy is to protect the jury from the possibility of being unfairly influenced or otherwise contacted by candidates during or after their deliberations.
The jury will make a formal report within 60 days and will determine either that the candidate is provisionally qualified for the degree that they have applied for, or for a lesser degree, or for no degree awarded by the University. For candidates at the associate's or bachelor's level, if the result of the deliberation is not admission to the degree the candidate has applied for, the candidate may be allowed at the discretion of the University to submit new academic work, usually a dissertation, to meet the requirements. This will usually incur additional mentoring fees.
Formal candidature for associate's and bachelor's degree candidates
If the applicant is accepted to the program after successful completion of the initial assessment stage, they will enter the stage of formal candidature. At this stage the candidate cannot fail and will graduate on payment of the required formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). Once this has been received, the University will inform the applicant that they have been approved to graduate and will organise the despatch of graduation documentation if the candidate has been successful.
Formal candidature for master's degree candidates
Applicants accepted to the program after initial assessment will enter the stage of formal candidature and will pay the formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). At this stage they will be required to prepare either a dissertation or an alternative creative project in their field that has been approved by the University. The length and scope of the dissertation will depend on the amount of APEL credit awarded and will be advised by the University individually. The candidate will be assigned a Mentor from the adjunct faculty or may propose a Mentor by agreement with the University. The dissertation or project will be examined by the University in the usual manner, and if successful, the candidate will be cleared to graduate. There is an annual continuation fee payable on the anniversary of matriculation.
Formal candidature for doctorates
Applicants accepted to the program after initial assessment will enter the stage of formal candidature and will pay the formal candidature fee online (see Tuition). At this stage they will be required to prepare either a dissertation or an alternative creative project in their field that has been approved by the University. The length and scope of the dissertation will depend on the amount of APEL credit awarded and will be advised by the University individually. The candidate will be assigned a Mentor from the adjunct faculty or may propose a Mentor by agreement with the University. The dissertation or project will be examined by the University in the usual manner, and if successful, the candidate will be cleared to graduate. There is an annual continuation fee payable on the anniversary of matriculation.
>>Information about dissertations
Graduation documentation
Successful applicants receive an official diploma of their degree award in the University's standard format. Rather than a transcript, graduates receive an official attestation of graduation under University seal following the jury deliberation.
>>To apply, please click here
Misrepresentation
Should documents be found after verification to be inauthentic, misrepresented or altered in any material fashion, the candidate will be dismissed from the program without refund of fees and debarred from further study within the University. The University reserves the right to report cases of fraudulent misrepresentation to law enforcement officials. Where such a discovery is made after a candidate has graduated, the degree awarded may additionally be rescinded.
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