Approaches to Earning Undergraduate Credit

Matriculated students at Saint Peter’s College may complete degree requirements in a number of ways. The traditional way is by taking courses. Other alternatives include:

1. Advanced Placement sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board; 
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP); 
3. World Language Proficiency Examinations; 
4. Internships; 
5. Cooperative Education; 
6. Service Learning; 
7. Prior Learning Program which involves the submission of an experiential learning portfolio for the evaluation of credit; 
8. Evaluation of certain non-collegiate programs taken under the aegis of the Armed Forces and/or some courses given by industrial firms and business corporations evaluated by the American Council on Education.

     Students may earn no more than 30 credits towards the degree through Prior Learning, CLEP, Cooperative Education   internships,  or  any combination of the above programs. (Students pursuing associate degrees, please consult with the dean’s office for advisement.)

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Saint Peter’s College grants advanced placement and credit to students who obtain a score of 3 or better in advanced placement examinations administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Test results in Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science will be evaluated for possible credit by the appropriate department chairpersons.

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

Saint Peter’s College grants credit for CLEP examinations for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies within the following guidelines:

1. on the General Examinations, the College grants credit for scores equal to or above the fiftieth percentile, determined by national college sophomore norms;
2. on the Subject Examinations, the College grants credit for scores equal to or above the standard score based on the recommendations of the Council on College Level Examinations.

     Students should check with an advisor or the appropriate dean before taking CLEP examinations in order to make sure that the particular examinations will be acceptable for credit, and also that the examinations do not duplicate courses for which they have earned credit already. Freshmen may not take CLEP examinations in lieu of the College’s composition requirement.

WORLD LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS

Prospective students of a modern or classical language who claim native or advanced proficiency may fulfill the World Languages Core Rrequirement by successfully passing a proficiency examination offered by the department in any of the languages taught in the department.  For any language not taught by the department, with the written permission of the chairperson, the student may take a language proficiency examination which is administered by the Division of Continuing Education of New York University.  All students who claim native or advanced proficiency must successfully demonstrate competence at the intermediate level of  the language.  Students may attempt to pass proficiency examinations two times, after which they must fulfill the Core Requirement through course work at Saint Peter's College, at the level determined by the department.  A student may only be awarded the six credits - never additional credits - of the World Languages Core Requirement as a result of taking any Proficiency Examination.

INTERNSHIPS

The Departments of Accountancy, Political Science, Sociology, and Urban Studies sponsor internship programs for credit. Accountancy internships are available only to students in the Accounting Honors Program. Students who wish to complete an internship in Political Science, Sociology, or Urban Studies should make arrangements with the appropriate chairperson.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Cooperative Education is a program of experience-based educational enrichment designed to enhance a student’s academic and personal development and to contribute to an understanding of work and careers. The program consists of a series of planned and supervised off-campus working experiences which may be integrated with independent academic study under the tutelage of a College faculty member. Cooperative Education students may earn a salary and academic credit.

Cooperative Education opportunities are available for students in any major as well as for those who are undecided about their major field of study.  Academic departments and programs offering credit in conjunction with Cooperative Education work experiences include:  Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Education, English, Health Care Management, History, Management/Marketing, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Theology, and Urban Studies.  All Cooperative Education courses are designated by the course number 295 prefixed by the department or program sponsoring the experience, e.g. Ur295, El295, etc.

The official catalog description for Cooperative Education courses is as follows: This course is arranged at the request of a student seeking to earn academic credit related to a job or work experience. The course is open to all students with the permission of the instructor and the department chairperson.  

Three basic plans for Cooperative Education are available.  On the Alternating Plan, students alternate periods of full-time work with periods of full-time study. On the Parallel Plan, students work part-time while attending classes on a full-time basis.  On the Job Enrichment Plan, students work on a new full-time or part-time assignment for their present employer.  Credit is available for each plan, but no more than three semesters of Cooperative Education may be taken for credit and no more than nine credits toward the degree may be granted for Cooperative Education.

Students interested in Cooperative Education should register with the Center for Experiential Learning & Career Services during the semeter preceding the work experience.  Those interested in a summer and/or fall placement should register with the Center no later than the preceding March.  Students who wish to work during the spring semester should register no later than the preceding October.

Information about the program may be obtained from the Center, located in Henneberry Hall (Room 23, 104 Glenwood Avenue)..

 OFFICE FOR COMMUNICY SERVICE AND Service Learning

Rooted in the jesuit tradition of educating Men and Women for Others, the Office for Community Service is affiliated with Campus Ministry and directly implements the College's mission "to prepare students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service to others in a diverse and global society."  Through participating in meaningful volunteer and service learning experiences with more than thirty Hudson County nonprofit agencies and religious organizations.  Saint Peter's students and faculty directly contribute to social justice activities and the empowerment of local constituencies.  In their roles as tutors, mentors, outreach workers, researchers, social work assistants, students share their time and talent with their neighborts in need of encouragement, support and assistance.

Through community service projects and service learning in the classroom, students are encouraged to share the benefits of their college experience and invest their time and skills with nonprofit agencies and schools with limited resources.  To support the student's service experience, the Office facilities training and discusssion sessions that stimulate reflection about the relationship of service to one's personal, intellectual and spiritual growth.  Selected courses incorporate community service as a required component, with faculty guiding student reelection about their service through discussions and journals.

Prior Learning Program

Matriculated students in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies  may earn credit for prior learning gained through work experience, in-service courses exclusive of those programs already evaluated by the American Council on Education, community service activities, unique travel experiences, and special accomplishments in the arts.

Students who wish to apply for Prior Learning credit  must submit a portfolio which demonstrates learning gained through the experience. The portfolio consists of a detailed resume and essay with appropriate documentation in support of the essay.  A separate essay and supporting documentation is required for each course for which the student is requesting credit.  Students work closely with a faculty member in the appropriate departments.

It is important to remember the following principles:

• Credit is not granted for experience, but for the knowledge gained as a result of the experience; 
• If students can demonstrate this knowledge by taking a CLEP or ACT-PEP examination, they should not participate in this program; 
• Students may not apply for experiential credit which is the equivalent of  a course, a CLEP test, or nursing validation examination for which credit has already been earned; 
• Students must be able to demonstrate that their experiential knowledge is equivalent to a specific course or academic discipline offered by the College.  The course number and description lmust accompany each essay.

Eligibility Requirements

Students are eligible to apply for the evaluation of prior learning if they are matriculated students at the School of Professional and Continuing Studies in good academic standing with an average of 2.5 and have earned at least 18 credits exclusive of developmental courses at Saint Peter’s College.

Procedures for Declaring Candidacy for Prior Learning Credit

a) Students must meet with their faculty mentors to determine the feasibility of earning such credit.  At this time, the student and mentor will analyze the experiences and determine that credit has not been earned for these experiences in any other way.

b) Students must file a statement of intention to apply for Prior Learning credit with the dean of SPCS after they have satisfied eligibility requirements and met with the appropriate faculty in the departments in which courses to be used for the portfolio are located.  The faculty members from each department will also sign on the "Intent" form prior to filing with the dean's office.. This application must be filed in the year in which they plan to submit an experiential learning portfolio.

c) Portfolios should be submitted prior to/by completion of 90 credits towards the degree.  This is well in advance of a student's final year of study.  Most portfolios involve a minimum preparation period of six months.

Contents of the Portfolio

A. Biographical Sketch

B. Outline of work experience (current resume).  The following information about each positin should be provided:

1. title and detailed description of the position;
2. dates held;
3. name and address of employer;

C. Courses submitted for credit. 

     Each course submitted for credit should include:

      1.  SPC course number and description                   

      2.  analysis of what was learned

      3.  documentation verifying the student's learning experience. 

      This includes samples of work appropriate to each course. 

      Besides "work experiences" other areas that students may use when requesting prior learning credits              include:                                                                                                                                                                      

1.  In Service Training

Students who have taken in service training courses connected with their jobs may have these courses considered for prior learning credit. The documentation consists of:

1. a specific description of the course and date taken (e.g. brochure);
2. a description of course outcome (grade, advancement to higher position), etc.;
3. a letter from supervisor or appropriate person from job supporting attendanc 

2. . Community Service Activities

1. description of each activity, including name of organization, dates involved, details of the activity itself, training courses taken (if applicable) 
2. documentation, including letters from supervisor verifying student’s involvement and commitment, brochures (if applicable).

3. Travel 

1. detailed description of each trip with emphasis on what was learned; 
2. tangible documentation such as programs of events; slide presentation, analysis of art work viewed, operas heard, etc.
3. explanation of what was learned in relation to a specific course.

4. Special Accomplishments

Books and/or articles written; performances as actor or musician; inventions; work in the fine arts (sculpture, pottery, painting, weaving, photography, film, etc.); special interests in horticulture, woodworking, other skills; special reading interests. The documentation consists of:

1. detailed description of area of special interest with documented list of activities; 
2. special exhibit (of work in the arts); 
3. submission of published and unpublished materials; 
4. performance (concert, theatrical reading) - submit playbills, etc. with student's name on them; 
5. description of non-credit courses taken or  workshops attended with specific references to content, evaluation of completed work, dates and place of course or workshop, letter of verification; 
6. documentation of recognition received such as  copies of certificates awarded or earned, prizes in competitions, newspaper reviews, and articles.

Please note that the portfolio must contain separate sections with appropriate documentation and description of experience for each course for withch the student is requesting credit.

Portfolio Evaluation

Portfolios are evaluated by faculty members whose competencies are pertinent to the experiences submitted for evaluation. Credits will be awarded in specific courses and/or courses and will be identified on the transcript as experiential learning credit. Students who wish to appeal the results of a portfolio evaluation may address their request to the apropriate academic dean.  Grades are not assigned for experiential credit.

Portfolio Evaluation Fee

The portfolio evaluation fee, based on a sliding scale of the number of credits to be evaluated, is payable in full before the portfolio is assessed for credit.   The check for the proper amount must accompany the portfolio at the time of submission.  Fee Scale:  up to 9 credits - $400; 10-21 credits - $700; 22-30 credits - $900l.

All students submitting Prior Learning Portfolios must attend a workshop before compiling their portfolios.