Prior Learning & Life Experience Credits

Reduce Bachelor’s Degree Completion Time at MACU

If you’re an adult planning to go back to school, you want to complete your undergraduate degree as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Prior learning and life experience credits from Mid-America Christian University (MACU) provide you with a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on what you’ve already learned through experiences:

  • On the job
  • In ministry
  • In the military
  • As a volunteer
  • In community service
  • While traveling

Eligible adults can earn up to 30 hours of college credit. Take our three-minute survey to see how life experience credits can save you time and money on your undergraduate degree at MACU!

Two Ways to Earn MACU Life Experience Credits

MACU offers two ways to earn college credit for what you already know:

  • Credit by examination
  • Credit by demonstrated competency (CDC)

What Are CDC Life Experience Credits?

The goal of CDC is to record validated, relevant learning outcomes at the college level. Examples can include workshops, seminars, self-study, noncredit or unaccredited classes, professional training programs, college-level exams, work and/or military experience, and more. In order to qualify for CDC at MACU, you will need to:

  • Be fully admitted to MACU.
  • Enroll in MGMT2503 Professional Development, a course worth three credit hours itself that will help you assess and document (via letters, certificates, reports, products, etc.) prior learning.
  • Complete the process to request credit for prior learning.
  • Work with your instructor to determine an estimated number of CDC credits to pursue after the course concludes.

What are Credits by Examination?

Credit by examination is available through standardized tests for specific subject areas by nationally accepted exam providers. At MACU, we accept College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) and DSST (Dantes).

CLEP

CLEP helps you receive college credit for what you already know at a lower cost than many college courses. You may choose to take one of 32 available CLEP exams. For a list of CLEP exams, visit clep.collegeboard.org.

DSST

With more than 30 exam titles in college subject areas such as social sciences, math, applied technology, business, physical sciences, and humanities, DSST exams shorten the pathway to graduation while reducing college costs. To learn more, visit getcollegecredit.com.

Learn more about life experience credits at MACU by contacting Lisa Bell, director of prior learning, at 405.692.3194.