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Prior Learning Assessment


Your Journey Matters.

Learn how your experience can help you earn credit towards your degree.

Every student has a different story. At Biola University, we are committed to helping you use the work and life experiences you’ve gained to earn credit towards your under»Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ degree. Through our Prior Learning Assessment, students can earn credit for past work experience, military training, ministry, volunteer experience, or independent learning through a PLA portfolio, ACE evaluated courses and occupations, CLEP standardized tests, AP/IB recognized exams, and/or Biola challenge exams.

 

How does a portfolio work?

Once you’ve enrolled in one of Biola’s degree programs, you will work with an advisor to determine your eligibility.

  1. Get connected. Meet with your program advisor (who will determine if your experience aligns with a specific course) to discuss the potential for earning academic credit through PLA. Please see the links to contact program advisors below.
  2. Create a portfolio. Once your application for PLA is approved, you’ll take a portfolio development course to help you prepare a portfolio to be reviewed and assessed by qualified faculty.
  3. Earn college credit. If your portfolio is approved, your Biola transcript will be updated to reflect that you have successfully met the requirements for course(s) eligible for Prior Learning Assessment.

 

Prior Learning Assessment Guides

You can check out our downloadable PLA Guides to see courses you can earn credit for through PLA. If there are courses not listed in the PLA guides that you’d like to inquire about, contact the PLA specialist. You are eligible to earn credit for courses outside of your major if you need general elective credit.

  •  (Program Advisor)
    • BBST 103: Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation
  •  (Program Advisor)
    • BBST 365: Methods of Bible Study
    • CEED 255: Foundations of Spiritual Formation
    • CEED 312: Christian Ministry Skills
    • CEED 445: Biblical Ministries FieldWork
  •  (Program Advisor)
    • BBST 103: Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation
  •  (Program Advisor)
    • BUSN 205: Economic Principles
    • BUSN 211: Principles of Accounting I
    • BUSN 212: Principles of Accounting II
    • BUSN 220: Management Information Systems
    • BUSN 230: Introduction to Marketing
    • BUSN 323: Business Analytics
    • BUSN 328: Organizational Behavior
    • BUSN 347: Global Business Environment
    • BUSN 361: Business Law
    • BUSN 370: Business Finance
  •  (Program Advisor)
    • PREL 107: Multimedia Channels
    • PREL 111: Introduction to Public Relations
    • PREL 231: Strategic Writing for Public Relations
    • PREL 307: Social Media, SEO and Digital Strategy
    • PREL 344: Media and PR Internship
    • PREL 350: Crisis Communication & Reputation Management
    • PREL 410: PR Principles, Law & Global Influence

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much credit can I earn towards my Biola degree?

  • Up to 25% of the degree may be fulfilled through Biola’s PLA (excludes external standardized examinations such as ACE, AP, CLEP, IB, etc.).

What are the steps for earning credit through a PLA portfolio?

Meet with your program advisor

  • First, discuss the potential for earning academic credit through PLA with your program advisor (see contact links, above), who will determine if your experience aligns with a specific course.

Submit the PLA Portfolio Inquiry Form

  • Complete the . The PLA Specialist and your program advisor will then review and approve your application.

Enroll in the portfolio course and submit your official portfolio

  • Once your PLA application is approved, enroll in the "Designing Your Experiential Learning Portfolio" course to develop your official portfolio. You will be provided a coupon code that will give you a 50% discount on the course fee. After completing your portfolio, submit the Official PLA Portfolio Submission Form, along with the required $150 processing fee.

Assessment of the portfolio

  • A qualified faculty assessor will evaluate your portfolio. The possible outcomes are:
    • Approval: You earn course credit.
    • Approval with a Waiver: A course requirement is waived, but you still need to fulfill the total units for graduation.
    • Needs Clarification: You'll be given two weeks to provide additional information for re-evaluation.
    • Denied: The evidence provided was insufficient.
  • Approval will be displayed on the student transcript as a course requirement fulfilled with credits earned or a course requirement waived.
  • If you want to submit additional portfolios in the future, you must submit a new , but you are not required to retake the "Designing Your Experiential Learning Portfolio" course.
  • The process for PLA credit must be completed prior to the beginning of your last semester.

Are there additional course requirements?

Students interested in earning PLA credit will enroll in Designing Your Experiential Learning Portfolio â€” a course offered online each semester which guides the student through completion of the PLA portfolio process. Designing Your Experiential Learning Portfolio may be waived by the appropriate department chair.