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Prior Learning Assessment

What Is Prior Learning Assessment

Some students have acquired skills and knowledge through prior learning experiences that may be equivalent to college-level credit.  Prior learning assessment (PLA) is available at SUNY Oswego in certain instances to determine if your prior learning meets the standards and requirements of college-level learning.  You must be able to provide evidence of college level learning that is aligned with courses that are part of your degree plan. 

What are the Advantages of PLA

Some students might be able to: Save time and money. It can possible shorten the time needed to earn a degree and reduce total costs of your degree.

Should You Consider PLA

  • Have you successfully completed workplace or other training programs?
  • Have you earned a professional license or credential?
  • Have you completed military training not evaluated for credit by ACE?
  • Do you have learning that corresponds to college courses?
  • Can you document your college-level learning?

What Is The Process To Earn PLA

The first step is to contact the Assistant Dean Gregory Ketcham at [email protected].  The Assistant Dean can advise you if your prior learning might be eligible for college credit.

SUNY Oswego Credit Bearing PLA

Credit bearing PLA can save you time and money. Military experience and testing offer students opportunities to earn credit for what they already know. Research from Council for Adult and Experiential Learning shows that among adult students, graduation rates are two and a half times higher for students with PLA credit.

Testing

Includes 

  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

Evaluated By

  • Registrars
  • Academic Departments

 Information

  • Students must submit official transcripts or scores to be evaluated.
  • College Credit awarded dependent on scores earned.
  • Students can apply a maximum of 30 testing credits within the maximum of 60 credits allowed from a two year school (i.e. Max of 30 AP credits & 30 credits from OCC).

Career & Technical Educator Preparation

Includes 

  • Occupational Competency Exams (Formerly VTP)

Evaluated By

  • Occupational Competency Exams Coordinator

 Information

  • Matriculated or departmentally approved students can earn 15 or 30 credits in the occupational area for which they are seeking certification.
  • Students register for VTP 331 & VTP 332 (30 Credits Total).
  • Must have four years of verifiable occupational experience.

Military Credit

Includes 

  • By Joint Services Transcript (JST)

Evaluated By

  • Registrars
  • Division of Extended Learning

 Information

  • Students must send Joint Services Transcript(s) at application and/or after new military training.
  • Community College of the Air Force and Defense Language institute are accredited institutions and fall under regular college transfer credit rules.

Departmental Testing

Includes 

  • COM 211 - evaluation
  • CTE 301

Evaluated By

  • Academic Departments
  • Registrar

 Information

Transfer Credits

Includes 

  • Regionally Accredited Colleges
  • International

Evaluated By

  • Registrars
  • Academic Departments

 Information

  • Students must submit transcripts to be evaluated.
  • Current students earning credit elsewhere must complete an off-campus approval form.
  • World Education Services (WES) evaluations may be required of international transcripts to explain accreditation for particular school, credit schema, etc.
     

Other Credit

Includes 

  • Non-Regionally Accredited College or Testing Service

Evaluated By

  • Registrars
  • Academic Departments

 Information

  • Students must submit documentation and request review by department chair.
  • Other evaluation/testing services include: American Council on Education (ACE),Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Services (DANTES), and Excelsior College Examination Program (ECE).
  • Students can request a transcript to be evaluated & credits applied after they complete one successful full-time semester (or part-time equivalent) at SUNY Oswego.
  • Credit bearing PLA for graduate students, please contact grad studies [email protected] 
     

SUNY Oswego Noncredit Bearing PLA

SUNY General Education Requirements (SUNY GER)

Includes

  • SUNY's general education requirements in an appropriate mix of categories earned prior to attending SUNY Oswego
  • GE 21 is SUNY's general education requirement

Evaluated by

  • Registrar

Information

  • Students must submit college transcripts

Foreign Language Based on Fluency for Languages other than English-High School

Includes

  • Student needs to complete a minimum of 30 hours of General Education credits

Evaluated by

  • Registrar

Information

  • Foreign language requirement is met if transcript reflects four years of one language or two years of two languages
  • Students must submit college transcripts

Foreign Language Based on Fluency for Languages other than English - Transfer

Includes

  • Student needs to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of Gen Ed credits
  • Three years of one foreign language is considered the equivalent of FL101

Evaluated by

  • Registrar

Information

  • Foreign language requirement is met if fulfilled on high school transcript (or if approved associate degree but did not complete SUNY Gen Ed Requirement, FL101 can be used to complete) See High School column
  • Students must submit college transcript and High School official final transcript if no FL101

Foreign Language Based on Fluency for Languages other than English - International Student

Includes

  • If students come to SUNY Oswego via the Office of International Education from a non-English speaking country, the foreign language requirement is met
  • If students do not come via the Office of International Education, the FL completion is subject to evaluation by the General Education Director

Evaluated by

  • General Education Director

Information

  • Student must request an evaluation
  • Student must have appropriate foreign High School of College transcript or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores
  • Students need to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Gen Ed credit

Foreign Language Based on Fluency for Languages other than English - Other Population

Includes

  • Foreign language requirement can be met for students who do not have transcripted academic FL experience, provided they are able to demonstrate FL learning outcomes

Evaluated by

  • General Education Director

Information

  • Students need to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Gen Ed credits
  • Students must contact Gen Ed Director to apply for a waiver

Computer Information Literacy Competency Exam

Includes

  • Computer and information literacy is infused in each major
  • Reference the Undergraduate Catalog to be sure it is to the student's advantage to take the exam

Evaluated by

  • Computer Science Department

Information

  • The computer information literacy requirement is met by students passing both parts of the Computer Information Computer Literacy Exam
  • Students must take the exam prior to their semester to start next
  • Students can only take the exam once.

Pre-Requisite Deviations

Includes

  • Instructor
  • Advisor
  • Department Chair

Information

  • Students must complete the Pre-Requisite Deviation Form
  • Additional documentation may be required

SUNY Oswego Placement and Proficiency PLA

ALEKS Math Placement Exams

Includes

  • Students may take ALEKS multiple times to improve scores

Evaluated by

  • Appropriate Department

Information

  • Students take ALEKS after matriculation

Music Department Auditions / Placement

Includes

  • Exemption may allow students to move directly into instruction

Evaluated by

  • Music Department

Information

  • Students audition at the beginning of the semester

Music Department Music Majors & Minors

Includes

  • Evaluation may be requested at any time

Evaluated by

  • Music Department

Information

  • Students must request an evaluation

Art Department Portfolio Reviews

Evaluated by

  • Art Department

Information

  • Students submit their portfolio in their Sophomore or Junior year

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

Evaluated by

  • Extended Learning

Information

  • Testing may not be required if student has prior credit in an English class. Approved tests include: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS)
  • Students take test at a Third-party testing center or with Extended Learning

Prior Learning Assessment

337 Sheldon Hall

Contact

Sarah Wehrle
Academic Planning and Prior Learning Assessment Coordinator

Phone: 315.312.2270
Email: [email protected]

Hours of Operation

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday