Prior Learning

Prior Learning (PL) is defined as college-level learning acquired outside of a college setting. Credit for this kind of learning may be awarded with documentation from the student and a satisfactory evaluation by Antioch-approved prior learning evaluators, usually Antioch faculty members.

Prior Learning units may count toward a student's Community-based Learning requirement (previously called the Self-Directed Non-Classroom Learning requirement). Students may earn up to 45 Prior Learning Units, upper or lower division.

For students enrolled from Summer 2024 onward:

Students who have the maximum number of lower division units should not pursue lower division Prior Learning. Students who transfer in the maximum total units of 135 with only 45 left to go should not purse Prior Learning at all, because Prior Learning units do not count towards the 45-unit residency minimum.

The first step for students interested in pursuing Prior Learning (PL) is to attend a required non-credit workshop EDU 3020 Mapping Prior Learning (formerly ORN 0020 Prior Learning Workshop) offered each quarter. The workshop is designed to help give an overview of the prior learning administrative process and begin to plan out a proposal. From Summer 2024 onward, students must enroll subsequently or concurrently in the 3-unit class EDU 3030 Documenting Life Learning in order to pursue Prior Learning, where students will draft and complete their project proposal(s), get matched with an evaluator, get registered for their project, and begin work on their documentation. Students may also request that the EDU 3030 course be waived in order to pursue Prior Learning independently of this course.

For students who were enrolled and took ORN-0020 Prior Learning Workshop before Summer 2024:

Students who were oriented according to our old system may pursue their projects according to the instructions they received in ORN-0020.