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 (previous called the Self-Directed Non-Classroom Learning requirement). Students may earn up to 45 Prior Learning Units, upper or lower division.

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 twice every quarter Fall, Winter and Spring, and once in the Summer. The workshop is designed to help identify PL units, create a proposal, choose an evaluator, and register. From Summer 2024 onward, students must enroll in the 3-unit class EDU 3030 Documenting Life Learning in order to pursue Prior Learning, or request that the EDU 3030 course be waived in order to pursue Prior Learning independently of this course.

The resources below are designed to supplement the information covered in that workshop, but you may also contact Prior Learning Coordinator, MeHee Hyun (mhyun@antioch.edu) with further questions.