Prior Learning

Prior Learning Overview

Please read the Prior Learning Getting Started Guide linked below!

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 credits 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 quarter credits/30 semester credits of Prior Learning, upper or lower division. Students who have the maximum number of lower division credits 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. Students will need to complete EDU-3020/EDU-3021 Mapping Prior Learning and EDU-3030/EDU-3031 Documenting Life Learning, with exceptions described further down the page.

The guide below has been developed to assist students in understanding and following the Prior Learning process. Please refer to this for a basic definition of Prior Learning and an outline of how projects are developed, registered, and completed. Additional information and some detail on enrollment processes and fees are below that. Copies of relevant forms, such as the contract template, can be found at the bottom of the page. 

For students enrolled from Summer 2024 onward:

The first step for students interested in pursuing Prior Learning (PL) is to attend a required non-credit workshop EDU-3020/EDU-3021 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/EDU-3031 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.

Prior Learning Fee:

The fee for each Prior Learning, no matter the number of credits, is $250. This fee is not covered by Financial Aid. The fee is also not covered by military benefits. Students on financial aid or receiving military benefits will be required to pay the Prior Learning fee out of pocket. Students who need non-classroom learning and wish to have all education costs covered by financial aid or military benefits should plan an internship. For questions about financial aid coverage, contact financialaid.au@antioch.edu. For questions about military benefits, contact studentservices.aula@antioch.edu.

Further Questions?

Further questions about Prior Learning can be addressed by reaching out to the program office at ba@antioch.edu, or the prior learning coordinator MeHee Hyun at mhyun@antioch.edu.