Transfer and Experiential Credit for Professional Studies Students

• Adult learners can transfer up to 90 credits from accredited four-year traditional colleges and universities

— or —

• Students pursuing a degree in Professional Studies may earn a maximum of 27 credits through Prior Experiential Learning Assessment (PELA). Through PELA, eligible students can register for an experiential portfolio seminar and work with the Prior Learning Assessment coordinator to document and thoroughly assess prior learning experiences.

Therefore, many students begin their degree program at St. Joseph's University with more than half the credits they need to graduate. To earn a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits* in residence.

Please Note: Grades indicating a Pass (P) for the Spring or Summer 2020 semesters will be considered for transfer credit. However, some courses may require a higher grade in order to satisfy certain major requirements.
 
* Certain majors may require a minimum of 32 credits be completed at St. Joseph's University.

Professional Studies students, except for Nursing majors, with extensive and varied experiential learning may participate in the Prior Experiential Learning Assessment (PELA) Program, which gives students the opportunity to apply for credit for their prior experiential learning. Validated learning, not the experience alone, is the basis for awarding credit. Professional Studies students do not receive credit for “having lived,” but rather for having mastered—through professional, creative, volunteer or other experience—knowledge and skills that are deemed to be at the college level and are applicable in the context of the student’s degree program.

St. Joseph's University recognizes that adult learners, through their professional training and experience, attain knowledge and skills that can translate into collegiate credit. Professional Studies students with comprehensive experiential learning  may participate in the Prior Experiential Learning Assessment Program (PELA), which gives students the opportunity to earn credit for their prior learning by:

• enrolling in GS 111L Experiential Portfolio Seminar, which is a mentored course designed to facilitate the assessment of prior learning for the purpose of developing an experiential learning portfolio — a collaborative effort between the student and PELA coordinator. Students have the unique opportunity to meet at their convenience via telephone, email, video conferencing and in person with the PELA coordinator to receive assistance in their pursuit of PELA.

PELA Contact

Ashley Benson, M.A.
Associate Director, Online Programs
PELA Coordinator
[email protected]