Natural Sciences prior learning policy

The Department of Natural Sciences values the diverse educational backgrounds and work experience many of our students bring to the classroom and encourages you to explore how that experience can potentially be turned into credits and applied towards earning your degree. Examples of prior learning may include coursework or seminars for which you have not received college credit (e.g., workshops, training). 

Prior learning credits cannot be used to meet the General Education Goal 3 Natural Sciences requirement nor for certification requirements. Below outlines policies and procedures to submit Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) within the Department of Natural Sciences:

1. Access and review Metro’s PLA definitions, forms, and policies that govern how you can earn prior learning credit.
   • Student-Directed Learning (SDL) Options
   • Student Directed Learning Checklist
   • PLA form in Word
   • PLA form in PDF
   • University Policy #2150 - Prior Learning Assessment
   • Minnesota State Procedure 3.35.1
      
2. Students are encouraged use the SDL checklist and identify the Natural Science subject or course (Course Catalog) in which you think you have gained knowledge through life or work experience that might meet the prior learning criteria Consult with your academic advisor or Natural Sciences faculty member to share your interest in PLA and background as they likely can reference you to the appropriate faculty evaluator.
    
3. Contact and request an initial PLA meeting with the appropriate Natural Sciences faculty evaluator in your topic area. The purpose of this meeting is for the evaluator to determine the depth and breadth of knowledge you have attained in a particular subject. 
   
   In order to help the Natural Sciences faculty evaluator, make this determination, plan to provide the evaluator with copies of the following:
   1. transcript;
   2. resume;
   3. list of all of the subject areas for which you are requesting credit for prior learning;
   4. If a College of Individual Studies student, your degree plan.
       
4. Meet with the Natural Sciences faculty evaluator to discuss your competence and review your materials to determine if the assessment of prior learning process is appropriate for you. 
   
   If so, the faculty evaluator will initiate the PLA form details to outline the work you need to do to validate your competence and will tell you how you will be evaluated (e.g., reports, work documents, certificates, a resume, an oral interview, test, etc.). The evaluation will usually consist of two or more methods. S/he will also tell you how many credits the prior will be worth and unless the faculty evaluator specifies otherwise, grading method options are at the students’ discretion of letter grade or S/N (satisfactory/not).
    
5. Refer to the SDL Student Checklist for drafting and submitting final PLA Proposal for critical registration and financial deadlines.  The student submits the finalized proposal to the assigned faculty evaluator for processing and registration. The faculty evaluator will be notified when registration was successful or not.
    
6. Once registered, the student will complete the work specified in the proposal timeline and submit to faculty evaluator. The faculty evaluator will submit their final grade.