Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is designed to help students apply the knowledge they have accumulated through non-credit classroom, work-related, informal or self-study experience. It is important to recognize that credit is awarded for the acquired college-level learning and not for the experience itself. Matriculated graduate students wishing to earn PLA credit will meet with their academic advisor, who will guide the student in the development of a portfolio that articulates their experience and prior learning, which satisfy the learning outcomes for a specific graduate level course. A subject matter expert will then evaluate the portfolio and credit will be granted if approved. PLA credits are processed as transfer credits. Students must submit proposals within the first 12 months of enrollment. The maximum credits allowed for Graduate PLA is 6 credits.
Students may repeat only those graduate courses taken at Franklin Pierce University from which they have earned a grade of C+, C or F. Courses with an earned grade of C+, C or F may be repeated once; withdrawn courses may be repeated without limit*. However, since course repeats may impact financial aid eligibility, students are highly encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) prior to repeating a course. Note: grades of C-, D+, D and D- do not apply to the graduate programs.
Students choosing to repeat a course should thoroughly review their course history, including transfer credits, with their advisor before registering. The student is ultimately responsible for the decision to repeat a course. Once a course has been repeated at Franklin Pierce University, the grade received on the repeat becomes the final grade and replaces the other grades for that course in the cumulative GPA. All final grades will appear on the student’s transcript. The repeated course will be noted with an asterisk (*) and the new grade will be followed by an (R).
A student may elect to take an equivalent course, with permission, at another college and receive credit for that course, but the course grade will not alter the student’s cumulative grade point average and the original grade will remain as part of their GPA.
*All withdrawn courses count as attempted credits and will not replace an earned grade.