Northwestern Theological Seminary
"Educating the world for Jesus Christ"

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Educating The World

You can receive your state authorized, theologically accredited Bachelor, Master, Doctorate degrees in far less time, for up to 98% less expense than through most traditional online seminaries, online bible colleges, online universities!    

Personal Learning Assessment (PLA)

Bachelor Degree Program PLA Guide for Prior Learning Assessment Credit

 

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Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Outline For Preparation of Your NTS/PLA Bachelor Degree Portfolio

Preparing your PLA essay portfolio is a simple process:

A. Just write 30 essays for your Bachelor's program or 10 essays for your Master’s or Doctorate programs.  *Use the list below as a source to jog your memory in writing about your experiences.

B. Most of your essays can be confined to just 1-page. However, one of the essays is to be a 2-3 page essay on a book selected by you, specific to your major, you can locate the book for free on http://www.NTSlibrary.com or provide your own book.

  1. List all employment positions, job title, date, and place of employment
  2. List all schools that you have attended and dates of graduation. 
  3. List all diplomas you have been awarded. 
  4. List all advanced degrees that you have been awarded 
  5. List all certifications that you have earned
  6. List all seminars or non-school classes that you have attended 
  7. List any special training that you have attended 
  8. List any on the job training and dates of fulfillment 
  9. List public speaking events 
  10. How many church meetings have you presided over as a preacher?
  11. How many church meetings have you served in as a teacher?
  12. Have you served as a department head at work or at church?
  13. List military training and experience 
  14. List all awards and commendations not already mentioned 
  15. List your special skills or areas of personal accomplishment
  16. List your hobbies, sports, passions  
  • Bachelor Program: Write 30-ONE page descriptive essays relating to experiences based on 29 items listed in; 1-16 above.  *One; 2-3 page essay on a book selected by you, specific to your major, you can locate the book for free on http://www.NTSlibrary.com or provide your own book. Total 30 essays.
  • Optional PLA for Master’s and Doctorate Programs: Write 10-ONE page descriptive essays relating to experiences based on 9 items listed in; 1-16 above.  *One; 2-3 page essay on a book selected by you, specific to your major, you can locate the book for free on http://www.NTSlibrary.com or provide your own book. Total 10 essays.
  • The 16- listed items above can be expanded to relate to multiple activities or accomplishments, in access of 30 experiences, activities or accomplishments to be reported on in Bachelor program essays.
  • However, you should not feel confined to or limited by the 1-16 items listed above. You can use other experiences from life (beyond the above list) as a basis for essays as well. You may have experienced not relative to the above list. You may also find that some of the items listed above do not apply specifically to your life. *So, no need to limited by this suggestive list.

Degree Program PLA and Thesis / Dissertation credit totals:

Understand that you are being credited for your valuable life/ learning experience which shows both acquired and applied knowledge. The essay is only a means to represent your valuable lifetime learning experience.  Therefore, 3 credit hours are granted for each reflective essay representing your acquired knowledge through experience.

Bachelor Degree Credits   *PLA Mandatory

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment based on 30-essays X 3 cr. hrs. =       90 Credits

Bachelor Thesis showing comprehensive knowledge of your major =   30 Credits

Total Bachelor Degree Program Credits                                                120 Credits

Master’s Degree Credits    *PLA Not Mandatory But Can Add 10 Cr. Hrs.

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment based on 10-essays X 3 cr. hrs. =          30 Credits

Master’s Thesis showing comprehensive knowledge of your major =      30 Credits

Total Master’s Degree Program Credits                                                     60 Credits

*You can elect to earn a 30 cr. hr. thesis only master’s degree.

Doctorate Degree Credits    *PLA Not Mandatory, But Can Add 30 Cr. Hrs.

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment based on 10-essays X 3 cr. hrs. =          30 Credits

Dissertation showing comprehensive knowledge of your major =             30 Credits

Total Doctorate Degree Program Credits                                                    60 Credits

*You can elect to earn a 30 cr. hr. dissertation only doctoral degree.

PLA INSTRUCTIONS:  Prepare your PLA Portfolio

* 3- parts: Title Page, Essays, and Supporting Documents

I. Create a Microsoft Word doc. with a title page.    

TITLE:  PLA Prior Educational Assessment Portfolio. 

Below the title, enter the following:

a. Your name

b. Your e-mail address

c. Your home address

d. Date of Completion / Submission of PLA

II. Write a short essay (one page or less) describing your performance and knowledge related to each item that you have answered above as numbered in your PLA Outline above.

  • Also include a short essay for each certificate, award, diploma, degree, commendation, citation, etc.) The more legitimate essays that you write will reflect in more credit being approved toward your degree program. *Save as a Microsoft WORD doc.
  • Bachelor degree program:  30 PLA essays X 3 credits = 90 cr. hrs.
  • Master’s and Doctorate programs:  10 PLA essays V 3 credits = 30 cr. hrs.                *See Course requirements page for details.

III. If you have any supporting documents, certificates, letters of appreciation, diplomas. etc. you can scan them and attach them to your portfolio. *This is not mandatory. We trust you as a servant of the Lord that your statements within your essays are true. However, if you have supporting documents you can include them at your option.

*Organize Title page, essays, and scanned documentation; letters of recognition, certificates, diplomas, award letters, etc., this is your PLA portfolio. Then send your portfolio, by e-mail attachment, to your faculty advisor at Northwestern Christian University

*PLA Portfolio is graded as Pass / Fail only.

Happy Studies!

“Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman who need not be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth”.  II Timothy 2:15

Northwestern Theological Seminary supports your learning experience with built-in online services and support systems that offer a 24 hour a day - 7 days a week online learning environment. This is supported by our state of the art Course Management System (The NTSMoodle), the NTS Online Library, and the administrative support area, which is designed for easy access and use for all active NTS online seminary students on our Online Campus.