Credit for Prior Learning at Boise State University

Our Credit for Prior Learning process allows you the opportunity to earn credit for what you already know by identifying college-level learning from your past experiences outside of the classroom and applying those experiences toward specific upper-division electives within the BAS/IPS degree.

You will demonstrate the learning you’ve done through the creation of a prior learning portfolio that will be assessed by faculty for academic credit that replaces actual coursework.

• Professional and organizational expertise
• On-the-job training
• Professional licenses
• Industry certifications
• Military training
• Volunteer or nonprofit work
• Entrepreneurship
• Service on boards or advisory groups
• In-service and professional development courses
• Independent reading and study
• Involvement in professional organizations or conferences
• And many more

Our innovative course, IPS 301: Prior Learning Portfolio Development, will lead you through the creation of your prior learning portfolio with the support of faculty and peers. The course teaches methods of communicating your experience and reframing it as college-level learning and provides intensive feedback on all three components of your portfolio as you draft and revise them.

The course is accompanied by an online textbook written specifically for Boise State students by the lead instructor and developer of the course, BAS/IPS faculty member Baker Lawley, who focuses on experiential learning opportunities.

Email: bakerlawley@boisestate.edu
Phone: (208) 426-1349

Baker Lawley has been teaching in higher education for two decades, with a passion for helping students tell their stories and share their work with the world. He earned his B.A. in English from Millsaps College and his M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Alabama. Before joining Boise State, he taught at Gustavus Adolphus College for thirteen years as Associate Professor of English, where he also served as department Co-Chair, directed the Writing Center, and oversaw internships and two student-run literary magazines. In the IPS/BAS program, Baker focuses on experiential learning opportunities, helping students integrate real-world experience with their degree and translating their experiences into academic credit for specific courses. Experience, past or present, matters, and helping students integrate those experiences with their overall educational life at Boise State will help them better tell their stories and design their futures.

Learn more about the Prior Learning Portfolio Development course

Your portfolio will make the case that you’ve already learned the material in a specific course or courses through your experience. If your challenge is successful, the course or courses will appear on your transcript and count towards the upper-division electives required for graduation, saving you the time and tuition of taking those courses.

Learn more about how CPL can save you time and money on your degree

Students have the opportunity to earn from 3 to 15 credits through our CPL process, depending on their Boise State degree requirements. 

Before taking IPS 301, you should meet with your advisor to evaluate your transcript and degree plan to determine the number of credits you should pursue through CPL.

Learn more about CPL credits and policies

Working with your advisor, then your instructor in IPS 301, we will lead you through the steps to apply for CPL.

Learn more about the Credit for Prior Learning process