Policy Effective Date: March 2025 

 

Eldermont University adheres to a competency-based, research-driven education model that integrates Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and structured research work. To maintain academic rigor and transparency, the University assigns credit hour equivalencies to its degree programs based on standards aligned with commonly accepted definitions in higher education. Although Eldermont does not operate under a traditional semester system, this policy ensures consistency in evaluating and awarding academic credit.

 

Eldermont University defines one semester credit hour as the equivalent of 45 hours of student academic work, which may include preparation, engagement, research, writing, and evaluation. This aligns with the U.S. Department of Education’s standard for credit-bearing academic activity, even though Eldermont does not participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.

 

Eldermont University awards academic credit through two primary mechanisms:

 

○ Students submit a comprehensive PLA portfolio as part of the admissions application.

○ The portfolio includes a record of prior education, professional experience, certifications, training, and other relevant accomplishments.

○ The PLA is evaluated holistically by qualified faculty reviewers who determine whether the student has met the learning outcomes for designated courses within the program.

○ PLA credit is awarded on a Pass (P) basis and does not impact GPA.

○ PLA credit is applied at the course level, not partial or modular credit, and may account for a significant portion of the degree.

○ All PLA credit awarded reflects learning that aligns with the scope and depth required for undergraduate or graduate-level academic credit.

 

○ Each program includes four research courses (Bachelor/Master/Doctoral Research I-IV) and a final Thesis (Bachelor/Master) or Dissertation (Doctoral).

○ Each course is designed to be equivalent to 3 to 6 semester credit hours based on the academic level and expected workload.

○ Academic credit is awarded based on the demonstrated mastery of subject-specific learning outcomes and submission of original written work evaluated by academic faculty.

○ These courses follow a letter grading scale (A, B, C, F) and contribute to the student’s cumulative GPA.

○ Students are allowed to revise and resubmit assignments until the work is deemed satisfactory. However, academic honesty and originality are strictly enforced.

 

To ensure alignment with credit hour standards, the following benchmarks are used to estimate academic workload:

• Academic Reading: 20 pages per hour

• Academic Writing: 1 hour per double-spaced page

• Research & Source Gathering: 2 hours per page of written output

• Study & Concept Review: 30 minutes per topic

• Thesis/Dissertation Writing: 100–150 hours for Bachelor’s/Master’s; 200–300 hours for Doctoral

 

These estimates provide a framework for designing research course expectations and verifying the equivalency of student work to credit-bearing activity.

 

• Bachelor’s Degree: Minimum of 120 semester credit hours

• Master’s Degree: Minimum of 60 semester credit hours

• Doctoral Degree: Minimum of 60 semester credit hours

 

PLA may be applied to any portion of the degree at the discretion of the academic review committee, with the remaining credits earned through completion of required research and thesis/dissertation work.

 

Eldermont University does not guarantee the transferability of its credit to other institutions. The acceptance of Eldermont’s academic credit is solely at the discretion of the receiving institution.

 

This Clock/Credit Hour Policy ensures that Eldermont University maintains transparent, measurable standards for awarding academic credit across all degree levels. The policy reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence, flexibility, and integrity within a competency-based framework designed for adult learners, professionals, and ministry leaders.