NCJ Number
140859
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (1992) Pages: 567-571
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The practice of awarding academic credit for life experiences (work experience, training, and other experiential learning) in criminal justice programs is examined in an attempt to delimit the issues and raise relevant questions that would need to be considered in designing such policies.
Abstract
While there has been no recent study regarding credit for experiential learning, some criminal justice education programs do offer this type of credit. The authors point out several possible consequences of awarding credit for experiential learning: those schools will attract more students, other programs may feel pressured to grant similar credit, there might be an increase in faculty workload arising from the task of evaluating various forms of experiential learning and awarding credit, the credit system may negatively affect students' motivation and performance, and this type of credit system may help perpetuate the existing criminal justice system. Criminal justice educators need to consider specific procedural questions that must be addressed in designing a credentialing process including methods to evaluate past performance and cognitive ability, limitations on the number of credits to be earned, whether these credits will be counted as elective or prerequisite courses, and transferability of credit. 1 note and 15 references