Credit for Life-Experience Learning

The entire concept of the Master's School is based on the importance and value of "practical" ministry training.  As we define the term "practical," we mean "useful and well rounded."  Therefore, we encourage the enrollment of adult learners who have already attained knowledge and skills through a variety of learning venues, and the experience of learning through living.

One of the distinguishing marks of the graduates of Master's International School of Divinity is that our graduates possess a "useful and well rounded" education.  Consequently, we encourage the recognition of knowledge that has been gained from a wide variety of learning experiences.  These may include such things as military training, civilian labor force training in the trades and business, as well as technical schools, specialized church and missions training programs, or the hard won lessons that come through working in church related fields of service. 

 We believe such learning helps to build character, encourage self-discipline, and promote personal maturity.  This does not mean that all prior learning can be granted credit value. However, it does mean that through a careful assessment of your entire life's learning, placement in the program of your choice may be more reasonably assured.

We believe our method of prior learning assessment helps to assure that the successful graduate of the Master's School will be a person of exceptional practical knowledge, well rounded in the experiences of real life, and prepared to serve in Christian ministry where service is needed most...in the trenches of everyday living.  Graduates of the Master's School are individuals who have accomplished a wide range of goals, know the everyday issues of real life, and care deeply about the ordinary needs of those to whom they are called to minister.

The total Prior learning (life-learning) credit awarded may not exceed thirty (30) credits at the undergraduate level.  For example: If fifteen (15) credits are allowed toward the Associate Degree, then only fifteen (15) additional credits may be awarded if the student advances to the Bachelor Degree.  No life-learning credit is allowed at the graduate level.

 A typical Master's International School of Divinity undergraduate student usually applies using a combination of college credits, military school credits, credit for ministry experience, and certificates from different training programs in business and church-related seminars.  Following a final evaluation through Master's own Prior Learning Portfolio (which facilitates the appropriate documentation of life-learning), the individual is accepted as a student based on the combination of prior learning credit and enrollment in the appropriate degree program courses.  For this person, the Master's School concept of recognizing various forms of prior learning, makes it possible to maximize the past, and immediately begin preparing for the future.