Dallas Baptist University - A Christian College in Dallas, Texas

Academic Programs.

DBU offers two ways for you to step back into the college flow and achieve your desired academic degree — the Portfolio Degree Program or the Inverted Degree Program.

Portfolio Degree Program

Have you gained college-level learning from workplace and life experiences that could translate into academic credit? Are you at least 25 years old with four or more years of significant work experience? If so, the

Portfolio Degree Program is for you.

The Portfolio Degree Program enables you to maximize prior learning, accelerate the process of earning your degree, and reduce the cost of obtaining your diploma. Typically, the hours awarded through the portfolio satisfy elective hour requirements; however, in some cases, the portfolio hours may be utilized within the major.

The hours awarded through the portfolio do not apply toward the 25% credit-hour residency requirement. There is a small one-time evaluation and transcription fee, but you are not charged tuition fees for the hours earned through the portfolio.

Portfolio students take the following Professional Studies courses:

PRST 3301: Lifelong Learning

This course lays the foundation for the Professional Studies degree program by enhancing academic study skills, examining the philosophy of Christian higher education, introducing critical thinking skills and the concept of servant leadership, and exploring eight major worldviews. PRST 3301 is taken by all Professional Studies students during their first term of classes at DBU.

PRST 3303: Experiential Learning

This course will guide you in the development of a personal portfolio that can result in the awarding of up to 30 hours of college credit for college-level learning achieved through work and life experiences. The completed portfolio includes a student profile section, individual course petitions (each of which represents a request for academic credit), and a documentation section. PRST 3303 should be taken after a student has accumulated 60 hours of college credit, completed ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302, and fulfilled the computer science requirement for the degree. Because of the time needed for portfolio evaluation, students may not take this course in their final semester at the University.

Inverted Degree Program

Have you completed at least 24 hours of technical or occupational studies in a specific concentration? Then the Inverted Degree Program may be for you.

If you previously specialized in a subject during your prior college years, you now must complete your remaining general studies and major core requirements.

As an Inverted Degree Program student, you will take PRST 3301: Lifelong Learning. The minimum requirement of 42 hours of upper-level credit is waived.

For further information on our two academic programs, just E-mail us.

Gaining Additional College Credit

You may earn college credit through two other methods:

Credit by Examination. College credit can be earned in specific subject areas through the satisfactory completion of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams and/or by satisfactory scores on tests administered by individual university departments. CLEP credits may be used to satisfy degree requirements but do not apply to the 25-percent credit-hour residency requirement.

Military or Corporate Training. Military or corporate training that has been recognized by the American Council of Education (ACE) is another avenue for earning college credit toward completion of a Professional Studies degree. Typically, ACE credits satisfy elective requirements but do not apply to the 25-percent credit-hour residency requirement. Click here for more information.