The Life Experience Acquired Degree (LEAD) Program offers students of mature age the opportunity to earn their degree totally through Life Experience Credits without any required or additional coursework. The MCU LEAD Program is a true life Experience Degree program designed to assess the students’ educational and academic standing through prior learning, professional experience, and other factors.
Students age 35 and older are offered the opportunity to take the Portfolio Assessment Evaluation to determine the student’s status and academic standing based on prior learning, practical experience, books read, and seminars/symposiums attended. The Portfolio Assessment is $250.00, due and payable when the student submits his/her portfolio for assessment.
Upon review, the Board of Regents will make its determination whether the student qualifies for his/her degree. If the Board of Regents votes favorably, the student needs only to pay the required Degree by Portfolio fee. [see Tuition & Fees]
For those who successfully qualify for the conferral of their LEAD Degree issued by Metropolitan Christian University and desire to participate in an official MCU Commencement Exercise, please contact the Office of Administration to make the necessary and proper arrangements. As with all MCU students, there is a $100.00 walking fee assessed for on-site Commencement Exercises.
| DEGREE | LIFE/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree | 5 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 8 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience |
| Master’s Degree | 12 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience Prerequisite: a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized and accredited institution |
| Master of Divinity | 12 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience Prerequisite: a Bachelors Degree from a recognized and accredited institution |
| Doctoral Degree | 12 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience Prerequisite: a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized and accredited institution |
| Doctor of Philosophy | 15 years minimum full-time Life/Professional Experience Prerequisite: a Master’s Degree from a recognized and accredited institution |
Life Experience Degree Packages include the following:
- 8 1/2″ x 11″ Custom printed Diploma bearing the student’s name, degree earned, and the gold seal of MCU
- Padded Diploma Cover
- Two (2) Official Transcripts signed and sealed by the MCU Registrar
- One (1) Letter of Educational Verification
- One (1) Letter of Recognition signed by the President of MCU
- One (1) Certificate of Membership in the MCU Alumni Association
MCU is one of the few non-governmentally accredited institutions that are authorized through NAPTI, EEN, and NBCA to administer the LEAD Degree Program, providing our students the opportunity to earn an accredited and recognized degree without additional academic requirements.
There is a $250.00 Portfolio Assessment Fee required to review and calculate total credits to be awarded for prior learning and professional credits earned. This Assessment Fee must be paid in full at the time of application/enrolment and is non-refundable.
