Northwestern Prior Learning Assessment (PLA Guide) and                    Thesis /Dissertation Guide

EXTRA CREDIT: 5-Course Biblical Core Curriculum also available 

* Thesis/Dissertation GUIDE and OPTIONAL 5-Course Core Biblical study LINK  is located near the bottom of this page.

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NCU Prior Learning Assessment

Bachelor Degree Program PLA Guide for Prior Learning Assessment Credit

NCU Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Outline For Preparation of Your Mandatory Bachelor Degree PLA.  *Not mandatory for Master's and Doctoral students.

Preparing your PLA portfolio is a simple process:

1. List all employment positions, job title, date and place of employment
2. List all schools that you have attended and dates of graduation. 
3. List all diplomas you have been awarded. 
4. List all advanced degrees that you have been awarded 
5. List all certifications that you have earned
6. List all seminars or non school classes that you have attended 
7. List any special training that you have attended 
8. List any on the job trainings and dates of fulfillment 
9. List public speaking events 
10. How many church meetings have you presided over as a preacher 
11. How many church meetings have you served in as a teacher 
12. Have you served as a department head at work or at church 
13. List military training and experience 
14. List all awards and commendations not already mentioned 
15. List your special skills or areas of personal accomplishment
16. List your hobbies, sports, passions 
17. Include an up to date copy of your CV/ Resume 
18. *If you lack experience, NCU Core Courses may be assigned.

• Mandatory Bachelor PLA: Address each of the 17 criteria listed above.
• Optional PLA for: Master’s and Doctorate Programs: 17 Criteria NOT required. *Just send a detailed Resume/CV to: NCUamerica@gmail.com
• VERY IMPORTANT: For Bachelor degree students: This is a crucial part of your degree requirements which can provide 90-cr. hrs. *Not all applicants can fulfil this crucial requirement. Do not feel confined to or limited by the 17 items listed above. You can use other experiences from life (beyond the above list) as a basis for essays as well. You may have experiences not relative to the above list. You may also find that some of the items listed above do not apply specifically to your life answer such with N/A. (non-applicable) *However there is no need to limited by this suggestive list, feel free to add any additional experiential descriptions to be considered for credit approval.

Degree Program PLA and Thesis / Dissertation credit totals:

Understand that you are being credited for your valuable life/ learning experience which shows both acquired and applied knowledge.

Bachelor Degree Credits   *PLA Mandatory

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment:

(based on a minimum of 17 criteria) =                                        90 Credits

Bachelor Thesis:

(showing comprehensive knowledge of your major) =              30 Credits

Total Bachelor Degree Program                                             120 Credits

Master’s Degree Credits    *PLA Not Mandatory, But Can Add 30 Cr. Hrs.

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment:

*Based on 17-crieria or detailed CV/Resume. =                     30 Credits

Master’s Thesis:

(showing comprehensive knowledge of your major) =            30 Credits

Total Master’s Degree Program w/PLA                                    60 Credits

*PLA is not mandatory, you can elect to earn a 30 cr. hr. thesis only master’s degree.

Doctorate Degree Credits    *PLA Not Mandatory, But Can Add 30 Cr. Hrs.

PLA/ Prior Learning Assessment:

*Based on the 17- criteria. or detailed CV/Resume =          30 Credits

Dissertation:

(showing comprehensive knowledge of your major) =         30 Credits

Total Doctorate Degree Program w/PLA                               60 Credits

* PLA is not mandatory, you can elect to earn a 30 cr. hr. dissertation only doctoral degree.

                                                   * * * * * * * * * *

Northwestern Christian University

 Thesis and Dissertation Guide

The following guidelines must be followed for completion of your Thesis or Dissertation.

IMPORTANT:   MAKE THIS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY; EARN YOUR DEGREE IN JUST 90-DAYS!     DO IT NOW.   DO NOT PROCRASTINATE, GET STARTED TODAY AND SCHEDULE TIME TO YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM

“The great benefit of an accelerated degree program, beside the huge savings of both time and money, if that study is focused on your major only. This concentrated study allows the student to become an expert in the field of their major in just 90-days!” 

It is good to know that: Accelerated study eliminates the need for unrelated subjects other than your major. Such study is very time efficient as it focuses on your subject major only. The benefit is that through such concentrated research, you have the opportunity to master the subject matter of your major, becoming a confident expert in the full comprehension of your major.

Instructions for Preparation of Your Thesis Or Dissertation:

Projected time to complete:  30-90 days

50-pages single spaced at #12 font is equal to 100-pages double spaced at #12 font. Either of the above will provide approx. 25,000 words which is acceptable by many universities.  *This is the minimum acceptable page count.

Begin by selecting a title:

*Unlike a traditional Thesis or Dissertation, Your title will reflect your concentrated focus on your major only. The title of your Thesis or Dissertation must directly represent only subject matter that is directly related to your Major.

Because our goal is for you to master the specific concentrated subject matter of your major, your accelerated program requires a complete focus on your major only. Therefore your thesis or dissertation will be unlike most research papers. Your paper will provide a comprehensive study of your subject major and your thesis or dissertation will represent a detailed overview of your major.

To insure that no one shall waiver from the focus required to master your subject major, all students will be required to use a title that focuses on the subject major.

Example: If a Theology major, your title could be: “An Exhaustive Review of the Predominate Aspects of Theology”.

Research:

Your paper will involve research to uncover every major aspect of your major. Your presentation will involve references and footnotes to support your findings.

You can use our free online reference library and download books at no cost, for offline study. Or just go to our library website and read such books online, while taking notes and noting references. Our online library now has approximately 50,000 books and periodicals. Be sure to save our library LINK to your desktop for easy access. Go to:   http://www.ntsLIBRARY.com    

Research Books:

Free PDF Books Are Provided At Our Free Online Library. Just visit: www.NTSlibrary.com and open the PDF Books section.  Be sure to download free ADOBE reader software to open any of the books. All of your research can be accomplished through use of our library resources at no cost.  

A good methodology is to first brainstorm and  prepare an outline of the overall subject matter. Then do data gathering about your subject. Research to find a primary book that expertly focuses on your subject matter. The outline organizes your overall study. The primary book provides focused study.  Your outline organizes your research, it is the skeleton onto which you will hang all important details involving your subject. with references and footnotes.  You will later use the outline to write your paper.

Your title page must include your Thesis or Dissertation title, name of your degree program and major, your proposed completion date,  as well as your full name, the name of this University and the date of submission.

Your thesis or dissertation must also include the following:  

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Body of paper to cover subject major in detail, documenting all sources.
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Footnotes or end notes
• 100-150 pages, #12 font, double spaced  (or)  a minimum of 50-pages single spaced at #12 font equal to 100-pages double spaced at #12 font. *The above stated minimum pages, will equal approx. 25,000 words which is the acceptable word count for many universities.

You must site a minimum of 20-references from books, periodicals and (or) articles. A minimum of 15 references must come form the Bible. The 66 books of the Bible fully qualify as excellent books for your research. As already stated,  reference materials are available through our Northwestern Library at: http://www.ntsLibrary.com  

Your finished research project must be typed without error with correct grammar and spelling. You will be graded for content and organization. Proof-read and make all edits prior to submission. Typo’s, miss-spelled words and poor grammar will hurt your overall grade.

Submission of Assignments:

*Once you have completed your assignments, prepare them as PDF doc. attachments and e-mail them for grading. Send to your faculty advisor at: NCUamerica@gmail.com 

NCU Optional (Non Mandatory) Core Courses 

*SPECIAL: NCU Optional (Non-Mandatory) Core Courses are availble to enhance your knowledege regarding some NCU majors. *Courses are pass/fail by essay and provide 5 cr. hrs. per course.*Send an email to: NCUamerica@gmail.com to request a LINK  if any NCU Core Courses are available for your major.  

This special NCU educational program is (Research Based) by Thesis or Dissertation only following the century old European standard. Prior Learning Assessment (or) PLA is mandatory for Bachelor programs only. PLA is not mandatory but can provide extra credit  for Master’s and Doctoral programs. 

Now get to work..  Start today..  Do not procrastinate or delay. You can have your degree in hand in just 90-days or less..

Happy Studies!

YOU CAN PRINT THIS PAGE AS A HARD COPY GUIDE

"Study to show yourself approved, a workman who need not be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15)  *paraphrase

(c) Copyright all rights reserved to Northwestern Christian University 2006                           You may not publish this document without the express consent of NCU.