AULA Undergraduate Studies

Liberal education addresses our democracy’s need for an educated and critically aware citizenry; it also serves to enhance personal and professional roles. Since its inception in 1972, the undergraduate programs at Antioch University Los Angeles have provided a liberal studies curriculum designed to assist students in becoming independent life-long learners with a sound grasp of disciplinary content and an ability to think critically and creatively about the social issues that influence their lives, communities, families, and professions. Antioch University Los Angeles offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Studies, a BA in Applied Studies, a BA in Applied Arts & Media, a Bachelor of Sciences in Applied Technology and Business Leadership, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban Communities and Justice degrees. Regardless of a student’s major or area of concentration, the liberal studies curriculum is the central element across all of AULA’s fields of study. This curriculum - based on a tripartite model of academic rigor, experiential learning, and social engagement - cultivates ethical understanding, respect for divergent perspectives, diversity, and an appreciation of historical and political issues. The learning activities - courses, internships, and independent studies - are often interdisciplinary and integrative by design. The interdisciplinary nature of the program fosters students’ capacity to synthesize what they are learning and to understand complex social issues in a holistic way.

Undergraduate Studies Program Leadership

MeHee Hyun: Dean, AU Undergraduate Studies and Chair, AULA Division of Undergraduate Studies
Rosa Garza-Mourino: Director, External Partnerships
Audrey Mandelbaum: Administrative Director, AULA Division of Undergraduate Studies
Christopher Pruitt, Program Coordinator

Purpose and Values of the Bachelor’s Programs

The bachelor’s programs offered at AULA provide students with a broad base of knowledge, skills, experience, and the intellectual flexibility to become critically informed participants in their professions and communities. The programs foster students’ critical awareness by examining the multiple contexts that shape knowledge and inspire courageous action. By linking knowledge to agency, the programs challenge students to demonstrate their commitment to personal responsibility, concern for the rights of others, and to the goal of achieving social justice in our communities and our world.

Length of Program

While students must enter with the equivalent of one year’s worth of transferrable academic credit, the actual amount of credit that a student transfers in is an important determining factor in the length of the program. Each undergraduate program in the catalog is listed with a standard time to completion of 36 months, but it may take any individual student between 1-3 years to complete. This determination may be assessed as part of the admission process.

Undergraduate Learning Objectives

All of the bachelor’s programs infuse curriculum with this purpose and these values through learning activities that cultivate the following intellectual and practical skills, applied learning, social awareness and responsibility:

• Engage in critical inquiry that employs relevant sources and methods
• Consider diverse perspectives, including opposing points of view and marginalized voices
• Connect learning with theories and experience through reflective practice
• Analyze power, oppression, and resistance in pursuit of justice
• Communicate effectively in oral, written, and visual forms
• Examine issues in local and global contexts

Overview of Undergraduate Studies

AULA understands learning as an interactive process in which the student and teacher together develop attributes of liberally-educated individuals. To that end, AULA encourages its faculty to present their own work, commitments, and values in the classroom while faculty members encourage students to define and reflect upon their own goals, interests and values.

Some of the educational and developmental principles that guide the program’s pedagogic philosophy are:

• Respect: Instructors are expected to treat what the student knows with respect. This principle acknowledges the power differences between teachers and students deriving from the teacher’s expertise, yet it assumes that the students’ thinking and knowledge are central to the interactive learning process
• Customized instruction: AULA encourages instructors to assess the student’s level of knowledge and to design course work and independent studies that are sufficiently flexible to challenge the student to build upon that knowledge and extend it to a new level of complexity
• Problem-Solving/Conflict Situations: AULA expects instructors to engage students in genuine social and cognitive debate about problematic situations and to pursue constructive solutions
• Interactive Activities: Instructors involve students in activities in which there is regular feedback from the instructor
• Student Interest: AULA encourages instructors to allow their students’ individual interests to help shape their research and writing assignments
• Active Learning: Whenever possible, course design promotes opportunities for students to apply what they are learning. Learning involves theory and practice, as well as critical reflection on this relationship

AULA’s bachelor’s programs emphasize the historical and socio-political context of thought and knowledge. This implies the following practices:

• Historical Context: AULA encourages both the student and the instructor to situate the content of the learning in historical perspective and contemporary context.
• Contextualization: Instructors compare and contrast ideas, theories and practices not only in terms of their quality and validity but also in terms of their contextual antecedents such as gender relations at the particular time, social stratification, and values of the society. The way in which the ideas or theories reflect or sustain particular power relations in society is also part of the context for consideration.
• Values and Outcomes: Instructors emphasize the values embedded in ideas, theories, and practices and the social outcomes to which the values contribute.
• Academic Freedom: AULA stands behind the principle of academic freedom for both faculty and students. Instructors may present content that is uncomfortable to some individual students. Students and faculty are encouraged to discuss any areas of discomfort in order to ensure that academic freedom and the critical exploration of ideas occur in the context of respect and responsibility to the class as a whole

Undergraduate Program Admissions

Antioch University Los Angeles offers the following undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Studies, the BA in Applied Studies, the BA in Applied Arts and Media, the Bachelor of Science in Applied Technology and Business Leadership, and the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban Communities and Justice. Students are admitted into these programs for the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters. Students wishing to be readmitted may apply for any quarter.

To learn more about the undergraduate programs including the application process and deadlines please visit Admissions. (https://www.antioch.edu/los-angeles/admissions-aid/admissions/)

The bachelor’s programs offered at AULA provide students with a broad base of knowledge, skills, experience, and the intellectual flexibility to become critically informed participants in their professions and communities. The programs foster students’ critical awareness by examining the multiple contexts that shape knowledge and inspire courageous action. By linking knowledge to agency, the programs challenge students to demonstrate their commitment to personal responsibility, concern for the rights of others, and to the goal of achieving social justice in our communities and our world.

Students are admitted into the undergraduate programs for the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Quarters. Readmitted students may be accepted for any quarter. For application deadlines, refer to the AULA website (https://www.antioch.edu/los-angeles/).

Undergraduate Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for admission, all applicants must supply the following:

• Evidence of successful completion of at least 36 quarter units (24 semester units) of college-level learning from a regionally accredited institution of higher education as demonstrated by official transcripts. (See the section below on transfer credits.) AULA may consider accepting transfer credits from academic institutions accredited by national accrediting bodies recognized by the Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and from foreign institutions approved by national ministries/departments of education.
• Evidence of college-level writing and communication ability, as demonstrated in the Admissions Dialogue essay.
• Evidence of readiness to complete the undergraduate degree, as demonstrated in the Admissions Dialogue and previous academic record.
• The Admissions Dialogue. This is a three-page essay in which applicants introduce themselves by addressing the following topics:
  • Their choice of an area of study and the rationale for that choice; and
  • A description of one or more past learning experiences that have strongly influenced their current academic and/or career goals.

Applicants to the Applied Studies programs (Applied Arts and Media, Applied Studies, Applied Technology and Business Leadership, Urban Communities and Justice) must also demonstrate the following:

• Evidence of successful completion of at least 27 quarter units (18 semester units) in a cohesive area of study that can be applied to the major. These units are included as part of the overall transfer requirement of 36 quarter units (24 semester units) noted above.

Transfer Credits

To convert transfer units to quarter units, the following formulas are used:

• Number of semester units x 1.5 = number of quarter units OR
• Number of trimester units x 1.5 = number of quarter units AND
• Fractions are rounded down to the nearest half-unit.

Credit for a particular course can be given only once. For example, if the same course was taken twice at two different academic institutions, Antioch University Los Angeles gives transfer credit for only one of the courses. However, when an academic institution’s catalog specifically states that a given course may be taken more than once for credit, Antioch University Los Angeles will consider transferring all the credits earned.

Antioch University Los Angeles accepts undergraduate transfer credit(s) for courses completed with a minimum letter grade of C or Pass in a Pass-Fail system, if the Pass is equivalent to a minimum of a C.

Approval Process for Transfer Credits

Transfer units are admitted for credit towards Antioch University Los Angeles degree requirements through a formal process carried out in the Office of the Registrar and by the faculty. Official evaluations can be made only when official copies of all transcripts are present in the student’s admission file. Antioch University Los Angeles may accept units on the basis of transcript information alone, or the student may be asked to provide further information, such as a catalog course description(s) or course syllabus, to determine whether the course(s) meets transfer credit eligibility. A student who has questions about transfer credit evaluation may discuss the matter with the Undergraduate Studies program chair or the Office of the Registrar’s transcript evaluator.

Undergraduate Class Standing

It is important for students to be aware of their class standing for purposes of financial aid and verification of enrollment status. Class standing is determined by the number of units completed:

Class Standing Classification Completed Units

• First Year 0 - 44.5
• Sophomore 45 - 89.5
• Junior 90 - 134.5
• Senior 135 or more

Articulation Agreements

In order to promote the smooth transfer of students from community colleges and transfer schools, the Undergraduate Studies program has developed articulation agreements with the following schools:

• American Academy of Dramatic Arts
• East Los Angeles College
• El Camino College
• Glendale Community College
• Los Angeles City College
• Los Angeles Harbor College
• Los Angeles Southwest College
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College
• Los Angeles Valley College
• Pasadena City College
• Pierce College
• Rio Hondo College
• Santa Monica College
• Theatre of Arts College for the Contemporary Actor
• West Los Angeles College

Learn more at https://www.antioch.edu/los-angeles/articulation-agreements/

These agreements simplify how specific courses are accepted in transfer and can be used to fulfill Antioch University Los Angeles’ undergraduate program domain of knowledge requirements. The University will continue to develop articulation agreements with additional institutions in the future.

The agreement with UCLA Extension specifies that Antioch University Los Angeles will automatically accept in transfer all UCLA Extension degree credit courses (courses numbered X, XL, or XLC 1-199) toward the Antioch University Los Angeles undergraduate degrees. Coursework numbered 1-99 is transferable as ‘lower division’ quarter units; coursework numbered 100-199 is accepted as ‘upper division’; and coursework numbered 300-400 is evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Students seeking transfer credit for one or more of these courses may be asked to submit the course description and also a syllabus providing information on reading, requirements and assignments. The following UCLA Extension Substance Abuse courses are accepted by AULA for lower-division transfer credit: X428.1a, 2a, 3a, 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, and XL402.4.

Current information about AULA’s articulation agreements is available from the Office of the Provost.

Extension Courses Other Than UCLA Extension

Antioch University Los Angeles accepts only certain types of extension courses for credit. The Office of the University Registrar evaluates extension courses for credit on a case-by-case basis. If an extension course is refused for transfer because it does not meet Antioch University Los Angeles’ standards for college-level learning, the student may be able to document the coursework as Prior Learning with additional reading and written work. See the Undergraduate Programs section for Prior Learning for further information.

Career and Technical Education Courses

Antioch University Los Angeles accepts career and technical education (CTE) courses under certain conditions. Career education courses consist primarily of specific job skill training. Examples of these courses include, but are not limited to: culinary arts, medical technology, and real estate. Technical courses consist primarily of specific technical or applied skills, as opposed to courses that emphasize conceptual or theoretical learning. Examples of technical courses include, but are not limited to: die casting, technical drafting, shorthand and typing, and certain types of performance and methodological courses.

The BA in Liberal Studies program accepts up to 6 quarter units of lower division technical courses from accredited institutions for transfer toward the BA degree.
The BA in Applied Studies, the BA in Applied Arts and Media, the BS in Applied Technology and Business Leadership, and the BAA in Urban Communities and Justice degrees allow students to apply CTE courses towards their major, and requires  at least 27 quarter units in a cohesive area of professional focus in order to apply to one of the Applied Studies degrees.

College orientation courses (e.g., Freshman Orientation Seminar) are nontransferable.

Physical Education Units

Antioch University Los Angeles accepts up to 6 quarter units of lower division physical education (PE) courses from accredited institutions for transfer toward the undergraduate degree. Students may petition to exceed this limit if they are able to demonstrate that additional physical education units:

• Include conceptual learning; and,
• Represent an integral part of the major area of study.

Cooperative Education and Work Experience

Cooperative Education courses may be transferable. The student may be asked to write a brief summary of learning for review by the Office of the Registrar and faculty if either the catalog course description or the student’s work was individualized. Work experience, if documented on a transcript, may be transferable by this same process.

Credit Policy for Registered Nurses and other Health Professionals

Undergraduate students holding the Registered Nurse (RN) license are awarded a maximum of 90 quarter units (lower-division, the equivalent of two years’ college study) earned in a National League for Nurses (NLN)-approved diploma program of three years’ duration. Proof of license is required. Credit for nursing units will be awarded in block form. This credit is subject to the same standards and limitations on transfer credit presented elsewhere in this Catalog.

If a student completes a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program, credit is accepted toward the BA degree only through the Prior Learning process of evaluation. See the BA Program section on Prior Learning for further information. These credits may however be applicable to the Applied Studies programs; please contact the Admissions Office to discuss this further.

Credit for CLEP and DSST (formerly DANTES) Examinations

Antioch University Los Angeles recognizes some credits earned through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST (http://www.getcollegecredit.com/)) testing. CLEP and DSST credit is only for lower division learning which is normally undertaken early in the student’s academic program. Students with CLEP or DSST scores should request that score reports be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar who will determine credit eligibility.

Credit from the U.S. Armed Forces

Course work completed while in the U.S. armed forces may be eligible for transfer. In order for the course work to be considered, students must submit an original DD214 form (discharge paper) to the Office of the University Registrar, along with any other supporting documentation, certificates, or evidence of completed course work.

Remedial Courses

AULA does not accept remedial courses for transfer toward any undergraduate degree, since these generally do not represent college-level coursework. Remedial courses are courses with content appropriate to a high school or pre-college level of learning. Examples of remedial courses include, but are not limited to: reading and comprehension, study skills, remedial English and composition courses, plane geometry and elementary math courses below the level of intermediate algebra.

Continuing Education Units (CEU)

AULA does not accept Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for transfer. However, if learning acquired through Continuing Education is relevant to a student’s degree program, she or he may be able to document the CEUs as Prior Learning. For information about the Prior Learning Program, see the Undergraduate Programs section on Prior Learning for further information.

Bachelor’s Degrees Requirements

The degree requirements for all undergraduate degrees include the following:

1. Unit Requirement
   To complete a BA, BS, or BAA degree, students must earn 180-200 quarter units overall. Of these a minimum of 75 units must be upper division. (Note: units earned through DSST or CLEP testing may be counted as lower division units only.)
2. Residency Requirement
   Students must also earn a minimum of 45 quarter units during residency at AULA. Residency units must be AULA classes, seminars, workshops, independent studies, or internships. Prior learning units and units earned through other means such as DSST or CLEP testing do not accrue toward residency.
3. General Studies Requirement
   Students must earn a minimum of six units and no more than 39 units in each of six Domains of Knowledge: communications, sciences, humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and quantitative methods. AULA provides a range of general studies courses to assist students in completing domain requirements and to help students gain knowledge and skills appropriate for the development of a liberally educated person. Note that these General Studies units may include any combination of upper and lower division coursework, and units earned at other institutions as well as at Antioch. Students must complete a minimum of 100 units of General Studies overall.

The following is a guide to the types of courses generally included in each domain:

Communications
All English and Writing Courses
Foreign Languages
Journalism
Media Studies
Speech
Linguistics
Television
Communications

Fine Arts
Visual Art (Painting and Sculpture, Performance, New Media)
Dance
Design
Film and Video
Music
Theatre Arts
Photography

Humanities
History
Literature
Philosophy
Religion
Anthropology (cultural)
Humanities
Foreign Language Literature
Ethnic Studies
Women’s and Gender Studies

Quantitative Methods
Intermediate Computer Science
Advanced Computer Science
Finance
Mathematics
Research Methods
Statistics

Sciences
Anatomy
Astronomy
Biology
Health Science
Nutrition
Physical Geography
Physiology
Geology
Environmental Studies
Chemistry
Physics
Anthropology (physical)

Social Sciences
Accounting
Administration
Economics
Education
Finance
Gerontology
Human Development
Law
Management
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Business
Social Work
Urban Studies
Labor Studies
Library Science
Organizational Management
Public Administration
Social Services Administration
Teacher Education
Addiction Studies
Human Services
Geography (cultural)

4. Non-Classroom Learning Requirement
   Students in the BA in Liberal Studies program must each complete a minimum of 6 units of learning outside of the classroom. Students in the four applied studies degree programs (BA, BS, BAA) must earn a minimum of 8 units of non-classroom learning in their major. These units can be acquired at AULA or through experiences completed previously at another institution and approved by AULA for transfer credit. The following qualify as non-classroom learning activities:

• Internships undertaken while in residence at AULA
• Internships undertaken at another institution and approved by AULA for transfer credit
• Prior Learning documented as an AULA student

For any of the activities itemized above to qualify for Non-Classroom Learning credit they must be:

• Approved in advance following the specific guidelines for Internships, and Prior Learnings. For further information, see the section below on Non-Classroom Learning
• Accompanied by a Student Learning Analysis, which reflects critically on the learning in terms of the student’s understanding of the discipline or internship experience, as well as the knowledge and development gained in the experience. Additional documentation of learning is also expected, depending on the specifics of the learning activity

For further information on Internships, and Prior Learning, please see the section below, “Types of Learning.”

5. Area of Concentration & Major Requirements
   In the BA in Liberal Studies program, students have the option to choose an area of concentration to focus their studies. Students may select a Major Area of Concentration from the following:

• Addiction Studies
• Business and Management Studies
• Creative Writing
• Liberal Studies
• Psychology
• Urban Studies

Students can also choose a Minor Area of Concentration in any of the above specialized areas, as well as the following:

• Child Studies
• Queer Studies

For the Applied Studies degrees, students choose one of the following four majors:

• BA in Applied Arts and Media
• Bachelor of Applied Arts in Urban Communities and Justice
• BS in Applied Technology and Business Leadership
• BA in Applied Studies

For additional information about these Areas of Concentration and Majors for each of these degrees, please see the requirements section in each of these degrees.

6. Other Requirements

Educational Foundations Course
All entering undergraduate students are required to enroll in and successfully complete the Educational Foundations course (EDU 3800A) during their first quarter at AULA. The course familiarizes students with AULA’s educational philosophy; trains them in using Antioch University’s Gmail and Sakai online learning management system and Antioch’s electronic library databases and journals; provides students with their math and writing assessments; and prepares students for the sort of critical reading and writing that will be expected of them during their enrollment.

Students who fail to complete Educational Foundations during their first quarter of enrollment will receive an ‘incomplete’ or a “no credit” for the course, which will result in being placed on academic probation or dismissal. Students who are not maintaining satisfactory performance or not completing requirements for this course in a timely manner may receive a ‘Letter of Concern” from the instructor, spelling out what actions the student needs to take in order to earn credit for the course. (See ‘Academic Policies and Procedures’ section of this Catalog for more information about the Letter of Concern.) For students who have received a Letter of Concern in Educational Foundations, registration for the second quarter may be delayed until they have resumed good progress in this course.

Core Competency Assessment

During the Educational Foundations course, all students complete two assessments to determine their incoming skills in academic writing, critical thinking, and math. The writing and critical thinking assessment provides baseline information for placing the student in the academic writing course appropriate to the individual student’s skill level. The math assessment identifies the student’s basic skill level and any weaknesses to be addressed through required review workbooks, workshops, tutoring, or other intervention aimed at assisting the student in achieving college-level proficiency in math. Students are required to complete these assessments and fulfill the subsequent writing requirements and/or math review requirements even if they have previously met the communications and quantitative domain requirements.

Instructional Requirement

At least 50 percent of all units earned during enrollment at AULA must be evaluated by members of the AULA Core, Teaching, Affiliate, or Adjunct Faculty.

Types of Learning

Undergraduate students pursue their education through classroom learning, internships, and independent studies. They also have the opportunity to receive credit for college-level learning obtained through prior experience.

AULA’s educational approach emphasizes experiential learning, which recognizes the validity of learning acquired through participation in the home, workplace, and/or community. In these settings, students often construct new knowledge when prior assumptions and understandings are challenged. Likewise, their direct experiences may challenge and enrich current bodies of scholarship. Experiential learning exercises in the classroom are also encouraged. This includes site visits, data collection, and learning activities that promote the integration of theory and practice and confer academic value on adult students’ experiences.

Classroom Learning

This category includes classes, seminars, and workshops taken at AULA. These offerings taught by core, teaching, affiliate, and adjunct faculty are announced and listed in the Quarterly Schedule published prior to the student advisement and registration period each quarter.

Classes

Most undergraduate classes are upper-division courses, although a few lower division courses are provided to assist students in improving proficiency in areas such as writing and math. Most courses meet once a week for three hours and extend over a ten-week quarter. These can occur face-to-face on the AULA campus and/or via live video conference sessions via Zoom. There are sometimes opportunities for students to experience other delivery models such as five-week intensives and partially or fully-online courses to enhance scheduling flexibility.

Some undergraduate classes are cross-listed; they appear in the Quarterly Schedule with two discipline and number designations. At registration, the student selects one of the designations and applies that course to one Domain of Knowledge or to the Area of Concentration or Major. The choice determines how the class appears on the academic transcript. Students should keep in mind that the discipline designation can be changed after the add/drop period only by petition.

Seminars

Seminars offer directed independent study in a group setting, providing an opportunity to focus in depth on particular lines of inquiry. Readings are usually assigned prior to the first meeting. Students are expected to do independent library or empirical research and writing, and to document their learning through presentations and/or papers.

Workshops

These learning opportunities allow students to become acquainted with subjects not typically present in the regular course curriculum. A one-unit workshop typically runs from 8 to 10 hours in a single day. Between 20 to 22 hours of non-classroom learning such as field work, data collection, reading and/or writing are also expected. Some workshops may require papers whereas others may require more reading or an experiential project. Incompletes are generally not allowed for workshops. Most workshops have assignments that must be completed before the class meets. Students are responsible for checking the Quarterly Schedule of Classes and syllabus posted in the AULA Undergraduate Studies Program Resources Google Site for early assignments and completing them in advance. It can be disruptive to the workshop if some students attend without having completed the prior reading. In these cases, the instructor has the right to ask the student to leave the workshop. Extra units and grade equivalents are not allowed for workshops.

Non-classroom Learning

AULA has long been recognized as an innovative pioneer in awarding credit for college-level learning accomplished outside the traditional classroom. In 1922, Antioch College established a Co-Op program that required traditional-aged students to participate in work, community service, or travel as part of their Antioch College educational experience. More recently, Antioch University, catering to returning adult students, has led the way in recognizing learning gained prior to university re-entry as potentially valid and creditable college-level learning. The recognition underlying both of these initiatives is that education must further the development of self-directed, life-long learners.

Non-classroom learning includes internships, independent studies, and prior learning.  These types of learning activities are intended to supplement the classroom learning experience, not serve in lieu of classroom study. Note that prior learning and internships count toward the non-classroom learning degree requirement but the independent studies do not.

Each non-classroom learning activity is supervised by an evaluator with credentials appropriate to the topic of the study. In some cases, with the advisor’s approval, an outside evaluator may be enlisted to supervise a specialized topic.

Internships

An Internship is a field-based learning activity that takes place in an applied setting (business, community organization, high school, senior center, etc.). Undergraduate internships recognize the special circumstances of adult students by linking classroom and workplace. The program stresses an interdisciplinary perspective while combining rigorous academic standards and hands-on learning. It offers students an opportunity to expand their learning experiences, apply a range of new skills, play an instrumental role in a community organization, become an active part of the city of Los Angeles, and reflect academically about the learning process.

The Internship format offers:

• Academic credit, up to 4 quarter units per internship
• A structure of academic support for experiential learning
• A range of sites to choose from
• The opportunity to work individually or in collaborative teams
• Internship sites that match students’ academic concentrations
• One-on-one guidance to develop appropriate learning objectives and to take advantage of a variety of hands-on community and professional opportunities
• A rigorous evaluation model through which future employers and/or graduate program admissions will clearly discern the scope of students’ abilities

All undergraduate Internship activities at AULA are numbered 2530, 3530, or 4530 with the appropriate subject prefix. Interns are expected to demonstrate their learning by submitting an Internship Journal and a Student Learning Analysis. Unlike a course, an internship involves establishing a suitable placement, developing a proposal, and gathering approvals to be completed with the support of the Internship Program office at least six weeks before the internship begins. Detailed information - including procedures and academic standards for demonstration of learning - can be found in the Internship Program Handbook uploaded to the Internship section of the Undergraduate Studies Program Resources Google Site, together with all other forms used to set up, register and document these learning activities. Grade equivalents are not allowed for Internships.

Independent Study Projects (ISPs)

Undergraduate students may undertake self-directed reading, writing, and other learning activities based upon a learning contract they negotiate with an approved ISP faculty evaluator, whose academic expertise and credentials match the topic of study, with their advisor who must approve the selection of the evaluator as well as the proposal, and with the approval of the Independent Study Project Faculty Coordinator. Students may earn 1- 4 quarter units for an Independent Study Project. Students may earn a maximum of 20 quarter units through ISP toward their degree; under special circumstances a student may petition the Chair of Undergraduate Studies to exceed this maximum. Independent Study proposal forms are available in the Undergraduate Studies Office and on the Undergraduate Studies Program Resources Google Site. The form must be submitted, with the signature of the evaluator, advisor, and ISP faculty coordinator during registration.

All undergraduate Independent Study learning activities at AULA are numbered 1510, 2510, 3510 or 4510 with the appropriate subject prefix. In the proposal, the ISP faculty evaluator also specifies the title of the study, the learning objectives, learning resources, learning activities, and method of demonstrating learning, as worked out in conversation with the student. The ISP must be approved by the evaluator, the student’s faculty advisor, and the ISP faculty coordinator. For an activity that extends for more than one quarter, an approved Independent Study Form is required for each quarter with new learning objectives developed for each subsequent proposal. For these multi-term ISPs, the student must be evaluated each quarter. The ISP evaluator should assign the letter A, B, C, etc. to the Independent Study course number when exploring the same topic in consecutive quarters.

Prior Learning

Prior Learning refers to college-level learning that took place outside of college or university classes after high school and before enrollment at AULA. Many adult students enter AULA’s program with college-level learning acquired in such diverse settings as the workplace, home, or volunteer organizations. Awarding credit for prior learning is based on the assumption that a great deal of college-level learning that takes place in adult life experience is as valid as traditional classroom learning. Prior learning is also more likely to have been applied in real-life situations, allowing for fuller understanding and longer retention of what was learned.

Prior learning credit is awarded only for demonstrated college-level learning, not for experience alone. College-level learning is defined as learning that

1. has both theoretical and practical understanding of the subject,
2. has applicability beyond the immediate context in which it was learned
3. Is acquired after high school graduation or its equivalent, and
4. falls within an area eligible for higher education as identified by academic and professional experts.

AULA strives to maintain a fair, high quality evaluation process with appropriate standards. These standards, policies, and procedures are based on the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) standards that are widely recognized internationally in the field of prior learning, as well as the Antioch University policy on Prior Learning.

Students can earn a maximum of 22 lower division quarter units, although limits apply for students transferring in extensive lower division units. (The total of lower division prior learning and transfer units cannot exceed 105 lower division quarter units.) Students may also earn up to 22 upper division quarter units of prior learning, for an overall maximum of 44 quarter units. Prior learning units may not duplicate units transferred to Antioch or units earned through Antioch courses or independent studies. Prior learning credits are not awarded until students complete 24 units of course and/or internship credits at AULA. In order to begin documenting any Prior Learning, students must take and complete the Prior Learning Workshop. This workshop assists students in conceptualizing prior learning, developing successful prior learning proposals, and in understanding the documentation process. Students are advised to take this workshop early in their program. Each prior learning activity requires the completion of a Prior Learning Proposal Form, which is approved by the Prior Learning Coordinator and faculty evaluator. Up to 4 lower or upper division quarter units can be requested for each prior learning activity. Upon review of the documentation, the Prior Learning Coordinator and faculty evaluator will make the final determination about the awarding of credit. Prior learning units do not count toward the Residency Requirement. For more detailed information regarding policies and procedures for Prior Learning, students should review the documents uploaded to the Prior Learning Workshop section of the Undergraduate Studies Program Resources Google Site.

Students may register for prior learning projects at any time, except not during their final quarter of enrollment. Students pay a fee for each prior learning activity. Prior learning projects may also be completed and evaluated at any point and are not tied to the quarterly schedule.

Students need to balance the time and energy spent on courses, internships and independent studies with that spent on completing documentation of Prior Learning if they intend to earn this form of academic credit. Some students find it helpful to devote an entire quarter to completing Prior Learning documentation, without registering for classes in addition. In this case, the student must register for Enrollment Maintenance (http://aulacatalog.antioch.edu/policiesregulationsandprocedures/studentstatus/#enrollmentmaintenancespanstatusspan). (http://aulacatalog.antioch.edu/policiesregulationsandprocedures/studentstatus/#enrollmentmaintenancespanstatusspan)

AULA is required to retain and archive all Prior Learning documentation. Students should keep copies of their Prior Learning work for their own files, as their originals will not be returned. Students who wish to transfer prior learning credit to another undergraduate program should check if the institution accepts these credits in transfer. Students should also check with any graduate programs to which they intend to apply to find out their policies regarding credit for prior learning experience. Grade equivalents are not allowed for prior learning.

Evaluation of Non-Classroom Learning

For all non-classroom learning, undergraduate students complete and submit a Student Learning Analysis (SLA) to the evaluator. AULA believes that for independent learning activities, this self-evaluation is a crucial part of the student’s learning experience. The objective is to provide an opportunity for the student to participate in the evaluation process and to encourage students to be critical and reflective about their learning as they articulate and share these reflections with an academic audience.

The SLA affords students the opportunity to focus on the following: how the student met the program learning objectives as well as the learning objectives of the particular independent study, internship, or prior learning; what were most significant parts of the learning; a self-assessment on the level of learning acquired; directions for further study; insights into the larger context of the learning; and a summary of how the learning benefited the student. The SLA should be clearly written, concise, detailed, and balanced, referring both to strengths and to areas for improvement. Please note that the SLA is not a mere listing or description of tasks and activities. Other documentation such as a paper, report, and bibliography may be attached to the SLA to complete the evidence substantiating the learning. The SLA together with accompanying documentation provides the basis for the evaluator in writing the Student Learning Evaluation. Internships and Prior Learning have specific requirements for the SLA, guidelines for which may be found on the AULA Undergraduate Division Google site.

Planning the Program

During the first two weeks of enrollment, each incoming student is assigned to a faculty advisor and receives notification by email. This relationship is not only a means to assist the student in planning and completing the degree requirements; it is, more importantly, a mentoring relationship. The advisor is available for guidance in the following areas: course selection, independent studies and internships, preparation for graduate study, development of professional plans. The advisor also also assists the student in setting goals, reflecting on the questions that animate the student’s educational quest, and exploring the pathways to a life of meaning and purpose. The advisor reviews the student’s academic progress and the quality of her or his work on a regular basis.
New students are expected to contact their assigned advisor and set up an initial advisement meeting during weeks two to four and a follow-up meeting during weeks seven and eight, which are designated as advisement weeks for planning the student’s course schedule for the next quarter, in preparation for registration during weeks nine and ten. First quarter students are required to meet with their advisor before registering for the second quarter.

During the initial degree planning and follow-up advisement meetings, students work with their advisor to design a program that meets basic degree requirements. This involves determining:

• How many transfer units will be included in the undergraduate degree, based on the official Degree Audit Report (DAR)
• How many Prior Learning units the student plans to document, if applicable
• The appropriate course load per quarter based on the student’s individual circumstances and needs
• How many quarters of residency at AULA are needed and the tentative target date for completing the degree
• Which initial writing course is required as determined by assessment
• What workbook review, if any, is required in math, as determined by assessment
• How the various degree requirements will be met
• Which Major Area of Concentration is appropriate to the Liberal Studies student’s educational goals and which core courses are needed to build a strong foundation
• Which major requirements are fulfilled and which still need to be earned
• How to plan the program to meet graduate school requirements, if applicable

These basic program planning discussions are initiated in the first quarter of enrollment with follow up during subsequent quarterly advisement meetings. Many students find it useful to construct a timetable of study indicating when they expect to fulfill course requirements.

Early in the program and prior to candidacy for graduation, students should be sure to do the following:

• Attend the Prior Learning Workshop at an early point in the program, if the student intends to incorporate prior learning into his or her program. Make sure that Prior Learning proposals are filed with the Registrar with final approval signatures of the Prior Learning Coordinator and the evaluator
• For Liberal Studies students, design the Major Area of Concentration during the first or second quarter of residency. Students cannot declare a specialized concentration after candidacy review begins during the student’s penultimate quarter
• Ensure that units of credit transferred to AULA from other institutions are evaluated and accepted by the Office of the Registrar early in the degree program. It is not possible to accept additional transfer credit during candidacy preparations or the actual candidacy review
• Track progress toward completing degree requirements from their earliest quarters in the program by reviewing their Degree Audit Report with their advisor each quarter prior to registering for classes

Fast Track Programs

At Antioch University Los Angeles, our undergraduate students can “fast track” into our graduate programs during their final terms of study, if they apply and are accepted into one of the graduate programs. Our Fast Track options allow undergraduate students to begin a master’s program while simultaneously completing a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate students enrolled in our Fast Track programs may apply the units earned during their first term of their master’s program toward their completion of their bachelor’s degree - reducing the time and cost of their undergraduate degree. 

Preparation for Graduate Study

The qualities of mind cultivated by this curriculum prepare students for career advancement and for pursuing lives of meaning and purpose, as well as for further study at the graduate level. Historically a significant percentage of AULA’s graduates attend and complete graduate school, including, in recent years, Alliant International University, Boston University, Brandeis, the California State Universities, Claremont Graduate School, Columbia, Harvard University, Harvard Divinity School, Loyola Law School, Pacifica University, Rutgers Law, Southwestern School of Law, University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles, University of Chicago, University of Nebraska, University of New Mexico School of Law, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, and Yale, as well as graduate programs at Antioch University Los Angeles and other Antioch University campuses.

Students intending to pursue graduate study should contact graduate schools early in their undergraduate enrollment to find out the admission requirements so that they can tailor their undergraduate study accordingly. Students interested in attending a particular graduate program outside of AULA should be sure to investigate that school’s policy on accepting undergraduate credit for Prior Learning in order to make appropriate choices about incorporating Prior Learning into their programs of study. They should also find out whether the school accepts narrative evaluations in place of grades and a grade point average. If the school does not accept narrative evaluations, the student should request for the letter grade equivalents to be displayed on the final evaluation from each instructor at AULA.

Fast Track and Advanced Standing

Antioch University Los Angeles offers undergraduate students several Fast Track Programs and Advanced Standing Status.

Fast Track Programs

Through the AULA Fast Track Programs, undergraduate students are able to take graduate courses that will apply toward both the student’s current bachelor’s degree as well as a future master’s degree. Depending on the program, these units typically can satisfy up to a quarter’s or semester’s worth of graduate degree requirements. Undergraduate students should consult with their Academic Advisors in evaluation their suitability and eligibility for a Fast Track program. In addition, students must gain approval from the Undergraduate Studies Co-Chair to become a fast-track candidate prior to applying for the graduate program

BA-MAP Fast Track

Undergraduate students enrolled in an Undergraduate Studies degree program may, with faculty approval, apply as a fast track candidate for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (MAP) Program. The undergraduate to MAP fast track is a single integrated program that saves qualified students significant time and money when progressing from undergraduate to graduate studies. A student must gain approval from both the Undergraduate Studies and MAP program chairs to become a fast track candidate.

Provisionally accepted fast track candidates will enroll in the required 9-12 quarter unit cohort curriculum for entering MAP students. Students may complete these courses in either one quarter if attending full time or in two quarters if attending less than full time. Once successfully completed, these 9-12 units will represent completion of the student’s undergraduate degree. These same units will also apply toward the single integrated MAP degree, per Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requirements.

Students on academic or any other type of probation are not eligible for the Fast Track program.

If a student who is opting for the Fast Track from undergraduate to MAP is also receiving Title IV aid, the student would be eligible for only graduate level aid. Once the student begins their graduate program, they are considered a graduate student both for academic and financial purposes.

Fast Track Requirements

In order to be eligible for the fast track, students must meet all of the criteria listed on the Undergraduate-MAP Fast Track checklist, including the following:

●        send a brief email to: BA.PSY.AULA@antioch.edu by Week 4 two quarters prior to the intended Fast Track quarter, notifying the Psychology Fast Track Team of the intent to engage the Fast Track option. Acceptance into the Fast Track process is dependent on the approval of the Fast Track Team.

●        complete at least 33 units needed toward the 45 units Residency Requirement in the Undergraduate Studies Programs;

●        complete all non-classroom learning and Domain requirements, with the possible exception of the Social Science domain;

●        complete all math and writing requirements;

●        take at least 15 units of Psychology (PSY) and/or Addiction Studies (ADS) courses prior to completing the Fast Track Intent form.

●        complete the Fast Track Intent form no later than Monday of week 4 in the quarter preceding the intended Fast Track quarter.

●        have 9-12 quarter units remaining to complete the undergraduate degree;

●        complete all DSST/CLEP tests in advance of the quarter before the intended Fast Track quarter;

●        register for all prior learning units in advance of the quarter before the intended Fast Track quarter;

●        for BA in Liberal Studies students, complete all area of concentration units, with the exception of up to 12 remaining Psychology Concentration units (if they have declared a major area of concentration).

Additionally, Fast Track applicants must understand that…

●        in order to qualify for the undergraduate to MAP Fast Track program, a student in an AULA undergraduate program must officially apply through the AULA Admissions Office (and follow all of the AULA Admissions Office application guidelines) and be provisionally accepted into the MAP program;

●        they will be following regular Admissions deadlines and procedures, as outlined by the MAP Program. It is the student’s responsibility to meet all admissions deadlines and requirements;

●        all MAP Fast Track students will be required to take the following courses to fulfill the initial 12 units*

○        Society and the Individual - 3 units

○        Personality I - 3 units

○        Assessment of Psychopathology - 3 units

○        Contemporary Aging - 2 units

○        An elective workshop - 1 unit

BA-MFA in Creative Writing Fast Track

 An AULA BA in Liberal Studies student may elect to become a Fast Track candidate, apply to the AULA MFA in Creative Writing low-residency program and, if accepted, have their first semester in the MFA count toward completion of both the undergraduate degree and the MFA in Creative Writing degree. The MFA Fast Track is a single integrated program that saves qualified students significant time and money when progressing from undergraduate to graduate studies.

As a highly competitive, nationally recognized program, acceptance into the MFA program is not automatic and dependent on the quality of the student’s creative work and the MFA program’s selective admissions criteria. Students on academic or any other type of probation are not eligible for the Fast Track.

Fast Track Requirements

In order to qualify for the fast track in the MFA Program, a student in the AULA BA in Liberal Studies program must:

Have Creative Writing as Major area of concentration.

●        Have completed at least 27 units needed toward the 45 units Residency Requirement in the AULA BA in Liberal Studies Program.

●        Apply and be provisionally accepted into the MFA program. A faculty advisor will guide the student on the appropriate time to apply.

●        Have 18 quarter units remaining to complete the BA degree. Anything less than that will render the student ineligible. It is highly recommended that, if accepted into the MFA, with the assistance of their undergraduate advisor, they plan to have a gap quarter prior to beginning the MFA.

●        At the time of applying, have no less than 18 units remaining and no more than 30 units remaining to complete their degree.

●        Have completed all non-classroom learning, domain requirements and math and academic writing requirements.

●        Complete the BA course requirements of MFA fast track candidates. A form will be available detailing these requirements.

●        Have all prior learning units registered, completed and submitted no later than 2 quarters before the Fast-Track Semester.

●        Have completed a minimum of 22 BA Creative Writing concentration units.

●        Have taken ENG 4900A Advanced Multi-Genre Workshop twice– 6 units minimum (it is strongly recommended students take this class EVERY QUARTER as MFA preparation.)

●        Ensure that any DSST/CLEP tests be registered for and completed no later than 2 quarters before the Fast Track semester.

●        Take no more than 12 units in their final BA quarter prior to the MFA residency. This particularly applies to those students who are directly transitioning from the BA to MFA, without a gap quarter off (as mentioned above, the gap quarter is highly recommended.)

●        If there is a gap quarter between the student’s final BA quarter and their first MFA residency, the student will go on Leave of Absence.

●        Enroll in the required 12 semester-unit core curriculum for the first semester MFA students. This consists of a ten-day on-campus residency, comprising classes, workshops, and readings, followed by a five month online project period during which students work with Faculty Mentors, conference online with fellow students and write in their home communities. If they successfully complete those units, students earn 12 semester units that can be applied toward the MFA degree and 18 quarter units that are counted toward completion of their BA degree and Creative Writing concentration requirements. Until they complete these 12 units and graduate from the BA in Liberal Studies program, fast-track students are only provisionally accepted into the MFA program.

Additionally, Fast Track applicants must understand that…

●        Even if accepted into the MFA Program, and even if they have completed the first residency, if the Fast-Track student receives any NC or INC in their final BA quarter, they will be automatically withdrawn from the MFA Program. BA students cannot reapply to the Fast Track in this case or if they fail to complete the first MFA semester.

●        If a Fast Track student does not successfully complete the first MFA semester, they will still have 18 remaining BA units to complete their undergraduate degree. They will no longer be an MFA in Creative Writing student, and would need to reapply as a regular applicant upon graduation from the BA program.

●        BA Creative Writing faculty are not involved in the selection process and cannot guarantee acceptance into the MFA.

●        In order to qualify for the BA/MFA Fast Track program, a student in the AULA BA program must officially apply through the AULA Admissions Office (and follow all of the AULA Admissions Office application guidelines) and be provisionally accepted into the MFA program;

●        They must follow regular Admissions deadlines and procedures, as outlined by the MFA program. MFA applications are due twice a year, August 15 and February 15, with special deadlines for priority applications. Students should refer to the MFA deadlines link at http://www.antiochla.edu/ academics/mfa-creative-writing/admissions-process/ (https://www.antioch.edu/los-angeles/degrees-programs/creative-writing-communication- studies/creative-writing-mfa/) and consult with the Admissions department . It is the student’s responsibility to meet all admissions deadlines and requirements.

●        Students should consult with Financial Aid prior to applying to determine impact on Financial Aid.

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