Program Overview

Introduction to CAS 100 (A-B-C) Credit by Portfolio Guidelines

The CAS 100 (A-B-C) Credit by Portfolio Guidelines are designed for students who have acquired college-level learning through non-traditional means, such as public speaking experience. This program allows students to demonstrate their mastery of knowledge and skills in public speaking, which parallels the course goals, learning objectives, and requirements of the CAS 100: Effective Speech course.

Program Overview

A successful portfolio would reflect a student's mastery of knowledge that parallels the course goals, learning objectives, and requirements of a particular Penn State undergraduate course. In this case, that course would be CAS 100: Effective Speech. The portfolio should document non-traditional instruction or successful participation in civic life and public engagement to the degree that significant learning of the principles of public speaking and learning outcomes is evident.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the CAS 100 (A-B-C) Credit by Portfolio, students must demonstrate that they have acquired college-level learning through non-traditional means. This can include:

• Frequent and substantive speeches given as an executive in a public service organization
• Successful participation in civic life and public engagement

The following do not reflect the breadth of public speaking expertise expected in a portfolio:

• Work presentations given to clients
• An extensive record of reports given in or out of the classroom
• Teaching experience
• Model UN participation
• Debate experience
• A series of wedding, funeral, or award ceremony speeches

Portfolio Requirements

A completed portfolio must include:

• A c.v. or resume
• Educational goals statement (The goals statement is generally 300–400 words in length)
• At least one video example of a presentation
• A detailed description of experiences and learning, public speaking training, and the descriptions of a few representative speaking occasions in which a student has participated, which addresses the learning outcomes of the CAS 100 (A-B-C) Course (1-2 pages in length)
• At least one letter from someone, such as a colleague or supervisor, who has observed the student speaking and can attest to their abilities
• Any additional items that promote the case

Assessment and Evaluation

It is not the experience itself that justifies credit but rather the learning that occurs from the experience. How learning is documented and proven is the crux of portfolio assessment. Within eight weeks of submitting a portfolio, the decision will be made based on one of the following:

1. Approved
2. Additional information or revisions needed
3. Denied

If the submitted portfolio demonstrates the learning and meeting of the learning objectives achieved through prior study and practice in public speaking, then the student will receive 3.0 transfer credits, but not a grade. Those credits will be marked as CAS 100 (A-B-C) credits, thus satisfying the General Education: Writing/Speaking (GWS) requirement.