Degree Validation for Adult Learners

Creating an Accelerated Pathways Program for Adult Learning that Works

Industry’s need for an educated, skilled and diverse workforce is at an all-time high. At the same time, more than 85 million working adults have some college experience but no degree. Adults understand that higher education leads to expanded career opportunities and higher-paying positions, but the millions of adults who want to work toward a degree face a host of barriers. It’s time to acknowledge that adult learners bring a deep reservoir of experience to apply to new learning and to recognize the importance of a skills-driven approach to degree completion for adult learners.

By validating skills gained outside the classroom, the MOET Degree (Multi-Occupation in Engineering & Technology) at South Seattle College, gives students a big boost. Students can earn 60% of the credits towards a transferrable associate degree by validating their skills through military and workplace experiences and training. The program also provides high-touch student support, centering equity by recruiting and retaining historically underrepresented populations in STEM fields.

Explore the “Creating an Accelerated Pathways Program for Adult Learning that Works” Report, published in 2022, to learn more about the context for the development of the MOET pathways program, how the program works, and its impact on student success and institutional change.