Welcome: - We look forward to hearing of your accomplishments.
The School of Hard Knocks and its associated programs recognize the value and importance of
Life-Experience and each were developed for the purpose of providing recognition to
achievement and the promotion of honorable business practices, entrepreneurship and community
advocacy.
The School of Hard Knocks is NOT a recognized or accredited educational institution. Certificates
are intended for personal satisfaction and novelty purposes only. They are not intended for,
nor do we take any responsibility for their use in any fraud or dishonesty.
Traditional Education Relies on Real Life Education:
Few can argue the value that Life-Experience provides in the learing process.
Unfortunately most adults find it extrememly difficult to fit traditional
classroom education inot their busy lives. In response many college curriculums
are now being broadened to allow course credits to be earned through examination,
life experience, on-line study along with traditional classroom education, which
in turn makes academic instutions and higher learning more accessible and affordable.
Many universities now offer Life-Experience Educational Credits in place of traditional
coursework for graduate degrees.
The acceptance of Life-Experience is simply an acknowledgement of our continuous need
and opportunity for Lifelong Learning. Our Technological advances have not only made us
more productive in the workplace, but they have given us learning and growth experiences
at all ages and in a wide variety of contexts: at work, at home and through leisure
activities, not just through formal academic channels such as higher education.
Portfolio based, Life-Experience Educational Credits are generally more suited for older
students as it requires the documenting of college-level knowledge that has been acquired
outside the classroom. Candidates for Portfolio Credit work with an advisor or participate
in a class to assess the academic credit value of their life and work experience.
However, Life-Experience has been a standard requirement for course credit for quite some time
although it has been couched under more familiar terminology such as "internship", "work
experience", and "clinicals". So, the concept that a reputable university would grant a
graduate degree based in part on Life-Experience is certainly not new.
There is no argument that a college degree is valuable. It demonstrates less what someone knows
and more what they are capable of. It demonstrates work ethic, dedication, ability to manage
time, and countless other attributes. But so can work. College can prepare one to start their
own business, but so can working in the industry of the business that they are going to start.
College can prepare one to build the better mousetrap, but so can spending four years working
with mousetraps.
