Peirce College Collaborates with Sagence to Launch Competency-Based Bachelor’s Degree

Programs are Customized to Provide Learner-Directed, Affordable Education Leading to Degree Completion and Career Alignment

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Brooklyn, NY, Washington, DC – August 26, 2016 -- Peirce College and Sagence Learning, Inc. have partnered to create the institution’s first competency-based bachelor’s degree program in Information Technology, with a concentration in Networking, Administration and Information Security.  The program launched in September and has already accepted its first students.

Developed in direct alignment with local workforce needs, the competency-based program awards college credit based on a student’s mastery of skills, or “competencies,” rather than time spent in the classroom.

“Peirce’s competency-based degree program focuses on what matters the most to adult learners and their employers – gaining the skills and knowledge they need to advance in their careers,” said Rita Toliver-Roberts, Ed.D, Vice President, Academic Advancement at Peirce College. “In partnership with Sagence, we have developed a user experience that will help students earn their degree in a way that works for them.” 

The program also allows learners to earn college credit for industry certifications and courses they’ve completed. Students can apply the knowledge they have learned on the job to quickly complete competencies they have already mastered and focus on the areas they still need. All courses are completed fully online and at the student’s desired pace.

“Our partnership with Peirce College exemplifies the benefits of competency-based education,” said Jade Roth, CEO of Sagence Learning, Inc. “Peirce has a long and rich history of serving the under-served, and providing students personalized and attentive learning experiences that are flexible, affordable and career-focused. For more than 151 years they have been educating working adults, and this new bachelor’s degree program will help further their mission.”

Students will work with a personal coach to create a customized plan that guides them on the most efficient path toward degree completion. Sagence’s platform uniquely supports the student/coach relationship and interaction, an example of how it is organically built for competency-based education.

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About Peirce College

Founded in 1865, Peirce College has been providing working adults with affordable education, flexible classes, and personalized support for more than 151 years.  Peirce offers bachelor and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Legal Studies, and Master of Science degrees in Healthcare Administration and Organizational Leadership & Management. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults through both online and on campus education. In 2015, Peirce took life-friendly learning and degree attainment to the next level with the creation of Peirce Fit™, a revolutionary learning format that allows students to choose each week whether to attend class in person or online. Through competency based education in Peirce’s IT program, students may also choose a faster, more affordable path to degree completion. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). Additionally, select programs are accredited or approved by The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the American Bar Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.