Competency-Based Education: Rethinking Seat Time
Oct 08, 2025Most of us are used to thinking of education in terms of credit hours and semesters. But what if learning was measured not by time in class, but by demonstrated mastery? That’s the promise of competency-based education (CBE).
In Episode 3 of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Dr. Cali Morrison explains how she helped launch direct-assessment CBE programs at American Public University System. These programs allowed learners to progress as soon as they could show mastery, instead of waiting out a fixed semester schedule.
Cali emphasizes two key insights: seat time does not equal mastery, and prior knowledge should still count as new learning because context changes. By shifting the focus from hours to outcomes, CBE opens the door for working adults to earn degrees faster, more flexibly, and more meaningfully.
It wasn’t easy—federal financial aid requirements and accreditation hurdles made direct assessment challenging. But Cali’s story shows why the model remains compelling: it honors what learners already know and prioritizes what they can actually do.
👉 Listen to Episode 3 to hear how Cali and her team brought CBE to life and what it means for the future of higher education.
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