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Academic Credit Issues

Plan Ahead
Course Approval Process

Plan Ahead

Study abroad allows you to explore a language in context, take courses relevant to the host country, and earn academic credit towards your Emory degree. There are several academic issues to consider as you plan to study abroad. Here are a few steps to guide you in this process:

Research your options

Attend the Study Abroad Fair (held in the Fall Semester every year). Consider a summer study abroad program after your freshman year. Be aware of prerequisites for studying abroad: you need to plan ahead!

Prepare yourself with academic coursework

Take General Education Requirements (GERs) during your first and second years at Emory. Study a foreign language. Explore area studies courses.

Stay in good academic standing

Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Choose a major

Declare a major during your sophomore year (if not earlier). Meet with your faculty advisor about major requirements. Meet with a CIPA Advisor to explore program options.

Find a good program match

Consider study abroad programs that will allow you to incorporate your regional interests, language skills, and your major. Make sure you have the relevant prerequisites for the program of interest.

Apply

Apply for a specific program with the help of your CIPA Advisor

Select your course options

Decide which courses to take while abroad and which requirements they fulfill. Meet with faculty to get courses pre-approved.  

Go, study, learn, explore

Find yourself in another country, immersed in a new culture, and maybe even speaking another language!

Return to campus

Return to campus with your study abroad credits reflected on your Emory transcript.

Continue your international adventures!

Research ways to integrate your study abroad experience into your overall academic career at Emory.

Course Approval Process

One of the advantages of studying on an Emory-approved program is that you earn Emory credit AND grades for the courses you take. However, you do not automatically receive credit for any course that you take at an overseas institution. Emory academic departments evaluate specific courses to determine if they meet Emory's standards and are appropriate for Emory credit.

It is CIPA policy that you obtain approval for ALL classes you take abroad. You cannot take classes for which you cannot obtain approval.

Credit approval can take place in one of two ways. Check with CIPA to see which procedure you need to follow for your particular program.

1) Blanket-approved courses: For some programs, “blanket approvals” from academic departments are on file with CIPA. If a course has been blanket-approved, it indicates that you do not have to go to a department and seek approval from them for that particular course overseas- the course approval is automatic. Please view the blanket-approved database.

2) General course approvals: For most programs, you need to submit a “Course Equivalence” form. On this form, you list the courses you anticipate taking overseas. You then take a copy of the course description or syllabus to the Faculty Study Abroad Representative in each relevant academic department. The departmental representative will review your choices and determine the Emory course equivalent and the type of credit to be earned (major, minor, GER, or elective).

Faculty can also email your CIPA advisor directly in place of signing the Course Equivalence Form.

In rare cases, students may find a PE course offered for academic credit on the program abroad. Students are only allowed to enroll in ONE PE credit while abroad, and they will only earn 1 credit hour for the course. The course must appear on the overseas transcript for academic credit in order to be transferred into Emory. Pre-approval is required by the PE Department. The PE Department does not grant any retroactive approval; therefore, all students must obtain pre-approval either before departing or upon arrival to the overseas program.

You are supposed to seek approval for courses prior to departure –the Course Equivalence Form is due to CIPA by April 1 for Fall and Year programs and by November 1 for Spring programs.

Students on some programs will know their course enrollments ahead of time, while students on other programs will not organize their schedules until they arrive. Therefore, it is advised that you get as many courses pre-approved as possible, as this gives you maximum flexibility when constructing your course schedule for your study abroad program. The more you do now, the less you have to do later, and the less you have to stress about the course approvals once you arrive abroad. Be sure to take a copy of the Course Equivalence Form abroad with you.

If there are new classes on offer once you arrive on-site or you enroll in other courses not previously approved, you should contact the appropriate Faculty Study Abroad Representatives via email during the program’s on-site add/drop period. You are advised to take care of all outstanding approvals during this period – do not wait until your return to Emory. It is your responsibility to make sure your CIPA advisor has a copy of this approval in writing (received as a “cc” of the email or sent directly from the Faculty Study Abroad Representative). You should also keep a copy of all approvals – CIPA recommends that you print out the emails and bring them home with you.

You should keep copies of all syllabi, coursework, papers, and exams in case you need to verify your work with Emory faculty when you return. (Some academic departments only provide provisional approval for study abroad courses and request to see this work upon your return to finalize the course approvals.)

Please note: While abroad, students must maintain a standard full course load of classes as defined by the host institution; this would typically be equivalent to 16 credits at Emory. You should check with both your overseas coordinator and your CIPA advisor to verify your registration.