Choosing classes for your study abroad program can initially seem like a daunting process. Many students believe they can’t satisfy their degree requirements during an international program. Luckily, the resources provided by Education Abroad can ensure that study-abroad students will not have to delay graduation.
Know Your Type of Credit
The first thing to ascertain is the type of credit that will be processed on your transcript for coursework completed during your study abroad. Both faculty-led programs and reciprocal exchange programs provide “in-residence” credit, meaning grades will be factored into your GPA. Affiliate programs, on the other hand, count as transfer credits, so they are not factored into your GPA at The University of Texas at Austin.
Additionally, you should check with your academic advisor to ask if transfer credits can satisfy degree requirements instead of being counted as general elective credits. Regardless of the registration type, if a program is listed on our website, we can guarantee you will get credit for the classes you enroll in.
Search Courses with MyCA
Comparing courses via the My Credit Abroad (MyCA) platform is the easiest way to ensure that your classes abroad will count toward specific degree requirements. MyCA is a database of classes that UT Austin students have taken abroad and have been pre-approved for credit. You can use this resource in two ways: 1) finding specific credits, or 2) accessing all the credits a particular program has to offer.
To search for specific flags or credits, you can filter by course number. You’re also able to add any additional filters you want. Again, the database will display all study abroad programs that have been pre-approved for credit abroad. To see all of the pre-approved classes a particular program offers, you can input its application code and then hit Search.
Request a Course Evaluation
While MyCA is a great starting point, your options are not limited to its offerings. Many students believe the MyCA listings are the only courses they can take, but this is not true. As stated earlier, you can receive guaranteed credit for any classes you take, whether included in MyCA or not.
You can find full course catalogs on the websites of the exchange universities or affiliate providers. Then, you should download the syllabi for classes that interest you and submit them for a course evaluation request. In this request, you can upload the syllabi and request credit for a specific course number; our credit team will then evaluate it. If the requested credit is not a match, they will provide an alternative course number.
There is no limit on the number of course evaluations you can submit, but it is recommended to complete these before the due date for applications, so you can make sure you’re taking the necessary classes. It’s also recommended to complete them before the application deadline because it can take four to six weeks for these requests to process.
Consider Faculty-Led Courses
If this process still seems overwhelming, you can opt into faculty-led programs because they only consist of one or two classes, and the credit is predetermined. Faculty-led programs are also more likely to satisfy flag requirements if you need to fulfill any.
Bryn Palmer is an Education Abroad Peer Mentor providing support to students interested in studying abroad. Learn about this position and its services on the Peer Mentors Program webpage.
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