Completing the WU Credit Award Process
Before International and Area Studies can initiate the credit evaluation process, we must have your answer to the email request and the program transcript from overseas.
We will notify you by e-mail when the transcript is received. For A&S students, the transcript and course work will be evaluated by the appropriate faculty member(s) to determine the amount and type of WU credit to be awarded. The College of A&S has final approval and handles the recording of units on your academic record (usually appearing under "other credits.") Other WU schools will follow similar procedures for awarding WU credit for their students who participate in A&S programs.
Types of Credit
Some credit may be used to satisfy major or minor requirements at departmental discretion. The appropriate department (or school) decides which courses will count, which requirements these courses will apply towards, and the minimum necessary performance in the course to receive credit. Political Science, for example, requires a grade of B- or better in courses taken abroad to award major or minor credit; otherwise the course is suitable for elective credit only.
Up to 3 credits per semester may be used to fulfill a NS/LA/TH/SS distribution requirement, but NOT within a cluster or for WI, CD, SD or QA. Preliminary guidance is available from your four-year academic advisor or a college dean, but final approval depends upon a review of the course work upon return to WU.
Additional awarded credits will be counted as electives. Examples of inappropriate subjects for a WU degree include culinary arts, equestrian arts, mountaineering, etc. These may qualify for a small amount of physical education credit if they are graded courses.
Number of Credits
Satisfactory academic performance in appropriate courses (see Grades below) normally results in an award of 15-16 WU units of credit per semester. No more than 33 units will be awarded for one year of study abroad. Typically, no more than 6 or 9 units per semester abroad may be used for major or minor requirements, but each department sets its own policies. Up to 8 WU credits may be awarded for a summer program (4-6 is typical).
Grades
An equivalent grade of C- or better on the program transcript is required to be awarded WU credit. These grades will not be recorded on the WU transcript and will not affect the WU grade point average. However, any WU course taught or supervised abroad by WU faculty members (such as A&S sponsored summer programs) will be recorded with grades on the WU transcript.
Bear in mind that your grades from abroad still matter! This transcript will become a permanent part of your portfolio of academic accomplishments and graduate schools, and professional schools will want a copy so they can review the course titles and grades (they may calculate a composite gpa too).
Special Note for Students Studying Abroad on Leave of Absence
Your transcript from abroad will not be processed for A&S transfer credit and cannot be used to satisfy WU degree requirements. Alternative programs must be pre-approved by the Study Abroad Advisory Board to be eligible for WU credit. Exception: The Director of Overseas Programs has the authority, in consultation with WU faculty, to award up to 3 credits per semester (2 credits for summer) for appropriate course work successfully completed abroad on a program that was not previously approved as an alternative program. A written request for this exception can be submitted to Overseas Programs by fax or e-mail.
Non-WU Students
Non-WU students participating in a WU program will receive a WU transcript and/or a transcript from an affiliated institution. Academic performance and course work will be evaluated by the home institution.