Course Selection, Credit Types & Approval
Put the study in study abroad.
Learn how to choose and get approval for courses abroad, what types of academic credit are available, and how to make sure your courses apply to your degree.
How to Select Courses Abroad
Once you’ve been accepted to a study abroad program, you will work closely with your Global Learning Advisor and academic advisor(s) to look at the available courses abroad, select courses that will work for you, and learn how credits earned abroad may apply to your degree requirements.
If you have a specific interest that UMD doesn't offer classes in, try to find a location that will offer you classes in those interests … some subjects are unique to a place, and studying abroad is a great opportunity to take advantage of niche regional interests.
When you are considering what courses to take:
- Look to see what courses your host institution or provider is offering during the term you will be studying abroad. Your Global Learning Advisor can help you find this information for your specific program.
- Check if the course(s) offered at your host institution have already been approved by searching the study abroad course database (SACD).
- If a course is not listed in the database, use the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form to request an evaluation by the appropriate UMD department.
- Talk to your academic advisor about what courses may be best for you to take abroad, or how your chosen courses may fulfill your degree requirements.
Important: Course Credit Policies
There are several important policies that govern study abroad credits that you will need to be aware of:
You are expected to maintain a full time student status when you study abroad for an academic semester or year. This means you must be enrolled in the equivalent of at least 12 UMD credits.
You may earn credit for courses taken abroad for transfer credit as long as you receive the equivalent grade of C- or better. Learn more about transfer credit.
UMD credit will only be granted for foreign language courses taken abroad at or above the course level already completed at UMD. Credit will not be awarded for courses at a level lower than that already received at UMD. For more information, please refer to the School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures.
You may earn credit for experiential learning (internships, service learning) for resident credits only on select Maryland-in semester programs and SIT Study Abroad programs. No transfer credit will be awarded for internship, externship, practicum, or co-op work experiences that are not supervised by UMD faculty. In addition, transfer credit is not awarded for these types of experience completed through other institutions.
With the permission of your academic college, you may take courses abroad that would be considered repeat courses. UMD's standard repeat policy applies, including any grade replacement if applicable.
Types of Credit
There are two types of credit you can obtain through study abroad: resident credit (RC) and transfer credit (TC). The type of credit for each course is noted in the Study Abroad Course Database (SACD), designated by RC or TC.
Type of Credit |
Description |
What is the minimum passing grade needed for credit? |
How will courses appear on my UMD transcript? |
Will my grade appear on my UMD transcript? |
Will my grade factor into my UMD GPA? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Resident Credit (RC) |
You can take courses for RC on Maryland-led, Maryland-in and USAC programs. These courses carry a UMD course number and title. Resident credits can fulfill degree requirements. |
Grades follow the UMD grading scale and factor into your GPA just like courses at UMD. |
Courses, credits and grades appear on your unofficial transcript listed under the term you studied abroad. |
Yes. |
Yes. |
Transfer Credit (TC) |
You can take courses for TC on Exchange Programs, Affiliate Programs and Other Approved Programs and select Maryland-in Programs. These courses may have UMD equivalent or be listed as a lower-level elective (L1) or an upper-level elective L2). Transfer credit can fulfill degree requirements. |
Equivalent grade of C- or better |
Courses and credit appear toward the top of your transcript in the transfer credit section. |
No. |
No.* |
*Many graduate schools and some employers will recalculate your GPA to include transfer credit.
General Education Credit: Some study abroad courses carry General Education credit. Use the Gen Ed Category in the SACD to confirm Gen Ed credit.
Study Abroad Course Approval (SACA) Form
Before you go abroad, you will work with your Global Learning Advisor to complete a Study Abroad Course Approval (SACA) Form, which will list the courses you plan to take (including alternate options) and if those courses are approved to transfer back to UMD.
You will share and discuss this form with your academic advisor(s), who can tell you how your courses can apply to your degree requirements. They will then sign off on this academic plan.
Once they have signed off on your SACA form, you will turn it back into Education Abroad. This form is required to process your credits once your program is complete and we receive your grades.
This process ensures that:
- You have a strong academic plan for study abroad, which includes contingency plans with alternate courses.
- You and your advising team have documentation about how the courses you plan to take abroad will apply to your degree program.
- You understand how the credits you earn abroad will appear on your transcript and impact your GPA.
- You are aware of and understand the course credit policies that apply to your courses.
Course Approval Process
To get credit for your courses abroad, you will need to make sure they are approved by UMD. To do this:
Use the study abroad course database to see if a course offered at your host institution has already been approved, and if so, how it transfers back to UMD.
If your course is not listed in the course database, or it is listed as “needs re-evaluation,” submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form for each course to request an evaluation by the appropriate UMD department.
- Please limit the number of submissions to SIX courses.
- Global Learning Advisors will facilitate course evaluations for resident credit courses.
Your course will be reviewed by the appropriate department on campus for acceptability. Please note that this process can take at least 4-6 weeks.
If your course has been approved by the department, EA will add the course and its evaluation to the study abroad course database.
Once a course is approved and in the database, check with your academic advisor about how the course may apply to your degree (i.e., does it fulfill major/minor/elective requirements?).
Finalizing Course Enrollment Abroad
You will likely confirm your class schedule after you’ve arrived on site. During that process, you should be sure to do the following:
You are expected to maintain a full time student status when you study abroad for an academic semester or year. This means you must be enrolled in the equivalent of at least 12 UMD credits.
For summer, winter, and spring break programs, there is no minimum number of credits required.
Refer to the Types of Credit chart and the Study Abroad Course Database as needed.
Minimum Passing Grade for Transfer Credit: You may earn credit for courses taken abroad for transfer credit as long as you receive the equivalent grade of C- or better.
Make sure your final course registration at your host institution or through your program provider matches the courses that were included and approved on your SACA form.
If you’ve made any course changes since you completed the SACA form, you will need to:
- Search the study abroad course database to check if the new course has been approved for credit at UMD.
- If a course is not listed in the course database, use the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form to request an evaluation by the appropriate UMD department.
- Notify your Global Learning Advisor and Academic Advisor of any updated course selections.
- Please note that you do NOT need to complete a new SACA form.