Study Abroad Office Northwestern

In This Section:

• Study Abroad Transcripts
• Program Evaluations
• Internships & ISPs
• Credit Transfer Procedures
• Returnee Roundtable
• Study Abroad Photo Contest
• International Activities
• FAQs
• Coming Home Process
• Reverse Culture Shock
• Re-Entry Strategies
• Graduate Study Abroad
• Returnee Listserv

Online Guide to Study Abroad

• Academic Issues
• Requirements
• Financial Issues
• Health and Safety Abroad
• Diversity Abroad
  

Publications and Forms

• Study Abroad Handbook 2009-2010
• Study Abroad Handbook 2010-2011
• McCormick Curriculum Petition
• NU Summer Evaluation
• Internship/ISP Credit Cover Sheet
• Evaluations for Other Programs
• NU Exchange Program Evaluation
• Welcome Back Guide
• WCAS Credit Transfer Form
• Music Credit Transfer
• Medill Internship/ISP Credit Petition
• Medill Credit Transfer

Transferring Credit in your School

Credit transfer process for students who participated in:

• EU Studies in Paris
• Public Health in Paris
• Croatia Summer
• Prague Summer
• Turkey Summer
• Global Engagement Summer Institute in Argentina (2009 program), Bolivia, India, Nicaragua or Uganda

If you participated in any of the six programs listed above, you DO NOT need to go through the credit transfer process listed below since you took Northwestern courses abroad which will appear on your Northwestern transcript. However, be aware that your study abroad courses are subject to the rules and restrictions as the same numbered courses taught in Evanston. For more information, please visit http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/studyabroad/rules.html#Petitioning

Credit transfer process for students in:

• WCAS
• School of Communication
• Bienen School of Music
• School of Education and Social Policy
• Medill School of Journalism
• McCormick School of Engineering

WCAS Credit Transfer Instructions

1. Meet with your Weinberg College Adviser as soon as possible upon return to Northwestern University. Your College Adviser will discuss the transition back to Northwestern, scheduling, and course planning for remaining quarters. In addition, your adviser will go over the credit transfer process with you.
2. Obtain a copy of your study abroad transcript, either from the Study Abroad Office or from your study abroad program. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
3. Elective Credit Only: If you only want elective credit from your courses abroad, you need not take further action. The credits will post on your Northwestern record once the Registrar’s Office receives your study abroad transcript, and they will appear as Gen_Cred 1XX.
4. To designate credits as something other than electives, complete the WCAS Petition for Credit from Study Abroad. Only complete the parts of the application to be filled out by students. You will need to turn in a copy of your study abroad transcript along with the completed form.
5. Major/Minor Credit: If you are seeking credit towards your major, bring this form, the transcript and supporting materials, including course descriptions and course syllabi, to a meeting with your major adviser. If you are seeking credit for courses in an additional major and/or a minor, you will also need to meet with your advisers in those departments. Your major/minor adviser(s) will complete the appropriate section of the form and sign it.
6. Distribution Credit: Complete the appropriate section of the WCAS Petition for Credit for Courses Taken Abroad. You will need to turn in a syllabus for the course you wish to substitute for a distribution requirement AND a paragraph explaining why you believe the course should count.
7. When the form is complete and your general credits are posted on CAESAR, bring it and all required supporting materials to the Weinberg College Advising Office (1908 Sheridan Road). You do not need to schedule an appointment. A committee will review your petition and will convey decisions on attribution of credit to the Registrar.

School of Communication Credit Transfer Instructions

If you only want general NU credit towards graduation, you do not have to do anything. If you hope to apply some of your study abroad credits towards requirements in the School of Communication, complete the following steps:

1. Wait until your study abroad credits have posted to your NU transcript. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Once the credits have posted, make an appointment with your academic advisor and provide your advisor with a copy of the course syllabus and your work for the course. Your advisor will then determine how the coursework will apply toward your degree requirements.
3. If you wish to apply study abroad credits to a second major or minor within another school (e.g., WCAS), follow that school's credit transfer processes to have credits approved for that major or minor.

Bienen School of Music Credit Transfer Instructions

1. Obtain a copy of your study abroad transcript. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Complete the Music Application for Credit for Non-Northwestern Courses.
3. Bring a copy of your transcript, along with course descriptions and syllabi, to the Bienen School of Music Office of Student Affairs, MAB 110. All courses you wish to apply toward your degree requirements for the Bienen School of Music, including distribution courses, must be approved by the Assistant Dean in the Bienen School of Music. In order to be awarded applied lesson credit for study abroad, you must also have written approval from your Northwestern applied instructor.
4. If you wish to apply study abroad credits to a second major or minor within another school (e.g., WCAS), follow that school's credit transfer processes to have credits approved for that major or minor.
5. If you are a senior returning from study abroad and you have not yet petitioned to graduate, you must file your petition as soon as possible. The forms may be obtained in the Office of Student Affairs, and after completion, must be signed by the Assistant Dean. If you are completing a second major or minor in WCAS, you must also file a separate petition to graduate through that WCAS department.

SESP Credit Transfer Instructions

If you only want general NU credit towards graduation, you do not have to do anything. To apply study abroad coursework to your SESP degree requirements:

1. Obtain a copy of your study abroad transcript, either from the Study Abroad Office or from your study abroad program. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Set up a meeting with your SESP advisor.
3. Bring a copy of your transcript to the meeting. During the meeting, your advisor will make the final determination of how your study abroad coursework will apply toward your degree requirements.
4. If you wish to apply study abroad credits to a second major or minor within another school (e.g., WCAS), follow that school's credit transfer processes to have credits approved for that major or minor.

Questions? Contact your SESP adviser.

Medill Credit Transfer Instructions

1. Obtain a copy of your study abroad transcript, either from the Study Abroad Office or from your study abroad program. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Complete the Application for Credit for Non-Northwestern Courses.
3. Bring a copy of your transcript, along with course descriptions and syllabi, to the Medill Office of Student Life in Fisk 100. All courses you wish to apply toward the BSJ degree requirements in the area of distribution, three-course social science concentration, or six-course WCAS elective concentration must be approved by a staff member in Medill’s Office of Student Life. Please note that students cannot receive journalism credit for any journalism-related course taken outside Medill.
4. If you wish to apply study abroad credits to a second major or minor within another school (e.g., WCAS), follow that school's credit transfer processes to have credits approved for that major or minor.
5. If you are a senior returning from study abroad and you have not yet petitioned to graduate, you must file your petition as soon as possible. Completed petitions must be signed by a staff member in the Office of Student Life and returned to the Medill Office of Student Life. If you are completing a second major or minor in WCAS, you must also file a separate petition to graduate through that WCAS department.

McCormick Credit Transfer Instructions

Review the Transfer Credit Policy.

1. Obtain a copy of your study abroad transcript, either from the Study Abroad Office or from your study abroad program. Please note that the Study Abroad Office generally does not receive transcripts from study abroad programs until 1-2 months into the quarter, and you must complete a program evaluation before your study abroad transcript will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Elective Credit Only: If you only want elective credit from your courses abroad, you need not take further action. The credits will post on your Northwestern record once the Registrar’s Office receives your study abroad transcript, and they will appear as GEN_CRED 1XX in the Unrestricted Elective section of your McCormick degree progress.
3. To designate credits as something other than electives, complete the McCormick Curriculum Petition if you did not do so prior to your departure. Course equivalence verification (via faculty signature) is only necessary for math, science, and engineering coursework. If you do need a faculty member’s signature, consult the “Course Work at Other Schools” list to see who to ask.
4. To use credits towards your humanities theme requirement, you would also use the McCormick Curriculum Petition. List the course and the category (FAL/HSV/SBS) into which you think it would fall. You should also list the courses and the fact that they were taken abroad on your theme form. These courses will appear as GEN_CRED 1XX on your McCormick degree progress.
5. If you wish to apply study abroad credits to a second major or minor within another school (e.g., WCAS), follow that school's credit transfer processes to have credits approved for that major or minor.
6. If you are a senior returning from study abroad and you have not yet filed a degree application, you must do so as soon as possible. The form does not require any signatures and is available in Tech room L269 and online.