Approving Credits for Study Abroad

USU study abroad advisors will refer to the process of requesting and approving a transfer of credits as ‘articulation’.

Approving Credits Based on Your Program

USU Faculty-Led Program Participants

You don’t have to request advance approval of credits. Students on USU faculty-led programs will receive USU credit automatically, while students on other programs will need to articulate their coursework to receive USU credit.

Exchange, Direct, and Independent Program Participants

You are required to submit study abroad courses of interest for approval prior to your departure from USU. You may earn major, minor, general education, and/or elective credit from study abroad, though all courses must go through approval.

Steps for Advance Credit Approval

*Please submit as many forms as needed.

1

Host Institution Courses

Review the list of courses offered at your host institution and find the course descriptions/syllabi of the courses you want to take.
2

USU Courses

Look for similar courses at USU using the course catalog.
3

Credit Approval Form

Complete the Study Abroad Credit Approval form in ServiceNow for each course you would like to take abroad, which will be routed to the appropriate articulation representative based on the subject area you select. If course descriptions or syllabi are not in English, you may be requested to translate them. The articulation representative is an expert in their field and will determine the USU equivalent for a particular course.

It is strongly recommended that you also select several backup courses in case your preferred courses are not available at the time of your enrollment.
4

Meet with Your Academic Advisor

It is highly recommended to discuss your proposed courses with your academic advisor. Identify any classes you would like to have graded with the Pass (P), D+, D, F grading option (from now on, referred to as P/F). If P/F grades are desired (see “Grade Policies” section below and on form), complete the P/F section of the ServiceNow form for each course you’d like graded P/F. Your academic advisor approves or denies P/F grading options.

Please note: You may choose to request any class be graded as P/F with academic advisor approval but be aware that some major classes must be letter-graded to count toward your degree requirements. Discuss your P/F requests with your academic advisor to see if that type of grading fits what you want/need.
5

Course Changes Abroad

When you register at your host institution, you may select courses not previously approved through a Study Abroad Credit Approval ServiceNow form. If this happens, complete a new ServiceNow form for each additional course. It is highly recommended to touch base with your academic advisor about any course changes. Approval for any additional course(s) should be handled while you are still abroad. Visit returning students page for steps to transfer credits when you return.

Grade Policies

  • All study abroad grades are articulated based on the equivalent grade awarded on the host country transcript. All exchange, direct, and independent study abroad courses, credits, and grades are articulated to the student transcript as transfer credit. All study abroad credits count toward the student’s overall GPA.
  • Courses must be completed with at least a “C” grade to count for major or minor credit. Please discuss with your academic advisor for specific requirements for your major or minor. (Some majors/minors may approve a C-).
  • If you wish to have your courses approved with P/F grading, you must request prior approval from your academic advisor. P/F grades must be requested and approved before 60% of the USU equivalent semester is over, regardless of semester dates at your host institution. If you are beyond the point of being able to request P/F grading for your term abroad, the option will not appear in the form (if you are early to requesting it and P/F does not yet show as an option, please be in touch with studyabroad@usu.edu). If P/F grading is approved for a course, you CANNOT change back to a letter grade for that course.

Visit returning students page for steps to transfer credits when you return.