Terms & Conditions

• No Guarantee of Equivalency

  Just because a course appears in the CED does not mean it is automatically approved for your specific term.

  • Curriculum Changes: Both SJSU and partner institutions frequently update syllabi.
  • Expiration: Approvals typically have a limited validity period (usually five years). Once expired, a new review is required.
• Departmental Approval is Mandatory

  The CED does not bypass the official Academic Approval Form process.

  • All Majors & Minors (Except Business): All majors and minors (except Business) must obtain formal signatures on the Academic Approval Form (AAF) from the relevant faculty reviewer (usually the faculty advisor in your major or minor) to ensure the course meets current major, minor, or elective requirements.
  • Business Majors & Minors: All majors and minors in the Lucas Graduate & College of Business are required to submit their Academic Approval Form (AAF) to the appropriate Course Coordinators for the BUS requirements. If the course coordinator is not listed on the spreadsheet, please reach out to Leslie Albert (leslie.albert@sjsu.edu), and she will connect you with the appropriate approver.
  • General Education (GE): All GE requirements are approved by the Undergraduate Education office. Follow their instructions on their website here.
  • University Electives: Every course you take abroad on any of the approved programs on the Spartans Abroad Portal automatically fulfill at minimum a general university elective. Submit all elective courses on the AAF section for General University Electives and the Study Abroad & Away office will approve them for lower or upper division electives.
• Course Availability

  The CED tracks equivalency, not availability.

  • The host university may not offer the listed course during your semester abroad.
  • It is your responsibility to cross-reference the CED with the host institution’s current course catalog and submit the course syllabus via the Academic Approval Form (AAF) for approval.
• Units and Grading

  The credits & units on the CED may not be up-to-date. It is your responsibility to ensure your proposed courses accurately reflect the most current courses at your host university and the equivalent units at SJSU.

  • Credit Conversion: The number of units earned abroad may not translate 1:1 to SJSU units (e.g., ECTS credits vs. SJSUr units). Review the SJSU Credit Conversion table to determine the appropriate credit conversion rate, which is subject to change.
  • Grade Requirements: Most programs require a minimum grade (usually a "C" or better) for the credit to transfer back to SJSU.

  Pro Tip: Always have 2–3 "backup" courses approved in case your first-choice classes are full or cancelled upon arrival.

• How to Use the CED Effectively
  1. MyProgress: Review your MyProgress for your outstanding graduation requirements. Note the course numbers and titles to compare with the course offerings at your host university.
  2. Search: Check the host university's website or their course catalog for availability.
  3. Verify: Do a search (Control + F) for either the host university course or the SJSU course equivalent on the CED.
  4. Submit: Complete the Study Abroad Academic Approval Form (AAF) docusign form, listing  the appropriate faculty reviewer.