Academics

The majority of Study Abroad & Away opportunities are credit-bearing programs where students can earn SJSU credit towards their degree. Please see details below regarding academic policies for semester programs and programs during the summer and winter sessions.

Semester Programs

Credit and Courses

Participants in SJSU study abroad programs at partner universities (all long-term programs) are guaranteed to receive “resident credit” for all coursework taken at partner universities. This means that units taken on SJSU programs will count towards overall graduation unit requirements. Course equivalencies for major, minor, or General Education requirements are determined and approved by advisors in corresponding departments. Students accepted into SJSU programs will be given detailed advice on how to get their classes approved. All coursework taken abroad on these programs will be posted on the students’ official SJSU records/transcripts and is not considered “transfer credit.” 

Grades

All courses taken for a grade abroad will be factored into students’ GPA. The SJSU Study Abroad and Away office does not perform grade conversions or grading curves for classes taken at partner universities; grade conversions are performed by the Office of the Registrar according to standards set by that office. If you would like to take a class at a partner university as pass/fail instead of for a grade, the appropriate paperwork must be completed before going abroad. It is too late to apply for a class to be counted as pass/fail after the class has begun.

Registration

Some partner universities allow students to register early and courses are confirmed before arrival. Others have students register upon arrival or during the first few weeks of class. Participants should be as patient and flexible as possible when following the host institutions’ procedures. Students should have alternate choices for courses, in case some classes are not offered. Students should not be registered in courses at SJSU while studying abroad unless they are taking an online SJSU course in addition to classes at their host university. Students are limited to taking a single online course at SJSU while abroad on their program. 

Academic Approval Form (AAF)

Students who are accepted into a Summer School Abroad (SSA) for summer courses or the semester courses in the SJSU Exchange, ISEP, or CSU IP need to complete the AAF Docusign form prior to leaving for their abroad program. In some rare situations, students can complete their AAF while they are abroad particularly if they enroll in a new course that was not originally on their AAF. Please click here for the instructions and procedures to get your abroad courses pre-approved to fulfill GE, Major, Minor, or Elective requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a semester or year-long program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 at the time of application*
2. Not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the beginning of the program**

Some programs have additional requirements. These may include a higher GPA for more competitive universities, or certain language or coursework prerequisites for particular fields of study. Be sure to check the individual requirements listed for each program before applying.

*If your GPA is under 2.5, please contact a Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss your particular situation. 

**If you are currently on academic or disciplinary probation, you are still eligible to apply, but the probation must end by the time your program begins.

Summer & Winter Programs 

Credit and Courses

Participants on Faculty-Led Programs will receive SJSU credit that will count towards overall graduation unit requirements. Courses will appear on the SJSU transcript similar to other courses taken on campus, as they are SJSU courses taught by SJSU faculty.

Registration

For Faculty-Led Programs, students will receive an email notifying them when their course registration is open. Students will have a specific window of time, from the date of the notice to the stated deadline, to register for their program course online through their MySJSU account.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a short-term program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 at the time of application
2. Not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the beginning of the program*

Some Faculty-Led Programs (FLPs) and Summer School Abroad programs (SSAs) will have specific prerequisites or requirements. For example, programs offering SJSU Studies courses in Areas R, S and V will require that applicants would have completed all of the course prerequisites at the time of the application submission. These can include:

1. Completion of core General Education (GE) requirements
2. Upper Division Standing

Some programs may also require completion of other specific prerequisite courses. Be sure to check the individual requirements listed for each program before applying.

Please note that all participants must enroll in all listed program courses in order to be eligible to participate in the program. Students are not permitted to repeat any courses they have already taken and passed at SJSU. If you have already taken the program's course(s), you will not be eligible for the program. 

*If you are currently on academic or disciplinary probation, you are still eligible to apply, but the probation must end by the time your program begins.

Transfer Students from Community Colleges

Community college students that have been admitted to SJSU may transfer to the university and go directly on a SJSU study abroad or away program as early as their first semester at SJSU. Transfer students may apply for study abroad programs prior to acceptance at SJSU, but acceptance into the program is contingent upon acceptance into the university. Coursework taken at community colleges can be used to meet program prerequisite requirements.

Open University 

Non-matriculated SJSU students can apply to Faculty-Led Programs and Summer School Abroad programs, and enroll as Open University (OU) students upon acceptance. OU students will go through the same application process.

For upper division General Education courses that have prerequisites, Open University students must show proof of having passed equivalent prerequisites. Open University students will also need to complete additional documents once accepted:

Non-Matriculated, Open University, and J-1 Visa Students Taking SJSU Studies Courses for Non-GE Credit Form

Do not complete the form above until you are accepted to the program. By completing this form, you agree that should you ever matriculate at SJSU, you may NOT use this course for SJSU Studies credit.

Disability Accommodations

Students requesting accommodations on their study abroad program due to disability-related limitations are required to register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at least 60 days before the program start date.  However, we strongly encourage registering as part of applying to the program in order to inform a student’s choice of program. If you need accommodations, please register online. If you are already registered with the AEC or once you are registered, please remember to submit any accommodation requests to the faculty leader for your study abroad program, the same way you would for any course on campus based on the Accessible Education Center's policies.