Study Abroad GE Approval Process

The Office of Undergraduate Education (UE) has the authorization to approve study abroad coursework to meet lower division General Education (GE), upper division GE (SJSU Studies), American Institutions (US1-3), 100W (GWAR), or Physical Education (PE) requirements.

The approval is for a GE Area, NOT for a specific SJSU GE course. 

Lower division courses are given a course number of 092 (e.g., POLS 092), upper division courses are given a course number of 192, and graduate level courses are given the course number 292.

Getting a Course approved for CORE General Education, American Institutions, and PE

1.  Submit course list to undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu
   1. Specify which Area(s) you are requesting for approval (e.g., Area C2) 
   2. Some Areas have a minimum writing requirement. For example:
      • Area A1 has a minimum writing requirement of 1,500 words
      • Area A2 has a minimum writing requirement of 8,000 words
      • Area A3 has a minimum writing requirement of 6,000 words
      • Area E has a minimum writing requirement of 1,500 words
   3. Physical Education courses need to include activities, not lectures alone
   4. American Institution course content requirements:
      • Area US1 - U.S. History (at least 100 years)
      • Area US2 - American Politics or Government
      • Area US3 - California Politics or Government
2. UE will initiate the GE Academic Approval Form (AAF), evaluate your request, and give a recommendation.
3. The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education will review your request and make the final decision.

Getting a study abroad course approved for upper division GE (SJSU Studies) and 100W (GWAR)

1. Before seeking approval of SJSU Studies or 100W, students need to have fulfilled the following requirements:
   1. Completion of Written Skills by:
      1. Passing the Writing Skills Test (WST) with a score of 7 or higher, OR
      2. Taking the Upper Division Writing Directed Self Placement (UDW- DSP)
2. Submit course list and syllabus to undergraduate-education@sjsu.edu
3. UE will initiate the GE Academic Approval Form (AAF), evaluate your request, and give a recommendation.
4. The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education will review your request and make the final decision.

Content focus:

1. Courses in Area V should include a Humanities perspective, and be focused on countries outside the U.S. Courses in Area S should have a focus on the United States. Area R courses should focus on the scientific method. Written Communications II (GWAR) courses should focus on upper division writing skills.
2. Must have significant writing requirements.
   1. For reference, all SJSU upper division GE courses (R, S and V) require a minimum of 3000 words of writing with practice and feedback.
   2. Written Communications II requires a minimum of 8000 words of writing with practice and feedback.
3. Course(s) must be considered upper-division (e.g. 3rd year or higher)

UE Approved Courses

Signing Order Flowchart