Academic/Faculty Advisors
Academic Advisors and Faculty play a critical role in supporting students' study abroad plans and goals. As study abroad programs are academic endeavors, students often need guidance on how a study abroad course fits into the academic plans and helps them fulfil their degree requirements.
Most WMU students participate in study abroad programs that involve a WMU course (faculty led programs), which can be much easier to evaluate than study abroad courses from our international partner universities.
Academic Course Pre-Approval Form Info
Study Abroad Host Institution Academic Reference Guide
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Terminology
"Courses" at WMU = "Courses" at host institution.
Credit Hour System
Consistent with WMU
Typical number of credit hours per course at host: 3 credits
# of Host Credit Hours | # of WMU Credit Hours |
1 | 1 |
3 | 3 |
Academic Load
Fall or spring semester: Most students select 4 classes of study for a total of 12 credit hours.
Summer term: Students may enroll in 2 classes for a total of 6 credit hours.
Course Selection
Instructions on Searching for Courses:
View courses on the Florence School of Fine Arts "Courses" webpage.
Click on the subject (ex. "Painting") you are interested in studying to view information about courses offered in that subject area (credit hours, prerequisites, terms offered, description, etc.)
If additional course information is required in order to determine what "WMU Equivalent Course" may be possible, please contact WMU Study Abroad.
Notes:
All courses are offered at the beginning to advanced level and taught in English.
Take note of any "prerequisites" that may be required for a particular course.
Grading Scale & Conversion
Grades in this program are assigned a letter grade on an A-F scale.
Letter Grade at Host Institution | Letter Grade at WMU | Host Institution Significance |
A | A | Work that far exceeds the minimum requirements in craftsmanship, presentation, and visual/intellectual order. Your concepts, ideas, and insightful participation in the class and in critiques have to be of a high level to obtain this grade. |
B | B | Above average work that far exceeds the minimum requirements. Skillful handling of the materials with good concepts, showing initiative in critiques and in class. |
C | C | Average work completion with only adequate control of the materials. Minimum class and critique participation. |
D | D | Failure to complete assignments resulting from a minimum amount of effort, poor execution, and sloppy craftsmanship in the handling of the materials with little or no class participation. |
F | E | Little or no effort with consideration to the assignments. No participation in class or critiques. |
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Terminology
"Courses" at WMU = "Papers" at host institution.
"Major" at WMU = "Course" at host institution.
"Fall semester" at WMU = "Semester 2" at host institution.
"Spring semester" at WMU = "Semester 1" at host institution.
Credit Hour System
Otago Points
Otago Points / 4, then round up to the nearest whole number = WMU Credit Hours
Typical number of credit hours per course at host: 18 Otago Points (5 WMU Credit Hours)
# of Host Credit Hours | # of WMU Credit Hours |
18 | 5 |
Academic Load
To be considered full-time, fall or spring students generally take 54-72 Otago Points (14-18 WMU Credit Hours) per semester. This is typically 3-4 papers, each worth 18 Otago Points (5 WMU Credit Hours).
Course Selection
Instructions on Searching for Courses:
You can find papers at Otago in a number of ways. To browse by subject area, please click here, or, to view all Otago subjects A-Z, please click here. Then, click on the name of the subject (ex. "Psychology", "Computer Science", "Exercise & Sport Science", etc.) you are interested in.
Next, scroll down to the "Requirements" section, click on "Choose a Programme", and then click on the name of the program for which you would like to view papers (ex. "Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Exercise and Sport Science").
For detailed information on a specific paper, click on the name of that paper (ex. "SPEX 203"). Here you can find an overview/description of the paper, information about the number of Otago Credit Points the paper is worth, the Teaching period (when the paper is taught), any prerequisites, and more.
Notes:
Make sure the papers you're interested in studying are offered in the same semester you will be at Otago.
A number of papers are listed as "full year". You may enroll for these papers only if you intend to enroll for two semesters, commencing in "Semester 1".
Normally, you will not be permitted to take papers from the following degree schedules: Dentistry, Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.
Take note of any "prerequisites" that may be required for a particular paper.
For papers above 100-level (first year) that require Otago prerequisites, students need to apply for Special Permission. This is a normal step for most Study Abroad students. The relevant department(s) will review your request and your previous studies.
Papers numbered 200 to 300 normally require the fulfilment of academic prerequisites at your home institution. Papers numbered above 300 level are postgraduate papers. You will need to have an advanced background to be accepted for these papers. If the papers you are considering have prerequisites, you will need to seek pre-approval to take them.
Grading Scale & Conversion
Grades on this program are assigned on an A+-E scale and via "marks" on a 0-100 scale.
Letter Grade at Host Institution | Mark at Host Institution | Letter Grade at WMU |
A+ | 90-100 | A |
A | 85-89 | BA |
A- | 80-84 | BA |
B+ | 75-79 | BA |
B | 70-74 | B |
B- | 65-69 | CB |
C+ | 60-64 | CB |
C | 55-59 | CB |
C- | 50-54 | C |
Fail D | 40-49 | E |
Fail E | Below 40 | E |
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Study Abroad Course Policies & Procedures
Policies:
12 credits (UG), 6 credits (GR)
All students participating in a study abroad program are registered in a course, or courses, at WMU. Within the WMU Study Abroad Application, students are asked to give their consent to WMU Study Abroad to register students in study abroad courses.
Students can select the grade mode for study abroad courses, which can be either "graded" or "Credit/No Credit". If Credit/No Credit is selected, for a major or minor degree requirement, then the relevant Department Chair or College Dean must sign off on this request.
Can be made up to two weeks after departure or semester programs, and up to 1 week for departure for summer program
Procedures:
WMU utilizes "Placeholder Courses" for students who participate in study abroad programs which involve registering in a course at one of our partner universities or institutions abroad. Placeholder Courses are designed to allow students participating in study abroad programs to maintain enrollment at WMU so they can access things like WMU email, utilize financial aid, and other things available to WMU students.
As part of the study abroad application process, students are asked to give the WMU Study Abroad Office permission to register students in these Placeholder Courses. This process of registration in the Placeholder Course/s begins once the student has officially "committed" to participating in their chosen study abroad program
The purpose of this form is to confirm how courses taken abroad will convert to WMU courses. Students list courses they are interested in/planning to register for abroad and WMU Academic Advisors, Faculty Advisors, Department Chairs, and/or College Deans indicate how those courses will be applied to the student’s WMU academic record.
Instructions for students
Review the list of courses offered at your host institution and locate syllabi and/or course descriptions for the classes you are interested in taking abroad.
Under the “Courses from Host Institution” section list the course code and title, # of host institution credit hours, and grade mode requested for the classes you are interested in taking abroad.
Be sure to list more courses that you will ultimately need to take in the event that some are not available at the time of your enrollment or are unable to be approved by your advisor.
Provide this form and course syllabi/courses descriptions to your WMU Academic or Faculty Advisor so they can determine what WMU degree requirement your study abroad course(s) may fulfill.
This completed form, with signatures, must be submitted to your WMU Study Abroad Specialist at the time of your program application.
After this form is received by WMU Study Abroad, your Specialist will review to confirm that the # of host credit hours to # of WMU credit hours has been converted correctly.
Instructions for WMU Academic Advisors, Faculty Advisors, Departments Chairs and/or College Deans
Please review the instructions for students listed above and the WMU Study Abroad “Academics” webpage. Under the “Application to WMU Record” section of this form, indicate how courses will apply to the WMU academic record, the number of WMU credit hours the courses will be worth, and the WMU equivalent course. Please sign and date next to each course.
How will this class apply to the WMU academic record? Confirms what degree requirement the course can fulfill.
# of WMU Credit Hours: Please see the WMU Study Abroad “Academics” webpage for more information on determining credit hour equivalences for courses taken abroad. Credit hour equivalencies will be reviewed for accuracy by WMU Study Abroad.
WMU Equivalent Course: Confirms what the content is equivalent to at WMU.
Grade Mode Notes
Courses taken for a letter grade abroad will count towards the students overall WMU GPA.
Students can choose to take elective and WES courses for Credit/No Credit.
Students can choose for major or minor requirements to be Credit or No Credit, if approved and signed off on via this form by a Department Chair or College Dean.
Departments may require students to obtain the equivalent of a “C” grade or above from courses taken abroad to receive credit toward certain major requirements. If you earn the equivalent of a grade below “C’, you will not earn “Credit” for that study abroad course.
Grade mode decisions for study abroad courses must be finalized within two weeks of the start date of your classes for fall or spring semesters, or within one week of the start date of your classes for summer I or Summer II sessions.
Additional Notes
Listing a course on the Form does not guarantee enrollment in that course at the host institution abroad
Students studying abroad during fall or spring semesters are required to maintain full-time enrollment for the duration of their study abroad program (min. 12 for undergraduate; min. 6 for graduate).
It is the student's responsibility to ensure all courses taken abroad are pre-approved via the Form. Courses that are not pre-approved will be counted as Elective Credit and assigned a letter grade.
Decisions on what degree requirements a study abroad course may fulfill are made by WMU Faculty. Individual Colleges and/or Departments may determine their own processes for evaluating study abroad courses. The WMU Study Abroad Office has no authority to determine what degree requirements study abroad courses may fulfill.
Students participating in study abroad programs that involve registering in a course at an institution/university abroad are often studying in a different academic system, compared to the United States. The manner in which students are evaluated for their performance in class, and consequently the type of grade they receive often differs from WMU and varies greatly depending on the country.
In order to convert a student's grade from abroad back to WMU, the Study Abroad Office utilizes grade conversion guides from our partner institutions and universities. Often accompanied with the transcript issued by our partner institutions and universities, a grade conversion scale indicates what the grade earned abroad equates to in the United States. In a small number of cases where a grade conversion scale is not provided by our partners, then we use official grade conversion scales from World Education Services (an officially recognized international credit evaluation service).
Students participating in study abroad programs that involve registering in a course at an institution/university abroad are often studying in a different academic system, compared to the United States. The number of credit hours a student earns in a course often differs from WMU and varies greatly depending on the country.
In order to convert a student's credit hours from abroad back to WMU, the Study Abroad Office utilizes credit hour conversion scales from our partner institutions and universities. Often accompanied with the transcript issued by our partner institutions and universities, a credit hour conversion scale indicates how many credit hours earned abroad equate back in the United States. In a small number of cases where a credit hour conversion scale is not provided by our partners, then we use official credit hour conversion scales from World Education Services (an officially recognized international credit evaluation service).
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