I want to study abroad! Where do I start?
The best place to start is the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) which is located in Suite 200, Weiser Hall. Their First Step sessions are a great way to get basic questions answered. If you wish to do language study abroad, it is also a good idea to talk to the appropriate ALC Language Program Director to inquire which program(s) s/he recommends.
Do study abroad credits transfer automatically?
It depends on which program you have chosen. If it is a UM-affiliated program—one that CGIS lists as being approved—then the credits usually do transfer automatically. Always double-check this with CGIS, though. Otherwise, students should speak to their general advisor about the transfer credit process for study abroad course work. Are you an LS&A student? Then check out the LS&A Transfer Credit page to help answer any preliminary questions you might have.
Do I go through ALC to transfer my credits from study abroad?
No. ALC does not play a role in the transfer credit process unless the offices that are in charge ask us to help evaluate a course’s content. Students should plan to talk to their general advisors about transferring credits and the paperwork involved.
I have already chosen my program and have been accepted. How do I get the culture courses I am taking abroad pre-approved to be used towards the Asian Studies major or one of the minors?
The first step is to get the syllabus, course description, and basic information (textbook, credits, etc.) for the courses you wish to take. Then, make an advising appointment, choosing “Study Abroad in Asia” as your reason. The ALC advisor will look over your remaining requirements and determine which of the courses will be appropriate. These pre-approvals will be entered on your advising file. As long as the courses transfer successfully onto your UM transcript and you earn a C or better, you can use them towards your program. You should make an appointment after you return and after the courses are appearing on your transcript to get them officially added to your audit.
I already did study abroad and didn’t get my culture courses pre-approved for my major/minor. What do I do now?
The process is similar to getting pre-approval except that you should first make sure the credits have transferred and are appearing on your UM transcript. Once you have confirmation of this, you should gather the syllabus, course description, and basic information (textbook, credits, etc.) for the courses you took. Then, make an advising appointment, choosing “Study Abroad in Asia” as your reason. The ALC advisor will look over your remaining requirements and determine whether the courses are appropriate to use. The approved courses will be entered onto your advising file and added to your program audit.
I am taking language courses abroad. How do I use those towards the Asian Studies major or the Asian Languages and Cultures minor?
If you are using the courses to gain the proficiency required for the prerequisite, you simply need to take a placement exam upon your return to move into the appropriate level. We do not need to do any kind of formal credit approval. If you are taking third-year level or above language courses to be used towards the major or minor requirements, then you should have the courses pre-approved by the appropriate ALC Language Director. You can schedule an appointment with an ALC Language Director by emailing him/her directly. This is to make sure that the course work is as academically rigorous as UM courses and that you will likely gain the proficiency you need. You should also go through the proper transfer credit process to get the course(s) applied to your UM transcript. Upon your return, you will need to take a placement exam to verify that you have gained the supposed proficiency.
