Academics Abroad
Credit
If you participate on a Columbia-sponsored program (Reid Hall; Tsinghua; BCGS, KCJS, etc) all the work you complete is considered Columbia credit and will be listed on your transcript and calculated into your GPA.
If you participate on an approved non-Columbia program, Columbia University students will receive general credit for courses in which they have received a C- or better. Exceptions include professional courses: business, education, journalism, law, which are not acceptable as transfer credits unless a department at Columbia is supporting the course.General credits do not factor into a student's official GPA, although all grades earned abroad do become part of a student's official transcript.
Major Credit
Approval of credit toward your
undergraduate degree does not automatically imply that courses will
fulfill requirements for your major. If you wish to receive credit towards
your major for courses taken abroad, you should discuss the program in
general terms with your major departmental representative as soon as you have
descriptive information about it prior to going abroad with a major planning form. Every department uses different criteria when assessing coursework taken abroad. It is important to understand what your department expects of you before you go so that you can select your classes abroad with an eye towards requirements. This is especially important is you plan on doing a senior thesis. Most departments require that you bring all work (essays, syllabi, test) back to campus.
Transcripts
In order to award credit, Columbia requires an official transcript from your program. Please have your program or school send your transcript to the Office of Global Programs. This transcript becomes part of your academic records. You might consider requesting a few copies for yourself, especially if you plan on applying to graduate school.
FAQ
Q: Can I take classes in English if I study in country where the local language is not English?
A: If you are studying in a country where you have at least an Intermediate language level, you are expected to take all coursework in the local language. Exceptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Q: Can I do an Internship for credit?
A: Columbia students may undertake an academic internship for credit with the approval of Dean Carpenter and the OGP. The Internship must be a part of an academic class and have a substantive paper associated with it.
Q: Can I take fewer than 15 points while I am abroad?
A: You must take a full-course load while you are abroad according to both Columbia and your host institution.
Q:Can I take 'professional' classes while I am abroad? For example, Law or Business classes?
A: No. You may only take Liberal Arts or Engineering Classes courses for credit.
Q: Can I arrange for alternate end-of-term assessment/exams if I want to leave early?
A: You need to complete the academic program of your host institution and may not arrange alternate exams or papers to replace the scheduled exams.
Q: Can I take classes Pass/Fail while I am abroad?
A: No. You need to take all classes for a grade while abroad.