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Programs

Education Abroad

UTSA Policy on International Travel to Restricted Regions Department Guidelines for International Policies

Course Credit

The number of academic credit a student earns and where it is applied toward his/her degree program while studying abroad depends on the study abroad program. It also depends on the student’s major.

Before departure, you will need to speak with your academic adviser to determine if the selected courses abroad will be accepted for major, elective or general elective credit. The student’s academic adviser and the Education Abroad adviser both sign this form.

  • All credit earned from a Study Abroad/Exchange Program is earned as transfer credit. It is important to note that with all programs, students who study abroad remain UTSA students. They do not withdraw from the university. Official transcripts from the study abroad college or university must be mailed back to the Office of International Programs in order to earn those credits.
  • Participants in a UTSA Faculty-Led Study Abroad program are registered in resident UTSA courses. You pay UTSA tuition and enroll in UTSA courses that are taken abroad.

 

The Degree Plan

When you meet with your academic adviser we suggest that you review your academic degree plan. This plan will help you determine which courses you will take each semester before you graduate.

In completing the degree plan, you will be able to learn what courses you have left to fulfill for your major and other requirements. When you select courses for your study abroad program, you will be able to select courses that will fulfill those requirements so that you will stay on track.

 


Questions about Credit

1. Do I need to have a certain cumulative grade point average to study abroad?
Yes. UTSA requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. This includes all transfer credit, and UTSA courses. Some programs may have a higher minimum cumulative GPA than 2.5, which you must also meet.

2. Do I need to be in a particular year to study abroad?
UTSA requires students to be at least a sophomore to study abroad. You may apply as a freshman and study abroad as a sophomore.

3. Do I have to withdraw from UTSA in order to go abroad?
No. For all of our study abroad programs you will remain a UTSA student. You will be registered in a special course while you are abroad.

4. Do my study-abroad credits get transferred in?
Yes. If you are enrolled in a UTSA class as part of the program, you will receive UTSA credit. For all programs in which you receive a foreign transcript, courses will be listed as either “Credit” or “No Credit” on your UTSA transcript. You must consult your academic adviser before going abroad in order to have all of your courses approved. UTSA cannot guarantee credit for a course that has not been approved by your academic adviser. Programs for which you receive a U.S. transcript will be transferred in as transfer credits with a grade. These courses are calculated in your GPA at UTSA once transferred.

5. Are my grades from abroad averaged into my cumulative grade-point average?
Your grades are not averaged into your GPA unless you receive a transcript from a U.S.-based institution. Grades from a U.S. transcript do get averaged in to your GPA.

6. Can I take courses in English in countries where English is not the official language?
Some of our programs in non-English speaking countries do require you to know how to speak a second language. However, there are many programs that do not. Please check with the Education Abroad Services staff to determine which program works best for you.

7. How can graduate students study abroad?
Although most programs are geared toward undergraduate students, there are program options for graduate students. You can search our online database for programs, or speak with an Education Abroad Services advisor about options. Approval is required from your graduate advisor before you can go abroad.

8. How is credit processed for graduate students?
Graduate students simply go abroad, complete their study abroad program, and then bring the official transcript back to UTSA. Credits are not shown on the UTSA transcript until the student graduates from UTSA. The Graduate School holds the transcript in the file until that time, with a note and credits shown from abroad upon graduation.

9. What will happen if I fail a course?
Although the grade may not be averaged into your GPA, it will still remain on your transcript. If the course is transferred from an U.S. institution, you will receive transfer credit of an F on your UTSA transcript.  You will receive an “NC” on your UTSA transcript for the course.