.... Click here for a list of Barnard-approved Study Abroad Programs

Getting Credit

Guidelines for Selecting Courses Abroad     

• First you should choose your program carefully. Only liberal arts courses offered by an accredited liberal arts institution are normally credited toward the degree.  Courses that are professional, applied, technical, too narrow in scope, or "non-conventional" cannot receive credit.  (Marketing courses, for example, do not usually receive Barnard credit.)
   

• Some programs offer a "fixed menu" and all students take the same courses. Others offer a huge selection of courses and still others offer a bit of both.  Many programs do not allow you to sign up for your courses until the first week of the semester and some do not even have course listings available until that time.  If you absolutely must find a course that meets a particular Barnard requirement, it is essential that you have the course approved prior to taking it. That may determine which program you attend. Do as much as you can to be as informed as possible but also realize that you will be studying under a different system and you need to learn to be adaptable.
   

• You must take the equivalent of at least 12 Barnard points in a semester.  There is no limit on the maximum number of points you can take abroad as long as all courses are approved.  However, it is not advisable to take more than 18 points in one semester. You must also meet the requirements of the program you are attending (some programs require that you take 15 credits abroad – which may only correspond to 12 points at Barnard)
   

• Credit equivalencies are different in different countries and on different types of programs. Do not assume that a 10 credit course in Buenos Aires will count as 10 Barnard points.  Look into this before you go. Ask students who have gone before, ask the program, ask Dean Young.
   

• Courses that overlap courses already taken cannot receive credit. For example, if the elementary or intermediate levels of a language have already been credited, they cannot be taken again for degree credit.
   

• Courses taken abroad may count toward your major, minor or the Nine Ways of Knowing, however, they must be approved as such on eBear. Please note that a course must be worth at least 3 Barnard points to count toward major minor or Gen Ed requirements.
   

• It is always interesting to take some courses directly related to the location in which you are studying. Take something you may not find here in the States.
   

• Speak with students who have attended the institution you plan to attend. Find out which courses they took and enjoyed. Find out what credit they received for their courses here at Barnard.
   


Instructions for Submitting Course Approval Requests

• All courses taken on an approved program will be considered for credit. However, you must file the Study Leave Course Pre-Approval Application online through eBear for all courses. You must present as much information as possible: syllabi, course descriptions, number of weeks and hours per week the course meets, reading lists, types of assignments, and means of assessment.  Department Chairs or Representatives will review your courses online and then may ask you to submit further information or meet with them before approving or denying your courses
   

• In addition, you need to meet with your adviser to review your courses.  These meetings may take place prior to completion of the review of your courses.  If course listings are not available, you should meet with the appropriate chairs or representatives to discuss what to look for in courses likely to receive credit at Barnard.  Remember that you must take at least 6 courses in your major during spring and fall semesters of enrollment at Barnard.  Individual departments may require additional or particular courses at Barnard.  In the case of courses taken to satisfy the language requirement, a departmental exam to validate degree credit and fulfillment of the requirement may be required upon your return to Barnard.
   

• The process is quite self explanatory. Log in to your eBear account and click the tab for “Study Abroad”. Then on the left hand side of the page click on “Course Form.” Provide all of the necessary information and send.  That’s it! Check back in every once in a while to see if your courses have been approved.  If you do not see that your courses have been evaluated after a few weeks, you can politely follow up by emailing the department chair to inform them of the situation.
   

• Barnard will never grant more points than the foreign institution grants for a course (despite what the course evaluator approves it for.)  For example a course at University of Edinburgh is worth 20 Edinburgh credits. Four Edinburgh credits are worth 1 Barnard point (in terms of work load, hours etc) so a 20 credit Edinburgh course is worth 5 Barnard Points. A 10 credit Edinburgh course can only earn  2.5 Barnard points.
  
  You will never get more than you ask for.  If a course is worth 5 points but you only request 3 then you will earn a maximum of 3 points.  So reach for the stars! (A good rule of thumb is to put down the number of credits given at the institution and have the evaluators do the calculating for you.)
   

• Satisfaction of General Education Requirements is determined by the Registrar's Office. Courses will first be reviewed by the department granting credit and if it is approved then it will automatically be sent to the COI (Committee on Instruction) for evaluation as a General Education Requirement (if you have indicated interest in this on the form).
  
  

Information About Grading Policies
 

• Courses taken at foreign institutions must receive some evaluation (e.g., grades, tutors’ reports, examination marks).  Courses should not be taken Pass/Fail.  Courses with grades of D or F will not receive credit.
   

• n.b. Each foreign institution uses a different grading scale. Some institutions will provide us with an American Equivalent grade, others will not.  You may check with Dean Young to learn what scale is used on your program.  We cannot dispute grades determined by other institutions. Be aware that grading is relatively harsh and is not at all inflated at many foreign institutions, so grades earned tend to be lower than here in the US.
   

• Grades received for courses taken abroad will not be calculated into your Barnard GPA.  Letter grades will be posted in parentheses on your transcript.  However, all grades received for academic-year courses (not summer study abroad) for which credit is granted are calculated in the overall grade point average for honors upon graduation.  Taking study abroad courses for which grades cannot be designated may mean that graduation honors at Barnard will require a higher Barnard grade point average.
  
  Study abroad courses and grades may, however, be considered by graduate or professional schools, which normally require the submission of an applicant's transcripts from all colleges attended.
  
  Grades from Columbia University programs abroad (Reid Hall, Columbia University in Beijing, KCJS and BCGS) are included in the Barnard grade point average.  Columbia summer courses are not included in the Barnard gpa.
   

• You must have an official transcript sent directly to the Registrar, 107 Milbank, before credit can be awarded.  Prompt action is recommended, for a delay may jeopardize financial aid, status for campus housing, or timely graduation. 
   

• Should your courses change while you are abroad, please submit the new courses online for review by the department chair or designee as soon as possible.
  


 

Transfer Of Credit And The Assignment Of Courses For Major And General Education Requirements Is Not Final Until An Official Transcript Is Reviewed By The Registrar.