Courses

What would I study?

Classes in your major or minor -- See if there are short-term group programs in your field, or go on an exchange at a university that offers courses in your major or minor. In some cases, you can pick up most of a minor during a semester abroad!

Electives -- Go on a group program in an area of interest to you, or go on an exchange and take courses to meet your elective requirements. The choices are endless!

Foreign languages -- Start at the beginning or continue studying a language while you're abroad: French, Spanish, Germany, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, or any other language that appeals to you. You can study a language and culture intensively or, if you're already proficient in a language, you can take courses in your field taught in whatever language you speak.

Internships or work experience -- Career-related experiences are available, too, either for academic credit or for pay. Some study abroad programs offer a work component; the College of Engineering offers internships in conjunction with a semester of study overseas. Explore other options in the Study Abroad Center library.

Transferring courses

ISU courses -- Short-term group programs are really ISU courses, as are the Regents' Language Programs and some of the Spanish language programs, so all you'll need to do is register for these as you would for other ISU classes, after you're accepted. Some courses are graded, others pass/fail; check with your program's coordinator to find out how to register.

ISU semester or exchange programs -- Are you going on an exchange or semester program, or a short-term program that awards transfer credit? You'll use a credit transfer approval form, to be signed by your academic advisor and the Registrar's Office,. The credits earned abroad won't affect your Iowa State grade point average (GPA), but the grades won't disappear; your transcript will be at the Admissions Office and your host school, in case an employer or graduate school asks for it.

Non-ISU or direct enrollment -- If you're enrolling directly in a foreign university or participating in a program organized by another U.S. university, you'll complete the application for non-ISU study abroad programs (.doc) available on the Applications page of the Study Abroad Center's website. Your place at ISU will be held for you (no need to reapply for re-entry). As with an exchange, a transcript from the host school will be sent to the Admissions Office.

Waiver of last 32 credits -- Are you almost ready to graduate? You can still study abroad! Even though ISU requires that the last 32 credits be earned on campus, that requirement can be waived if you're studying abroad. See your academic advisor for permission to do this.

Transferring courses

Equivalency Guides

Use these guides to help you figure out which courses are equivalent to ISU courses.