Academics and Credits

• A normal course load overseas may range from 3-6 courses.
• If a course is a duplication of a course already taken, no credit can be granted for the course.
• If a student has taken an advanced language course at Clark, they cannot get credit for a lower level abroad.
• Keep a record of all work done abroad. Make copies of all your written work before you turn it in (as professors abroad frequently do not return papers and tests). Keep copies of all communication with advisors.

• All students must maintain the equivalent of a full course load while studying abroad during the academic year, which is 3 – 4.5 Clark units or 12-18 US credits.  (Any exceptions to this policy must be approved through a petition to Academic Advising.)
• Any enrollment below 4 units a semester may have other consequences back at Clark.  It will be your responsibility to make sure that any financial aid or scholarships that you currently receive remain active, and that you maintain any minimum requirements you need if you plan on enrolling in the 5th year accelerated degree program.
• Keep in mind that a full course load abroad may not equal exactly 4 units (see “Credit Conversion”) tab and that you may end up taking more than 4 classes and receiving less than 4 units.  It is important that you understand any repercussions of taking less than 4 units.

Programs and universities abroad will have a different grading and credit system than you are used to here at Clark. Please make sure you are familiar with how your credits will transfer back to Clark BEFORE you go abroad.

PLEASE NOTE: The study abroad office does its best to keep track of the different credit systems for our approved program and provide this information to students. However, credit and course information is subject to change at any time without prior notification and it is the responsibility of the student to understand and confirm exactly how their credits will transfer back to Clark.   The following guide will help you correctly choose the right program, courses and credit load for you.

The Clark University Course Credit Conversion Guide 

All students are required to be enrolled in the equivalent of 3.0-4.5 Clark units/semester.  Any deviation from this must be approved by Academic Advising, and students are responsible for ensuring that any financial aid or scholarship requirements are met if you enroll in less than 4 units.

All credit transfer is considered “pre-approved” and final evaluation of your transcript will be done upon receipt of your transcript by Clark Study Abroad.

• Incompletes are not accepted and no credit will be granted for incompletes.

• All overloads must be approved by Academic Advising.
• If you enroll in more than 18 credits without a petition approval, you will have to choose which courses to transfer when you return up to the allowable amount.

• Your official transcript must be sent to the Study Abroad Office at the end of your term. See our “returned students” page for more information.
• Your credits and grades will be officially evaluated for final credit transfer upon receipt of your transcript by Clark Study Abroad.
• Grades cannot be changed by Clark after they are awarded by the host institution. There are NO exceptions to this policy.

If you need academic accommodations, we encourage you to register with Support Accessibility Services (SAS) if you have not already. By working with SAS, students can receive documentation to give to their abroad program to support the request for accommodations. Students should also be in touch directly with the program as soon as possible (even prior to being accepted) for information on accommodations on site.

• You will need to obtain a letter from your physician in addition to Clark’s Director of Accessibility Services outlining your accommodation needs and bring them with you overseas.
• Certain prescription medications may be illegal or unavailable in your host country. It is your responsibility to discuss this with your physician and your program health insurer early on, and to find out whether these medications can legally be brought into the country or can be prescribed locally.
• We encourage you to be in touch with the office of Study Abroad and Away programs are early as possible so that we may best advise you on program selection and support.

Check the program’s website for details regarding arrival dates, transportation to the program, housing, etc. If you cannot find the answer on a website, please contact the Study Abroad Office for assistance.

• Mobility International:  Mobility International is a disability-led non-profit organization advancing disability rights and leadership globally.® MIUSA is a cross-disability organization serving people with a broad range of disabilities.
• Diversity Abroad: Diversity Abroad’s vision is for the next generation of young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds be equipped with the skills, knowledge and global experience to thrive – personally, academically and professionally – in our 21st century interconnected world and global workforce.
• US State Department:  A site overseen by the US Department of State that will allow you to enter a country or area to find information for mobility-impaired travelers in the Special Laws & Circumstances section. Unlike the United States, many countries do not legally require accommodations for persons with disabilities.