How courses from a semester/summer program abroad transfer back to ISU

IMPORTANT: Before you study abroad, confirm with your academic advisor how the classes abroad will transfer back for you to Iowa State.

  • Transcripts from international institutions are sent to the CALS Study Abroad office if the student was on a CALS program; or to the Study Abroad Center in 281 Parks Library if they were on a non-CALS program. 
  • The CALS Study Abroad office sends a certified copy of the original transcript to the Registrar’s office and your academic advisor (or in some cases, the leadership in your college/the college where you will earn your credit through) will determine how the credits transfer back. In some cases, the course will come in as a specific ISU course (e.g., HIST 201); in other cases, the course will come in as a more generic course (e.g., HIST 2T**).   
  • This course information is sent to the student in both AccessPlus and the degree audit system (uAchieve). The student must alert their academic advisor that they have received their transcript otherwise their academic advisor will not know.
  • The advisor will then review these courses to see how they might be used in the student’s degree program.  If the course isn’t falling where they want it to in uAchieve, they will need to submit a degree audit adjustment request.  Departmental approval is required for all adjustment requests; additional approvals are required for requests involving college or university requirements.   
  • Students are highly encouraged to save all their coursework and syllabi while they are abroad in case these materials are needed to secure the required approvals. 
  • The student picks up their original transcript from their host university in 0018 Curtiss Hall if they were on a CALS program; if they were on a Study Abroad Center program, they need to go to 281 Parks Library to pick up their original transcript.
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