It is important to remember that Study Abroad is NOT a vacation. Each program affiliated with Whittier College is an academic program that will require you to attend classes regularly and to fully engage in a new academic environment.

Whittier College seeks to provide its students with integrative study abroad experiences and significant interaction with the host culture. This approach involves relying on the resources available to students within the educational institution or system in the host country. Most often, teachers in the host

    Syracuse: Strasbourg, France

 country will be professors educated within the foreign system themselves. Students should be prepared for differences both in the academic structure of the institution overseas, and also in teaching styles compared to Whittier. Within 

overseas institutions, students may find differences in administrative procedures such as course and housing registration. In addition, students should expect academic differences in: classroom pedagogy, student/teacher relationships, syllabi and reading lists, class assignments, and grading. Students who anticipate these differences and approach their academic program with a high degree of flexibility are often able to adjust to the foreign system more readily.

Prior to departure, you must meet with your academic advisor(s) to look over the courses you plan to enroll in abroad and to develop an academic plan. You are expected to enroll in coursework equal to 12-15 units with your Study Abroad program. Course titles are converted to Whittier equivalents and will be listed on your WC academic transcript. You should be aware that it often takes between 1-4 months for Whittier College to receive transcripts from overseas programs. If you intend to apply for scholarships or graduate programs, you need to be fully aware of this time delay when applying to study abroad.

How does registration work if I plan to study abroad?

When it is time to register for WC classes for the semester you will be abroad, turn in a regular registration card (signed by either the Director or Assistant Director of International Programs). You will enroll in INTD 380 – International Programs for 12 units. This lets the Registrar’s Office, the Business Office and the Office of Student Financing know that you are a continuing full-time student.

                                                                               
Do I get credits towards my major for courses taken abroad?

You may earn credits towards your major for courses taken abroad. But you will need your Department’s approval in order for them to count for specific requirements within the major. It is strongly suggested that you keep all course work and syllabi from your classes abroad to show Whittier faculty in the event there are questions after you return.
Can I fulfill liberal education requirements abroad? You may be able to fulfill certain liberal education requirements while abroad. Approval for the courses must be granted before you leave. A petition form is available online and may be turned into Dr. Fritz Smith in the Registrar’s Office. Keep all course work and syllabi from your classes abroad to show Whittier faculty in the event there are questions after you return.

                                                                                                       IES: New Delhi, India

How do I guarantee that my courses taken abroad will transfer back to Whittier?
 

You must turn in a Concurrent Enrollment Form before your semester abroad. This form goes to the Registrar and helps to guarantee credit for the courses taken abroad. However, no credit will be granted for courses taken that duplicate previously completed college-level work.

http://www.whittier.edu/OfficesAndServices/RegistrarsOffice/PDFFiles/StudentForms/ConcurrentEnrollment.pdf

Do my grades count in my Whittier GPA?

All courses taken abroad are on a Credit/No Credit basis. This means that grades earned at the host institution of the program will not be calculated into your Whittier grade point average. It should be noted, however, that any graduate schools you may apply to in the future will most likely request an official copy of the program’s transcript, which will reflect your actual grades. These transcripts can be obtained by contacting the Program Provider and requesting a copy.

*The exception to this policy is the DIS program, where you have the option of taking courses as Credit/No Credit or for a letter grade.