Students who have been nominated or selected to study abroad on either an SF State Exchange Program or a CSU IP Program should work on obtaining approval for their study abroad coursework before they leave. Please note that some departments may not respond over the summer and winter break. Additionally, departments may be slow to reply before and during finals as it is a busy time for faculty. Therefore, students should begin working on this once they have been nominated or selected. This process will be covered in the Nomination Meeting or the CSU IP Next Steps Meeting.
Obtaining Approval for Major/Minor Coursework
How and when do I get my major or minor classes approved?
Once you have a list of potential courses abroad and their course descriptions, please email your academic advisors for your department to request a meeting. You should send a simple email requesting a meeting. Do not email them asking to approve classes via email if you have not yet spoken to them. This is only something you should do after your first meeting.
This should be done mid-semester or as soon as you know that you will be participating in study abroad. Waiting until the end of the semester or over the winter/summer break can cause significant delays and stress for students as faculty do not always respond to requests made close to finals or over the breaks.
Your departments are wonderful and supportive of study abroad, but they do not remember where to find classes or the class descriptions. It is your responsibility to have a list of potential classes and their course descriptions before contacting the department chair for a meeting.
Some departments have designated people to work on study abroad courses. Their names and contact information are linked below:
- BECA: Dr. Camacho
- Communication Studies: Meet with your advisor by emailing comm@sfsu.edu before meeting with the chair
- Computer Science: Dr. Hsu
- DES: Dr. Chu or Dr. Gomes
- Psychology: Meet with your department, not UAC
- Social Work: Dr. Hermoso
If your department does not have a designated person, reach out to your advisor in the department and/or the department chair.
If you have any issues with getting classes approved, please let one of the SF State Abroad Advisors know right away.
How many classes should I have signed off on the Overseas Course Approval Form (Academic Planning Form)?
As many as possible. There is no limit. Students are encouraged to get as many courses signed off or approved as possible. Having a class signed off does not mean you have to take the class. However, if you do take it, then you know how it will be applied to your degree at SF State.
Obtaining Approval for General Education (GE) Coursework
How and when do I get my general education (GE) classes approved?
Approval for GE classes comes once you are actually enrolling in the class abroad. Then, you will work with the Undergraduate Advising Center.
When you return from abroad and the classes have been placed on your unofficial transcript in Gateway you will once again coordinate with your advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Center to complete a GE petition to formalize the completion of the GE class abroad. You will need to wait until the coursework appears on your unofficial transcript in Gateway.
Degree Progress Report (DPR)
Will my classes be added to my Degree Progress Report (DPR)?
All classes taken abroad (regardless of whether they are signed off or not) will fully appear on the student’s SF State transcript. However, classes will only appear in the DPR if they have been signed off by the department before the end of the semester abroad and you submit a required number/line number. If you do not do so before you study abroad, your academic advisor may submit an Advisor Request (ARS) to have the coursework added to your DPR when you return. Make sure that you see your study abroad classes on your unofficial transcript in Gateway BEFORE you contact your academic advisor.
Your DPR must be correct for you to graduate from SF State.