Course Selection and Credit Transfer

When thinking about classes, students often have questions about choosing classes, transferring credit, seeking departmental approval, or dropping & adding courses. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and responses from the Office of International Education. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.

  1. When should I start thinking about the classes that I will take while I am abroad?
  2. What are the guidlines for choosing courses?
  3. If I'm not going on a Bucknell-in program, how do I get credit for the classes that I take abroad?
  4. Is it difficult to get approval for courses that are not on the Previously Approved Course list?
  5. What happens if I change my mind about taking a class after I have turned in my Transfer of Credit form or after I have begun to study abroad?



1. When should I start thinking about the classes that I will take while I am abroad?

You do not need to select classes until after you have received preliminary approval to study abroad, the courses that are offered by each program should play a critical role in your decision about which program is best for you. Here are a few things to think about as you research potential programs:

  • Do the courses offered by this program fit with my academic plans?
  • Will the courses offered through this program fulfill requirements that I need before I graduate? If not, will I have time to complete these requirements upon my return to Bucknell?
  • Will this program help me to fulfill requirements within my major?
  • How will the courses offered by this program contribute to my academic goals and/or professional aspirations?

2. What are the guidelines for choosing courses?

You are expected to enroll as a full-time student in your off-campus program or university. Full-time is defined as equivalent to 4 Bucknell credits, and translates to 15-16 semester hours.

All courses, including internships, require approval from the appropriate Bucknell department chairperson. You must secure approval on the Bucknell Transfer of Credit Form that you will receive during your pre-departure orientation.

Only grades of "C" or higher will transfer. Pass/Fail courses are prohibited.

Grades from Bucknell-in programs factor in to your Bucknell GPA, but third party programs will not appear on your transcript or be calculated into your Bucknell GPA.

*While studying abroad on an English speaking program in a non-English speaking country, all students are required to take a full-semester course in the host language, if offered at the appropriate level.

3. If I'm not going on a Bucknell-in program, how do I get credit for the classes that I take abroad?

Once you have been approved to study off-campus, you will receive a Transfer of Credit Form from the Office of International Education. This form allows you to tell the registrar's office, as well as the Office of International Education, which courses you will be taking abroad, which requirements those courses fulfill, and which department(s) those classes are under.

Students who study off-campus with a Bucknell Approved program need to obtain approval for the courses they will be taking off-campus before they leave for their off-campus experience. There are a few different ways to obtain approval for the courses that you will be taking:

First, you can check the Previously Approved Course List, which is a list of all of the courses that have been approved by Bucknell University department chairs within the last five years. You can click on one of the links below to view the lists:

Previously Approved Courses (for non-Engineers)

Previously Approved Courses (for Engineers)

Second, if a course that you wish to take is not on the Previously Approved Course list, you must obtain approval from the chair of the department under which your course would be taken if it were offered at Bucknell. (i.e., A student taking Eastern European Economics in Prague would need the signature of the chair of the economics department.)

4. Is it difficult to get approval for courses that are not on the Previously Approved Course list?

No, not at all. All you need is the signature of the department chair under which your course would be taken. Some department chairs may ask for a description of the course or a sample syllabus, but this information can typically be found in the program catalogue, on the program website, or in the Office of International Education. If you have any trouble locating this information, contact us and we will assist you.

5. What happens if I change my mind about taking a class after I have turned in my Transfer of Credit form or after my program has begun?

It is not uncommon for students to change their minds about taking certain classes, just as students might drop or add classes here at Bucknell. As soon as you know that you will be replacing one class with another, check the list of previously approved courses to see if the course has been taken in the past and is already approved. If your course is not listed there, notify Barbara Fetterman (bfettrmn@bucknell.edu) in the registrar's office immediately. This will insure that you receive credit for the new course you have chosen.

Also, while you are off-campus, you will be asked to fill out an Off-Campus Study Final Course Selection and Address Form which verifies enrollment with your off-campus program and notifies the registrar and the Office of International Education of any changes in your course selection.