Global Learning Course Equivalency Archive

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The Course Equivalency Archive for approved Global Learning Programs is not an active list of available courses. It is a record of previous course evaluations and whether they were approved or denied. Some listed courses may no longer be offered or may only be available during specific academic terms. SCU Academic Departments maintain sole authority for course evaluations and are obliged to alter or eliminate course equivalencies at any time due to curricular changes within the department.

Earning Credit for Global Learning Courses

The academic credit a nominated SCU student earns while participating in a Global Learning program will count as general elective credit toward their total units required for graduation. Alternatively, with appropriate approval from SCU Academic Departments through the course evaluation process outlined on this page, courses from abroad may fulfill major, minor, and core requirements.

We've provided step-by-step instructions for using the Course Equivalency Archive and requesting a new course evaluation below. Need Support? Visit the Camino Advising Module, contact Global Learning via email (GlobalLearning@scu.edu), or attend Peer Advisor Hours.

About Course Evaluations

We highly encourage all students to submit as many course evaluations as they need to prior to submitting an application to ensure their program preferences are academically aligned. The earlier a student submits a course evaluation, the more confident and prepared that student will be for their global experience.

Students may submit new course evaluation requests before, during, and after their global program. They are not required to take the courses they requested an evaluation for, but they should always ensure the courses they enroll in while abroad are approved by the academic department at SCU.
If course(s) are approved for major, minor, or core credit this does not guarantee enrollment. Students will work directly with their program on course enrollment during phase 3 when they are preparing for departure.

Processing time for course evaluations can vary greatly depending on the academic department and time of year. After an academic department reviews a student's course evaluation request, Global Engagement incorporates every approval and denial into the course equivalency archive. The Office of the Registrar then uses the course equivalency archive and the course evaluation form that students complete while abroad to transfer grades and credits when their transcript arrives on campus.

Please be aware that academic departments at Santa Clara University may be obliged to alter or eliminate course equivalencies for courses abroad described at any time due to curricular changes within the department.**

Major, Minor, & Core: Rules & Regulations

Major & Minor	SCU Policies for Major & Minor Courses Abroad
Accounting	The Accounting Department does not accept upper-division accounting courses completed abroad toward the Accounting major. All upper-division accounting requirements must be completed at Santa Clara University. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and require approval from the Chair of the Accounting Department.
Asian Studies	The Asian Studies minor allows no more than two upper-division courses from a student’s major to count toward the minor. In addition, students may apply no more than three courses from any one department toward the minor.
Art History & Studio Art	Art History Students may use courses taken abroad to fulfill no more than half of the Art History major or minor requirements. Art History major: Students may take up to three upper-division ARTH courses abroad toward the five upper-division ARTH courses required for the major. Art History minor: Students may take up to one upper-division ARTH course abroad toward the three upper-division ARTH courses required for the minor. Studio Art Studio Art major: Students may take up to one ARTH course abroad toward the major. Studio Art minor: Courses taken abroad may fulfill no more than half of the Studio Art minor requirements. ARTH courses taken abroad cannot be used toward the Studio Art minor.
Communication	The Communication Department will accept no more than two courses taken abroad toward the Communication major through Spring 2027. Starting Fall 2027 and beyond, the Communication department will accept one course taken abroad toward the major. Approved courses taken abroad will count as COMM electives (COMM 199I). Students should consult with the Communication Department regarding course approval and major applicability before enrolling in courses abroad.
Environmental Studies and Sciences	All Environmental Studies and Science (ESS) majors should plan to study abroad during their junior year or during the summer. Students are expected to be on campus for their senior year to complete the required ESS capstone courses: ENVS 100 (Capstone Bridge) in the fall quarter and ENVS 101 (Capstone) in the winter quarter. Requests for new course equivalencies., courses that are not already approved through SCU’s existing Global Learning Course Equivalency Archive, may be approved for upper-division Environmental Studies or Science elective credit only. New courses will not be approved to fulfill a specific ESS course requirement.
Finance	Internships completed abroad cannot be used to fulfill the FNCE 198 requirement.
Marketing	The Marketing Department will accept up to two courses taken abroad toward the Marketing major: The equivalent of MKTG 181, if MKTG 181 is not completed on campus; and The equivalent of one Marketing elective. Internships completed abroad cannot be used to fulfill the MKTG 198 requirement.
Management	Students may request MGMT 80 credit for an equivalent course taken abroad. However, students should be aware that most study abroad courses equivalent to MGMT 80 do not satisfy the Cultures & Ideas 3 requirement. Internships and internship courses taken abroad cannot be used to fulfill the MGMT 198E requirement.
Neuroscience	The Neuroscience Department will accept no more than two courses taken abroad toward the Neuroscience major or minor. Any exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Information Systems & Analytics	OMIS 105, OMIS 106, and OMIS 107 cannot be taken abroad.
Political Science	Global Learning courses in Political Science (POLI) are most likely to fulfill one of the following major requirements: Upper-division International Relations course Upper-division Comparative Politics course Upper-division International Relations or Comparative Politics elective Political Philosophy courses may also be approved, although they are less commonly available or approved for the major. Methods courses rarely transfer back to SCU. The Political Science Department recommends that students do not plan to take POLI 99 (Political Science Research) or POLI 101 (Applied Quantitative Methods) while abroad.
Psychology	The Psychology Department will accept: One lower-division course taken abroad, limited to courses equivalent to PSYC 1 or PSYC 2; and No more than two upper-division courses taken abroad toward the Psychology major
Sociology	The Sociology Department will accept: No more than two courses taken abroad toward the Sociology major; and No more than one course taken abroad toward the Sociology minor.
Sustainability	New course equivalency requests for the Sustainability Minor, if approved, will count as upper-division Sustainability elective credit rather than as an equivalent to a specific SCU course. Approved courses may receive one of the following designations: Upper Division Elective in Economic Dimensions of Sustainability Upper Division Elective in Societal Dimensions of Sustainability Upper Division Elective in Environmental Dimensions of Sustainability
Other	If you have questions about how study abroad courses may apply to your major or minor requirements, please contact your SCU Faculty Advisor for guidance.

CORE	SCU Policies for CORE Abroad
Learning Objectives	Before submitting a course evaluation request for a course taken abroad to fulfill a CORE requirement, students must review the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Guide to confirm that the course meets the learning objectives of the applicable CORE requirement.
Religious Studies	Only the second RTC Core requirement (RTC2) may be fulfilled with a course taken through study abroad. First-year students: Students admitted as freshmen must complete RTC 1, RTC 2, and RTC 3 in sequence. RTC 3 counts toward the Core only after the student has completed 88 units. Transfer students: Students who matriculate with 44 or more units may complete any two RTC requirements in any order. Therefore, students should plan carefully before selecting a study abroad course for an RTC requirement.
Diversity	The SCU Core Diversity requirement focuses on U.S. domestic multiculturalism. Courses taken abroad that focus on global diversity rather than U.S. domestic multiculturalism do not satisfy the SCU Core Diversity requirement.
Pathways	Students may apply no more than one course taken abroad toward a Pathway.
Core-Double Dipping	Integrations, including ELSJ, Advanced Writing, and Pathways, may be double-counted with Explorations Core requirements. Engineering students have additional flexibility and may double- or triple-count courses within the Core. Engineering students may also use a single course to satisfy both RTC2 and C&I3. Only Engineering students may have a course count toward both RTC2 and C&I3.
Second Language	Students may receive credit toward the Core Second Language requirement by taking a first-year language course in the language’s country of origin through an SCU-approved Global Learning program. Credit will be awarded based on the level of the course completed abroad. If students study a language abroad outside its country of origin, they may take a language qualifying examination upon returning to SCU to determine the appropriate level of credit. Important: Students will not receive credit for a language course taken abroad if it is equivalent to a language course they have already completed at SCU.
ELSJ	To receive ELSJ credit, students must directly engage with the community by working with the end clients of the community organization as part of their service-learning experience.
Natural Science	Courses taken abroad that are approved for the Natural Science requirement fulfill the “with lab” component of the requirement. Students do not need to complete an additional lab course after returning to campus.
IMPORTANT NOTE**	If students take language courses abroad equivalent to courses they have already taken at SCU, they will not receive credit.

Instructions: Requesting a Course Evaluation

Requesting a Course Evaluation for CORE Credit

To submit a course evaluation request for a CORE requirement, students must complete the Core Equivalency-Request for Evaluation Form.

Prior to requesting a course evaluation to satisfy a CORE requirement, students must first consult the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Guide to confirm the course abroad meets the learning objectives.

NOTE: Do not email the Director of CORE Curriculum (Core@scu.edu) directly. Students must seek course evaluations through the forms above to ensure they will be evaluated correctly.

Requesting a Course Evaluation for Major or Minor Credit

To submit a course evaluation request for a Major or Minor requirement, students must complete the Major/Minor Equivalency-Request for Evaluation Form.

Prior to requesting a course evaluation to satisfy a Major or Minor requirement, students must first consult their Undergraduate Bulletin to confirm the course abroad meets the learning objectives.

NOTE: Do not email faculty directly. Students must seek course evaluations through the forms above to ensure they will be evaluated correctly.