Students may transfer a maximum of 15 credits* per semester only if:

• the institution is accredited;
• courses taken do not duplicate credit previously earned;
• grades of C or better are received; and
• an official transcript is received by the CALS registrar.

* 15 credit maximum does not apply to students in a CALS Exchange Program


Credits Abroad and Transfer of Credit

To receive academic credit, applications must be received by the appropriate Cornell office—not by the program or university abroad. 

Credits earned abroad:

• will appear on your Cornell transcript, but will not be factored into your Cornell GPA.
• are considered non-Cornell/transfer credits. They will be counted against the sixty (60) maximum transfer credits allowed.
• will count toward the fifty-five (55) hours of coursework that must be taken in CALS if they are similar to courses taught in CALS.
• may fulfill major, minor, or college distribution requirements.  Faculty advisors must approve courses for your major or minor.
• will not count as endowed credits.
• will be subtracted from the maximum of 15 unstructured credits allowed if student partakes in independent study, research, or an internship.
• must not duplicate curriculum in courses you have previously taken.

Credits will be awarded only upon successful completion of your semester abroad and after your official transcript has been evaluated by the college registrar.  It is recommended to keep a portfolio for each class that includes any syllabus or bibliography you received, your notes, and all written work.  Faculty may require these documents in order to award major credit.

Foreign Language
CALS encourages studying a foreign language before studying abroad—whenever possible. Foreign language courses taken at Cornell or abroad can count toward the CALS Social Sciences and Humanities distribution requirement.  Cornell University requires all students studying in a non-English speaking country to study the language while they are there.  Speak to the CALS study abroad and exchange advisor for more information and exceptions.

 

Application Deadlines:

Fall semester = Feb. 15

Spring semester = Oct. 1