Abroad Policies

Section 1.0 

• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher (be advised that some programs may require a higher GPA). 

• Students must meet the minimum requirements of CALS and the desired study abroad program (including but not limited to GPA, prerequisites, program of study focus, language, etc.) 

• The study abroad program must not prevent you from delaying graduation. 

• Students must be in good standing with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (NOTE: Students in “restricted good standing” will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis) 

• Students must resolve all University record holds and be a full-time student in good academic standing. 

• Where possible, students must have finished any work required to resolve any incompletes. If you have more than two incompletes, you must meet with the CALS Student Services advisor to determine eligibility to study abroad.  

• Meet application deadlines for the desired program (varies per program). 

• Meet with an Education Abroad advisor through the Office of Global Learning for any program-specific questions. 

• Participation in a semester Study Abroad program through the Office of Global Learning will fulfill the CALS Engaged, Experiential, Entrepreneurial (E3) Learning Milestone. 

Policies 

Section 2.0 

• Students who do not follow the CALS study abroad policies may be subject to academic discipline upon their return to Cornell. 

• Participation in a study abroad program requires that students maintain good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (this may be higher if required by the desired program). 

• Students may not enroll in online coursework through the host institution/program; Cornell; or elsewhere. This includes independent study. 

• If planning to take a course before departure to an approved Cornell winter program that may overlap with a spring study abroad program, students must get prior approval for the winter course by CALS Student Services. Priority is given to the study abroad program over the winter course when the overlap occurs.  

• Students may not enroll in duplicate courses (overlaps of classes taken or planned at Cornell/abroad). The policy at Cornellregarding cross-listed/overlapped courses applies to abroad classes as well. It is the student's responsibility to be aware if a course taken contains a majority of content either abroad or at Cornell with another enrolled course. 

• If you are unsure, it is recommended you choose another course. Please contact the cals-studentservices [at] cornell.edu (CALS Student Services)prior to your departure. 

• It can take up to 3 months (rarely longer than this) for abroad credits to be processed to your Cornell transcript and will depend on when they are released by the host institution/program. 
   

Required Course Policy 

Section 2.1 

• During your time on Study Abroad, all students MUST enroll in a minimum of one course that is country or regionally-focused. This requirement applies to all CALS students, regardless of major or destination. Language courses related to the destination is one way to fulfill this requirement.  Language courses are not required unless they are a mandatory part of the program itself.  Other courses that will also count towards this requirement include cultural; policy; economics; and other classes on the region.   

• Examples of area studies classes can be as varied as “Understanding K-Pop” or “European Trade Policy.” 

• Occasionally some international programs require that students enroll in a foreign language class to participate in their program. In these cases, students will then be required to follow the policy of the program.  

• Programs with a foreign language requirement include: 

• All programs in Italy 

• All programs in France 

Petition Process for Unapproved Programs 

Section 2.2 

• Cornell offers a wide range of program vetted and approved by the Office of Global Learning and Global Cornell's travel safety experts. If you wish to attend a non-approved program, a formal petition is required to obtain Cornell's one-time recognition of the program. 

• Petitions for non-approved study abroad programs must meet the same standards and adhere to the principles that guide study abroad at Cornell. This includes the ability of the petitioned program to enter into a contractual agreement with Cornell on a student-by-student basis.  

• Petitions are reviewed by the Office of Global Learning as exceptional opportunities that meet specific academic needs not available through existing programs. We encourage you to apply to an existing program as a backup in the event your petition is not approved. Learn more about the petition process. 

Academic Credit and Transcripts 

Section 3.0 

Academic Credit: 

• Students must enroll in the equivalent of 15 U.S. credit hours per semester at the host institution/program. 

• All CALS students who graduate from Cornell must have a minimum of 60 Cornell credits at the time of graduation. 

• A student can elect to take more than 120 academic credits to ensure they reach the minimum of 60 Cornell credits, as long as they can graduate by their expected graduation date.   

• Credit earned from Study Abroad will count as "study abroad credit".  These credits will not count toward Cornell credit or the limit of 60 transfer credits.  

• All courses must be taken for a letter grade while abroad (no pass/fail, S/U classes). 

• Students must earn the equivalent of a U.S. grade of C or better to receive credit for the courses taken abroad. Disclaimer: International grading scales may differ from US grading scales. Cornell references WES for grading scaleLinks to an external site. 

• All courses taken abroad, and grades received will appear on the official Cornell transcript exactly as they appear on your study abroad transcript.  Grades will not factor into student's Cornell GPA.   

• Any major or minor credits must be approved by major advisors/department advising coordinators. 

• CALS distribution will be reviewed and approved by CALS Student Services upon completion of the program and receipt of international transcript.  

• Internships, experiential learning, PE, and certain other courses do not count for credit. 

• Save all syllabi, reading lists, and completed work for all courses taken abroad. These materials are often required to confirm if a course can fulfill college distribution and/or major requirements. 

• Study Abroad courses may NOT fulfill FWS, WRT-AG, ORL-AG or D-AG requirements.  

Study Abroad Credits are considered Non-Cornell Credit and will affect structured credit balances.  

Enrollment Restriction 

Section 3.1  

• Study abroad undertaken during a leave of absence will not receive academic credit.  

• International students on leave of absence from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences may enroll in courses at a college or university in their home country of residence only, as such enrollment is not defined as study abroad.  

• All external transfer credits are subject to the standard limitations of CALS transfer credit policy. 

Transcripts 

Section 3.2 

• All courses taken abroad regardless of program will be considered non-transfer/non-Cornell credit. 

• All CALS students who graduate from Cornell must have a minimum of 60 Cornell credits at graduation.  Cornell credit is considered credit taken in residency at Cornell and includes programs such as Cornell in Washington & Schoals.  It does not include credit taken during study abroad.   

• A student can elect to take more than 120 academic credits to ensure they reach the minimum of 60 Cornell credits, as long as they can graduate by their expected graduation date.   

• Delaying graduation to study abroad is not permitted.  

• The credits earned from Cornell Education Abroad will not count toward Cornell credit or the limit of 60 transfer credits.  

• Courses taken abroad will be noted on your transcript, including the grade received however it will not impact your Cornell GPA.  

• After your study abroad experience, and after final grades have been posted, request an official transcript from your host institution/program. For specific instructions, see the "Where Should I Direct My Transcript?" FAQ. 

• Credit is only granted once an official transcript is received from the host institution/program.  

• Students must earn the equivalent of a U.S. grade of C or better to receive credit for the courses taken abroad. 

• Study Abroad courses may NOT fulfill FWS, WRT-AG, ORL-AG or D-AG requirements.  

• Study abroad courses may not fulfill the PE or swim test requirement. 

• It can take up to 3 months (rarely longer than this) for abroad credits to be processed to your Cornell transcript and will depend on when they are released by the host institution/program. 

Transfer Students 

Section 3.3 

Transfer Students who do not meet the eligibility to study abroad for a full semester do have other options for international experiences including: 

1.  Participate in a Short-term program through the Office of Global Learning.  Many programs include an international travel component.  These courses are considered Cornell Credit. 

2. Participate in the CALS Global Fellows Program.  CALS GFP includes a summer internship component as well as pre/post internship courses.  There are many international placements available.  Applications open in the Fall.  

3. Participate in a Global Internship through the office of Global Learning.  These are 8-week summer international internships.  Applications open in the Fall. 

Participation Approval 

Section 4.0 

Once you have determined which study abroad program you would like to attend follow these steps: 

1. Submit an application via the Exprience.Cornell.edu website.  Pay close attention to the deadlines.  You may submit a backup if your 1st choice is full or risk of filling.
   • You do not need to secure college approval before you submit your Cornell application.   

2. Explore the various course offerings at your program of choice.    

3. Create a "wish list" by determining 5-8 course you would like to take.  Note that students need to be flexible.  You may not ultimately be enrolled in every course from your list.    

• Students should utilize the course approval database and Stellic Planner when choosing courses for Study Abroad.    

4. Cross reference your list with the CALS Course Database (found here in this Canvas module) to determine if any courses have already been approved for your major; CALS distribution; or simply as elective.    
5. Download and complete the CALS Participation Approval form found in your application.  

• College approval is necessary for Education Abroad to review your application and to nominate you or give “home school approval” to your program.  

• Send your completed form to the appropriate major advisor.   Students require permission from their major to study abroad.  Majors will want to ensure that you have an overall plan in place to fulfill all your requirements and graduate on time.   

• Most majors will not evaluate any courses listed for major credit at this time however you may discuss certain requirements or likelihood that a course could meet major approval.  Official determination will be done after completion and transcripts have been received.  Keep your syllabus should it be requested.    

6. Once your major has signed off, send your form to CALS Student services at: cals-studentservice [at] cornell.edu (cals-studentservices[at]cornell[dot]edu) 

• CALS will not evaluate the specific courses you have listed at this time.  CALS will only assume that credits will return for elective credit and will be looking to ensure you will graduate on time.   

• CALS will take into consideration any transfer credits you may have, current distribution requirements, GPA and more when determining approval to study abroad.  If they have any questions they will reach out to you for clarification.    

7. Once your participation has been approved, CALS will notify the Office of Global Learning (OGL) directly.     

8. On a rolling basis, OGL will then nominate students to their respective program.      

9. Once you received acceptance into your program, make sure to thoroughly read and follow any instructions provided by OGL.   

10. Prepare/Research and Pack for your Study Abroad experience