TALK TO A STUDY ABROAD ADVISOR AT HOME

Each U.S. university sets its own guidelines regarding how it accepts credit from abroad. All API program participants are advised to discuss credit transfer policies with their home university. API strongly recommends that students obtain preapproval for coursework abroad whenever possible and speak with their study abroad advisor to obtain the necessary paperwork. Students should also take an advisor’s contact information with them abroad, in the event that course offerings change once on-site. An official transcript from the accredited U.S. or foreign institution with an English translation (as needed) is sent to the registrar or study abroad advisor upon each student’s successful completion of a program.

UNDERSTAND HOW UNIVERSITIES MEASURE CREDITS

One unit of measurement that many American universities and foreign universities use to determine transfer credit is the CONTACT HOUR. A contact hour is a 50 minute block of time spent in the classroom. To determine transfer credit equivalencies within the semester system, divide the total number of contact hours by 15. For a quarter system equivalency, divide the total number of contact hours by 10. Based on the successful completion of an average course load abroad, each student should expect to receive: 150-280 contact hours per quarter/semester (10-18 credit hours per quarter/semester) or 80-135 contact hours per summer session (5-9 semester credit hours per summer session).

On program pages, U.S. semester credit hours are generally listed in parentheses after each course title.

KNOW HOW GRADES ARE DETERMINED ABROAD

Grades abroad are affected by attendance and class participation in most programs. Failing to meet the established attendance requirements may result in a failing final grade and no credit transfer. Grades are assigned by the host institution.

SPEAK WITH THE LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT ABOUT COURSE LEVELS

API provides the following general guidelines for converting language courses abroad into the American system:

LOWER DIVISION

• Beginning (100 level) – This level requires no previous language study. One semester of first-year, college-level Spanish is generally still equivalent to beginning level Spanish.
• Intermediate (200 level) – To be considered for the intermediate level, students must have completed 2-3 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent (i.e., by testing out of your home university’s placement test or AP tests).

UPPER DIVISION

• Advanced (300 level) – Advanced students have completed 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent.
• Superior (400 level) – The superior level is appropriate for students who have completed 5 or more semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent.