Academics

Academic Planning & Studying Abroad

Start planning your academics abroad early. 

Have a conversation with your academic advisor early in the study abroad process to make better-informed decisions about which courses to take. Make progress towards your degree requirements by knowing how your study abroad coursework will fulfill degree requirements.

Academic Planning Form

You'll use our Academic Planning Form to plan and figure out courses you'll take abroad and understand how they'll transfer back to UMD. 

How should I start?

  • Meet with your academic advisor to get started.
  • Check the Study Abroad Course Database to see if a course has already been reviewed by UMD. If a course is listed and won't expire before your program ends, you don’t need to get it reviewed. You can just list the course and it's equivalent on your Academic Planning Form.
  • If a course does not have an active decision, if the course review decision will expire prior to participation, or if you would like to have a course reviewed by a different department, fill out the Study Abroad Course Evaluation form.
  • To request a syllabus for a course you would like reviewed, complete the Syllabus Request Form.
    • The Study Abroad office will request the syllabus from the foreign university and forward it to you. This process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.
  • Ensure any classes you hope to take abroad are offered the particular term(s) you'll be abroad by checking the foreign university's website.

Study Abroad Course Database

Use the Study Abroad Course Database to find courses that have already been officially reviewed and have UMD equivalents. This can aid in finding locations that may have courses to suit your major/minor. You can sort by country, university, city, or UMD department to find courses. Reminder: if a course you're interested in taking at the foreign university is not listed, then you can get it reviewed (see Academic Planning Form section above.)

Study Abroad Course Database >

Course Equivalents

Courses for an approved UMD program will transfer back in one of the following ways:

  • Direct UMD course equivalent (e.g. PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology Abroad = PSY 1003 General Psychology)
  • UMD major or minor requirements (e.g. lower/upper-division electives or requirements for major or minor; MKTG 3xxx)
  • General elective credit towards graduating (e.g. FORS 1XXX)

Liberal Education Global Perspectives Category

Successful completion of one of the following Study Abroad Programs fulfills the Global Perspectives category within the Liberal Education Program:

  • UMD or affiliate semester, year-long, or summer program
  • UMD Faculty-led program
  • Affiliate short-term programs can also satisfy the Global Perspectives requirement if a foreign class is reviewed to count as the direct equivalent of a UMD course listed under the Global Perspectives category.

Petition a Course

Want to petition a study abroad course to fulfill a UMD liberal education requirement? Look for the course in the Study Abroad Course Database and make sure that it hasn’t already been approved to fulfill a liberal education category. 

  • If the course hasn’t yet been reviewed, you must first have the course reviewed. See the Study Abroad Course Evaluation form.
  • If the course has been reviewed and is already listed in the Study Abroad Course Database, but you’d like to have it re-reviewed to see if it can count for a liberal education requirement, complete the Study Abroad Course Evaluation form. On the form, indicate the desired liberal education category you’re hoping the class will fulfill.
     

To petition a course for reasons other than liberal education requirements, contact your respective college’s advising office.

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