Course Approval, Verification, and Credit Transfer Process

3 Important Steps to Receive Credit for Courses Taken Abroad:

  1. Course Approval Process
  2. Verification of Course Enrollment
  3. Credit Transfer

STUDY ABROAD COURSE FORMS

It is recommended that you download/open the study abroad course forms in Adobe Reader to ensure all functionality of the form. For Mac users, see .

Course Approval Form (CAF) Process

Students participating on a study abroad experience should aim to complete a course approval form at least two weeks prior to their departure for their study abroad program. Enrollment in study abroad courses is not guaranteed. If course offerings change upon arrival in country, you can obtain approval for additional courses by working via email with your college course approval contact.

Please note that due to the varying academic systems and calendars, the timeline of obtaining course syllabi for evaluation will vary. Please communicate any delays with your OIE Education Abroad staff member.

For Sibanye Cape Town & Faculty-Led Programs

Work with your academic adviser to understand the MU course requirements you have yet to satisfy and to make a plan for progress toward graduation. You must then discuss your plans to study abroad with your college course approval contact.

If you are participating in a ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcredit-bearing program, you will receive ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcredit directly just as though you were studying here on campus. Students on these programs should not complete the Course Approval Form. Grades will appear on the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵtranscript and will be calculated into a your overall ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵGPA. To determine how these courses will apply to degree requirements, you must still work with your academic adviser. You are not permitted to audit courses abroad and must receive a letter grade for each course.

For All Other Programs

Work with your academic adviser to understand the MU course requirements you have yet to satisfy and to make a plan for progress toward graduation. You must then discuss your plans to study abroad with your college course approval contact. You are responsible for understanding how approved courses will/will not satisfy ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵrequirements. 

To receive transfer credit, you must be accepted to study abroad by Marquette. All courses taken on study abroad programs must then be approved by the appropriate college's course approval contact. Approval is indicated by the appropriate college representative’s signature on the course approval form (CAF). Follow the instructions below - 

  1. Download the study abroad course forms and navigate to page 1.
  2. Fill out the top section and first, four columns of the chart on the CAF (page 1). List all the study abroad/host courses you are interested in taking during your term abroad. You can fill out more than one CAF. ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ nor the OIE can guarantee enrollment into the courses listed on your CAF so OIE recommends 8-10 courses to account for course cancellations, schedule conflicts, enrollment maximums, etc. 
  3. Once you fill in the appropriate sections on the CAF, email the CAF form to your college’s designated study abroad course approval contact along with the course syllabi or details.
    Note: It is highly recommended that you keep any course syllabi received during your term abroad if further course evaluation is required upon your return.
  1. Monitor your ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵemail for further updates regarding the study abroad course approval process from your college study abroad course approval contact.
  2. Ensure your completed CAF (with signatures) is sent to studyabroad@marquette.edu. The course approval process can take several weeks to complete as your college study abroad contact may need to work with several different departments to obtain an approval. We recommend that you begin this process as soon as you can and/or as course information becomes available. Failure to complete a CAF may result in a delay in the transfer of your study abroad credits upon your return to campus.

Program-specific Evaluated Course Equivalencies lists

To assist you in determining potential ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcourse equivalents, each includes an "Evaluated Course Equivalencies" link (see example image below), which can be found within the "Academics" tab. This link will take you to a Program Course Equivalency page, which lists courses offered on that program and the corresponding ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcourse equivalents and their credit values. Courses found on these lists must still be pre-approved by completing the Course Approval Form (page 1) and courses are not guaranteed to be offered by the host institution. Please note, these Program Course Equivalency lists are not comprehensive. These are living course lists that are edited continuously, and not all courses taught abroad have been evaluated to determine the Marquette equivalent course. Students can still request pre-approval and take courses that are not yet listed on these lists.

College Contacts for Study Abroad Course Approvals

Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences

All Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences majors are required to work with Luciana Fitzgerald in the College of Arts and Sciences Records Office located in Sensenbrenner Hall 103. Prior to your study abroad experience, the records office will approve your course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

Pre-health Professions: Please note that graduate school entrance exams and interviews may influence when you decide to study abroad.

View recommended programs for Arts and Sciences majors.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.

College of Business Administration

All College of Business Administration students are required to meet with Meghann Polivka, director of international business programs. She will coordinate your curriculum requirements with your adviser and department chairs. However, discussing your study abroad plans with your adviser is encouraged.

You will complete the course approval form with Meghann Polivka. If you have specific questions, please email Meghann Polivka directly. View recommended programs for business majors.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.

J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication

All J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication students are required to work with Erin O'Brien, Records Coordinator, in Johnston Hall, Room 120, on the course approval process. Prior to your study abroad experience, Erin will approve course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

As a communication major, we encourage you to explore taking both major-specific and elective courses while abroad. View recommended programs for communication majors.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.

College of Education

All College of Education students are required to work with Tina McNamara, assistant dean for undergraduate advising and student services, located in Schroeder Complex, Room 146. Prior to your study abroad experience, Tina McNamara will approve course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

View recommended programs for education majors.

The course approval process takes some time, so please plan accordingly.

Opus College of Engineering

All Opus College of Engineering students are required to work with Mark Federle, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, located in Olin Engineering, Room 201. Prior to your study abroad experience, Mark Federle will approve course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

View recommended programs for engineering majors.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly

College of Health Sciences

All College of Health Sciences students are required to work with Michelle Schuh, assistant dean, located in Schroeder Complex, Room 244. Prior to your study abroad experience, Michelle Schuh will approve course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

Pre-health Professions: Please note that graduate-school entrance exams and interviews may influence when you decide to study abroad.

As a health sciences major, we encourage you to explore taking both major-specific and elective courses while abroad. View recommended programs for health sciences majors.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.

College of Nursing

Nursing majors are required to work with their academic advisor, Julie Radford. Prior to your study abroad experience, Julie Radford will approve Dublin and Monash course selections. You can also take MCC courses or electives abroad. View recommended programs for nursing majors.

The course approval process can take some time, and nursing deadlines are often much earlier than other study abroad deadlines, so please plan accordingly.

Law School

All Law School students are required to work with Professor Kali Murray. Prior to your study abroad experience, Kali Murray will approve course selection and determine the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵequivalents of the courses you wish to take abroad.

View recommended programs for law students.

The course approval process can take some time, so please plan accordingly.

Verification of Course Enrollment (VCE) Process

As soon as course enrollment/registration at the host institution is finalized, students must complete the verification of course enrollment (VCE) form. This is page 2 of the study abroad course forms and separate from the study abroad course approval form. Failure to complete this form may jeopardize the student’s enrollment status at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ.

To complete this form, following the instructions below –

  1. Download the study abroad course forms and navigate to page 2.
  2. Fill in the STUDENT INFORMATION and PROGRAM COURSE ENROLLMENT sections on page 2.
  3. Provide a physical, handwritten signature in the PROGRAM ENROLLMENT section on page 2.
  4. Submit the form to your host institution study abroad office or relevant office to obtain signature confirming your course enrollment in the HOST INSTITUTION section.
  5. Upload the completed form with signatures through your MUGlobal Portal OR request of your host institution to email it to studyabroad@marquette.edu.

Uploading an incomplete VCE or incorrect form may result in a hold on your CheckMarq account which can prevent you from requesting an official transcript, enrolling in courses for the next term, etc.

Reminder: Students are responsible for obtaining approvals for those study abroad courses listed below which were not previously approved on the course approval form (CAF). It is strongly recommended that you keep a copy of your study abroad course syllabi until after your study abroad transfer credit process at ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵhas been completed, which can take up to 3 months following your return back to campus.

Credit Transfer

Credit hours and grading systems at institutions abroad vary greatly. Not all credit hours are a one-to-one match. For example, ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System) are a two-to-one match, so eight ECTS credit hours are equivalent to four ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵcredit hours. Likewise, the equivalent passing grade or better varies by country. Program specifics will be discussed during your on-site orientation or can be obtained by contacting your OIE education abroad staff member.

Credits from study abroad programs will transfer, but grades will not be incorporated into your ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵGPA (exception: faculty-led and Sibanye Cape Town). Completed courses will appear in the transfer credit section of the student transcript. Courses not approved through the appropriate channels will NOT transfer.

Transfer credit is guaranteed based on the following:

  • The course has been approved.
  • You earn an equivalent passing grade or better. Pass/fail courses will NOT transfer. You are responsible for confirming that the study abroad program awards letter grades.
  • An official program transcript is sent to the ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵOffice of International Education. Certificates of attendance or completion do NOT meet the requirements for credit transfer.
  • You are NOT permitted to audit courses abroad.

Study Abroad Transcripts

An official transcript of credit must be sent DIRECTLY to the Office of International Education (OIE) by your study abroad program. It is the student's responsibility to confirm the transcript process directly with the host institution. Official transcripts sent by the student are not accepted. More details on the Returning to Campus webpage.

FedEx/UPS:

Office of International Education (OIE)
ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ
Holthusen Hall, Fourth Floor
1324 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53233
U.S.A.
Phone: (414) 288-7289

U.S. Postal Service:

Office of International Education (OIE)
ÏòÈÕ¿ûÊÓƵ
Holthusen Hall, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
U.S.A.
Phone:  (414) 288-4000