Academic Credit

Academic Advisors

As an Academic Advisor, planning with students to determine what study abroad courses may benefit their degree and lead to their academic success is essential. You may be presented with the Course Equivalency Approval form for students that are intending on studying abroad, those that are currently studying abroad and those that have already returned.

This form should be completed by the student.

This form needs to be approved and signed by the appropriate Department Chair or Faculty Advisor; otherwise, the form will not be valid by the Center for International Education.

It is also recommended to make a copy of the completed and approved form for the student’s record. In effort to be more transparent and efficient with grade processing for students once the student’s courses and transcript has been processed the Enrollment Coordinator will upload the student’s transcript, and supporting documents to the student’s record on Navigate.

Academic advisors and UWM schools and colleges use the course equivalency approval form as an internal reference document when conducting the graduation clearance audit for students.

Department Chairs or Faculty Advisors

Study abroad students need your assistance in determining the appropriate equivalencies for the courses they have taken, are currently taking or will take abroad. This important approval form helps students to determine how their coursework abroad will be applied to their degree program.

In order to evaluate courses taken abroad, please read and consider the following:

1. Students are required to provide a course description and syllabi for each course taken abroad.
2. For each course listed on the form, please determine one of the three options:
   • an exact equivalent to a course at UWM
   • an exact equivalent with GER designation
   • elective credit — please indicate upper or lower level
3.  If not enough course information has been provided to you by students, you may opt to give tentative approval of the equivalency. Please request that students supply more detailed course information so you may properly evaluate the course. When this is accomplished, you will be asked to sign and date the form to indicate final approval.

If there are any questions, please contact the Center for International Education at overseas@uwm.edu or 414-229-4846.