Course Information
Registration
Note: USAC reserves the right to cancel any course or program if circumstances beyond its control warrant doing so.
Registration procedures vary, depending on the program. All USAC Specialty programs pre-register you for courses while USAC Partnership programs differ greatly in their procedures. Consult the registration information in your Student Gateway account for guidance. Be sure to check your registration with your academic advisor before you depart from the U.S. and document any course approvals for your records. It is helpful to have at least one alternative course that has been approved by your academic advisor in case you change your registration for any reason. It is also helpful to take along your advisor’s email address should you need to make contact while abroad.
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Courses
Students attending Specialty programs are registered through one of the USAC Member Universities, using course titles and numbers appropriate to each institution. Check with your home university advisor or USAC Central Office Enrollment Department for course equivalencies. For simplicity, we have employed generic course titles and numbers in this publication. Detailed course descriptions can be found under each program's course section (when available).
Courses numbered 100 and 200 are lower-division, 300 and 400 courses are upper-division, and 400/600 courses have a graduate credit option. If you are interested in enrolling in a 400/600-level course for graduate credit, contact the USAC Central Office for more information prior to your departure. Please take note of the language of instruction and if there are course prerequisites before registering.
For all summer Specialty programs (except Pau, please refer to the explanation in the Intensive Language Studies and Electives sections), you must enroll in a minimum of 3 credit hours per session. You may take a maximum of 4 credit hours per 3-week session, 5 credit hours per 4-week session, 6 credit hours per 5-week session, or 7 credit hours per 6-week session. For most Specialty summer programs you may expand the maximum credit allowance per session if you register for a 1-credit field study course, when offered.
For all summer Partnership programs, please refer to the Course Information Boxes in those program sections for specific information.
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Attendance Policy
USAC is committed to providing a serious academic experience. Attendance is expected for optimal student academic achievement, as coursework abroad is intensive and complex. Absences and/or tardiness are likely to affect the quality of your work and success in the course as well as disrupt the continuity of the instructional process. Consequently, attendance is mandatory for all courses in which you are enrolled. Examinations must be taken as scheduled. Absences and tardies may have negative consequences on your grade in the course.
The attendance policy, specific to your program site, will be discussed during the mandatory on-site orientation. In addition, each instructor will include the attendance policy in his/her syllabus and review it in more detail during the first day of class. Students on Partnership programs are subject to the academic policies and procedures of the host university.
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Incompletes/Audits/Pass-Fail (Specialty programs)
Incomplete (I) grades are strongly discouraged. The Resident Director will allow an "I" grade only for reasons beyond your control. For cases where an incomplete is unavoidable, you and the Resident Director must sign a contract that stipulates how much work has been completed, how much is needed for completion and a deadline date by which the remaining work must be completed. The contract must be signed before the end of the term in which you are enrolled and it must be attached to the final grade report for the term affected. The "I" grade cannot be entered without this signed contract. Unless the Resident Director has extended the deadline, the incomplete will be changed to a failing (F) grade if it has not cleared by the deadline shown on the contract.
You may choose to take a course under the pass/fail option. In order to receive a "pass," your grade for the course must be a "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or lower are considered a failing grade. Also, please note that not all schools support this option. You should check with your USAC university of enrollment if you decide to take this option.
You also may choose to audit a course. Although you will not receive credits or a grade under this option, you are still required to attend class and participate as a student in the class. Program fees will not change. Prior approval from the Resident Director must be given before a course may be changed to audit status. Students who fail to attend and participate in class will be dropped from the course upon recommendation from the Resident Director. Students on Partnership programs are subject to the academic policies and procedures of the host university.
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Student Conduct
Misconduct abroad can be defined as follows: any situation in which you jeopardize your own welfare, that of fellow students or that of the USAC program; unauthorized absence from classes; abuse of the mores of the community; drug or alcohol abuse; or violation of the laws of the country or regulations governing the host university.
Inappropriate conduct abroad can result in your dismissal from a USAC program. Termination of your participation in the program, voluntary or not on your part, shall not diminish or otherwise affect your obligation to make any and all payments.
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Transcripts
Upon completion of the program, transcripts will be sent to the registrar’s office at your USAC university of enrollment. You also may view your grades once they are posted on your Student Gateway account. If your home university is not a USAC Member University, you may fill out a Transcript Request form to have your transcripts forwarded to your home university. This form is available on your Student Gateway account.
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