Academics

Instructor-led Programs

Students will enroll directly into UNI classes taught by the program faculty leader.  The Study Abroad Center will instruct participants about details.  Normally, there will be 4-8 mandatory academic meetings the semester prior to departure -- and often they will complete work, such as a reflection essay, to be submitted after their return.

Semester and Summer Programs at UNI Partner Institutions

Students can use credit earned abroad to satisfy graduation requirements in major, minor, certificate, Liberal Arts Core, or UNI elective categories. 

The Study Abroad Preliminary Transfer Course Approval Form must be completed before departure if they wish to apply foreign academic credit toward your UNI degree. This Transfer Course Approval Form, after signatures are obtained, constitutes an agreement that courses they complete abroad will count toward their degree at UNI. 

How does your student get foreign courses approved?

1. Research to determine which programs offer the appropriate academics.
2. Select their program.
3. Print off syllabi for foreign courses.
4. Fill out Preliminary Course Approval Form identifying their requested UNI course equivalencies.  Remember, to attach the foreign course syllabi to your Course Approval Form.
5. For major, minor, or certificate courses:  Have foreign course syllabi assessed by the appropriate UNI college or department and obtain approval signatures for UNI equivalencies.
6. For LAC or electives: Submit course syllabi and approval form to Study Abroad (28 Gilchrist).  Course equivalencies will be evaluated by the Study Abroad Center and the Office of Admissions.
   

Remember: Approval Signatures are Required!

Your Course Approval Form will be housed in your Study Abroad Center file -- but it's good to keep a copy for yourself!  After you complete your program is complete, the foreign institution will mail the official transcript to the Study Abroad Center (this can take time).  After your transcript has arrived at UNI, the Office of Admissions will be posting their final grades to their degree audit.   

Modern Language Agreement

Students who will be participating in an intensive language program abroad (Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, etc.) and are placed in a specific level via placement test, will need to complete the Modern Language Agreement.  They will need to receive a signature from a faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages.  After signatures are obtained, the form constitues an agreement that courses they complete abroad will count toward their degree at UNI.

Graded Courses vs. Pass/Fail Credit

According to the Office of Admissions, their grades transfer back as “graded credit” unless they request this requirement to be waived.  Permission for the waiver must be sought and received from the Office of Admissions in a timely fashion.  Deadlines and other guidelines are published in the Schedule of Classes and in the UNI Catalog.  At present, a request to change graded credit to Pass/Fail (or Pass/Fail to graded credit) must be made by the mid-semester deadline published in the Schedule of Classes.

Whether pass/fail credit may be applied to meet exact requirements in a major, minor, or a certificate is a departmental decision.  Some departments will not allow you to use pass/fail courses to meet required courses toward a major or minor. Check with the department if they are unsure of the details.

Non-UNI Programs

If they are participating in a non-UNI program and wish to transfer the credits back to UNI, their program and their participation in the program must first be approved.  After approval is secured, they may proceed to submit their application to the program provider.  Contact the Study Abroad Center after they receive their letter of admission to make arrangements to enroll for the duration of their program.