Course approval for study abroad

Planning to study off campus? Use the online course of study form to request approval for the courses you may take while you’re away.

Before completing the form, you should have declared your major and started your online application with Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE).

Before you begin

Choose courses through your program

Use your program’s website to find courses offered during the term you plan to study off campus.

Do not use the Course Equivalency Matrix or the online course of study form to determine what courses will be offered. They include courses offered or approved in the past, and those courses may not be available during your term.

Check for pre-approved courses

Use the Course Equivalency Matrix to see whether courses have already been approved for your academic area of interest.

Gather information for courses that aren't pre-approved

For each course that needs approval, have the following ready:

• course title at the host institution
• course number at the host institution
• number of host institution credits
• direct link to the course description or syllabus

Use a direct link to the individual course description or syllabus, not a general department page.

Complete your course of study form

1. Log in.
   Find the course of study form in your MyOCSE student account. Log in with your Skidmore username without “@skidmore.edu” and your password.
2. Start or continue a form.
   Select “Add New Form” if you are completing the form for the first time or starting a new one. If you have already started a form, select the program name to continue working on it.
3. Select your program and term.
   Choose the program you are applying to and the appropriate term and year. Keep in mind:
   • The form is not used for summer programs.
   • You may have only one active form for a given term and year. Contact OCSE if you need to start another.
   • If you are petitioning for a non-approved program, select “Non-Approved Program” from the dropdown menu.
   • Non-Skidmore students cannot use the online system.Add your courses
4. Add your courses.
   List all courses you may want to take, including backup options.
   If a course has been pre-approved, it should appear in the “Course Title” dropdown menu. It may appear more than once if multiple departments have approved it.
   Select the appropriate course and then “Add Course.”
   If the course doesn't appear, or if it hasn't been approved by the department from which you are seeking credit, select “Manually Enter Course Number and Title.”
   
5. Manually enter a course.
   For a course that isn't pre-approved, enter:
   • Host institution course number
   • Host institution course title
   • Host institution credits
   • U.S. equivalent credits
   • Direct link to the course description or syllabus
     
     Helpful tips:
     • Do not provide a link to a general department page. The course description or syllabus is needed to review the course.
     • If you want general elective credit, select “No” for “Major/Minor Credit.”
     • If you want the course considered for major or minor credit, select “Yes” and choose the Skidmore department from which you are requesting credit.
     • Select “Add Course” when you're finished.
     • The system saves courses as you add them, so you don't have to complete the entire form in one sitting.
6. Review your courses.
   Make sure you have entered all the courses you want considered, including backup options, before submitting your form.
   You can add or remove courses before you submit. To remove a course, select the course and choose “Remove.”
   Once you submit the form, you cannot make changes.
   
   Need to cancel a form?
   Select “Cancel” to deactivate it. A canceled form cannot be reactivated; you will need to start a new form.
   Canceling your course of study form does not withdraw your application to study off campus. If you no longer plan to study off campus, you must also withdraw your OCSE application.
   
   
7. Submit your form.
   Once you have listed all the courses you want reviewed, select “Submit.”

   Your courses will then move through the approval process:

   1. Your academic advisor
   2. The appropriate department chair, when needed
   3. The Registrar’s Office
   4. OCSE

   You'll receive an email when the course approval process is complete.

Important things to know

• You are responsible for knowing how many host institution credits you need to maintain full-time enrollment. The requirement may not be 15 credits.
• Make sure you understand how your host institution's credits convert to U.S. credits.
• Only courses worth 3 or more credits can be considered for breadth and major or minor requirements.
• Course approval does not mean you have been approved to study off campus.
• Course approval does not mean you have been accepted by your program.
• Approval does not guarantee that a course will be offered or available.

Questions?

Contact Off-Campus Study & Exchanges at ocse@skidmore.edu or 518-580-5355.