Academic Planning
Academic planning
Studying off campus should complement your Skidmore education — not interrupt it. With thoughtful planning, you can earn credit toward your degree, stay on track for graduation, and make the most of your academic experience.
This page explains how to plan your coursework, understand how academic credit is awarded, and use the resources available to support your academic success while studying off campus.
Meet with your academic advisor
Planning ahead is the best way to ensure your off-campus experience supports your academic goals. Meet with your academic advisor early to discuss how studying off campus fits into your degree plan and graduation timeline.
If you hope to earn credit toward your major or minor, begin by reviewing your department's Approved Programs. Many departments have identified programs that best align with their curriculum.
Before you study off campus:
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Review your department's Approved Programs.
- Obtain departmental pre-approval for courses you hope to count toward your degree.
- Complete the required course approval process through Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE).
Understand how academic credit works
How your coursework is recorded depends on the type of off-campus program you attend.
| Skidmore programs | Approved programs | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit earned | Skidmore credit | Transfer credit |
| Grades | Included in your GPA | Do not affect your Skidmore GPA |
| Transcript | Courses and grades appear on your transcript | Course titles appear on your transcript; grades do not |
| Departmental approval | Required for courses counting toward majors, minors, and maturity-level credit | Required for courses counting toward majors, minors, and maturity-level credit |
Approved program requirements
For credit to transfer from an Approved Program:
- Courses must be taken for a letter grade.
- Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading is not accepted.
- You must earn a grade of C or higher.
Plan your courses
The Course Equivalency Matrix is Skidmore's online database of pre-approved courses offered through Skidmore Programs and Approved Programs. It can help you identify courses that may fulfill major, minor, or other degree requirements before you study off campus.
Access the Course Equivalency Matrix
Use the Course Equivalency Matrix to:
- Browse courses by academic department.
- Search courses by off-campus program.
- View previously approved course equivalencies.
- Plan your academic schedule with your advisor.
Keep in mind that the Matrix is not a current list of courses being offered. It is a record of courses that have been approved in the past. Always check with your program to confirm what courses will be offered during your term.
Course approval
Once you have declared your major and started an OCSE application, you can use the Matrix to request approval for courses you plan to take. If a course is not already listed in the Matrix, you can submit it for review through your Proposed Course of Study form.
Please do not submit course approval requests before declaring your major and starting an OCSE application. Requests submitted before that point will be deleted.
Learn how to complete the course approval form
Full-time enrollment
Students studying off campus are expected to maintain a full-time course load.
While requirements vary by program, a full course load is typically:
- Approximately 15 U.S. credits
- Four to five courses
If you are considering an underload or overload, contact OCSE before registering for courses. Students should not enroll in fewer than 12 U.S. credits without prior approval.
Academic support
At Skidmore, we’re committed to making off-campus study accessible for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If you’ll need academic accommodations while studying away, it’s important to plan ahead.
Contact both an OCSE program manager and Meg Hegener, director of Student Access Services, as early as possible:
Location: Learning Commons, Starbuck Center
Phone: 518-580-8150
Website: Skidmore's Accessibility Services
You’ll need to submit documentation that verifies your disability and supports your request. Once approved, you'll receive a Memo of Academic Accommodations to share with your program provider.
- Common accommodations
- Extended test time
- Distraction-reduced testing
- Alternative-format textbooks
- Note-taking support
- Screen readers or audio exams
Accommodations vary by program and country. The sooner you reach out, the more options we can offer.
Petitions
If your situation falls outside study-abroad requirements, you may be able to request an exception through the petition process. Explore the questions below to learn when a petition is required and how to get started.
Can I study off campus if my GPA is below 2.75? Yes, but you'll need approval from the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS). To petition:
- Submit a one-page personal statement that addresses:
- The circumstances that contributed to your current GPA.
- The steps you will take to ensure academic success while studying off campus.
- How your academic background and interests connect to your proposed program.
- The strengths and skills you will bring to the experience.
- Your academic, personal, and cultural learning goals and how the program will help you achieve them.
- Arrange for two faculty letters of support to be emailed to ocse@skidmore.edu.
- Meet with the OCSE representative to CAS (optional). While not required, students are encouraged to meet with the Director to discuss the petition process and ask questions.
- Submit all petition materials to OCSE at least three weeks before your program's application deadline.
Do not apply directly to your program provider until your petition has been approved.
For additional information about the petition process, please refer to the CAS Operating Code (pages 9-10). Committee on Academic Standing (CAS)
Can I study off campus before or after my junior year? Most students study away during their junior year. If you'd like to study off campus during your sophomore or senior year, you'll need to submit:
- A letter explaining why your proposed timeline supports your academic goals.
- A letter of support from a faculty member, ideally your academic advisor.
Faculty recommendations may be emailed directly to ocse@skidmore.edu.