Plan how studying off campus fits into your degree
Study Abroad and Study Away are academic experiences. Learn how K credit, courses, grades and departmental requirements work before selecting a program.
Plan before you apply
Consider how the timing, courses and credit offered by a program will fit into your four-year academic plan. Begin these conversations early so that you understand which requirements you still need to complete at K.
Talk with your academic advisor
Your academic advisor can help you review your remaining graduation, major and minor requirements and consider where off-campus coursework may fit into your academic plan.
For questions about whether a particular course may fulfill a major, minor or concentration requirement, consult the appropriate department chair.
Explore programs with a Peer Advisor
Peer Advisors are trained student employees in the CIP office. They can help you navigate Program Discovery, compare options and identify programs that align with your academic interests and goals.
Ask about a specific program
Your CIP program coordinator can answer questions about a program’s academic structure, eligibility requirements, application process and policies.
Discuss accommodations early
Students who use academic, housing, medical or other accommodations should begin planning early. Laws, resources and accommodation practices differ among programs and locations, and the same accommodations available at Kalamazoo College may not always be available off campus.
The CIP will work with you and the program to determine what accommodations or reasonable alternatives may be available. Beginning this process early provides more time to identify programs that can appropriately support your needs.
For guidance, contact K’s Director of Institutional Equity and Access, Tanya Jachimiak.
Academic credit by program length
Students remain enrolled as full-time Kalamazoo College students while participating in an approved Study Abroad or Study Away program. The table shows the amount of K credit students typically receive.
| Program length | Typical K credit |
|---|---|
| One quarter | 3–4 K units |
| Two quarters | 6 K units |
| Three quarters | 9 K units |
Final credit depends on successful completion of the program’s academic requirements and review of the official transcript. Review the individual program brochure for program-specific credit information.
Two-quarter fall–winter programs: Students receive six K units and are enrolled for both Fall and Winter quarters, even when the program ends in November or December. Students may not enroll in K courses or live in campus housing during that Winter Quarter and return to K classes in the spring.
How courses apply toward your degree
Approved Study Abroad and Study Away programs offer academic coursework that can contribute toward Kalamazoo College graduation requirements. How an individual course applies depends on the type of requirement.
General graduation credit
The CIP and the Registrar review completed coursework and determine how credit applies toward general College graduation requirements.
Major, minor or concentration credit
The relevant academic department determines whether a course may fulfill a particular major, minor or concentration requirement.
Before leaving campus
- Review your remaining graduation, major, minor and concentration requirements with your academic advisor.
- Discuss potential off-campus courses with the appropriate department chair when you hope to use them toward a specific requirement.
- Remember that course offerings and schedules may change before or after you arrive.
- Keep copies of course descriptions, syllabi, reading lists, assignments and other academic work in case they are needed for departmental review.
Important: Discussing a possible course with an advisor or department before departure does not guarantee that the course will be offered, that you will be able to enroll in it or that it will satisfy a particular requirement. Retain your academic materials until all credit has been reviewed and processed.
Learning beyond the classroom
Depending on the program, students may also complete an internship, civic engagement course or Hornet Intercultural Immersion Project (HIIP) for academic credit. Availability, credit and requirements vary by program.
Grades and transcripts
After your program ends, the host institution or program provider sends your official transcript to Kalamazoo College. The CIP reviews and translates the academic record, and the Registrar posts the approved courses, grades and credit to your K transcript.
- Grades earned through Study Abroad or Study Away appear on the Kalamazoo College transcript but are not included in the calculation of the K cumulative GPA.
- You must meet the minimum grade and completion requirements for your program to receive credit.
- Transcript processing can take several weeks because academic calendars and grading timelines differ among institutions.
- Unpaid fees, missing coursework or unresolved obligations with the host institution may delay the release of your transcript.
Continue monitoring your K academic record after returning. Keep all course materials until your grades and credits have been posted and you have confirmed that they appear correctly.
After you return: Course substitutions
After your off-campus courses have been processed, you may request that an individual course fulfill a specific major, minor or concentration requirement.
Before submitting the form
- Confirm that the course and credit appear on your Kalamazoo College academic record.
- Discuss the proposed substitution with the appropriate faculty member or department chair.
- Gather the syllabus and any other course materials the department may need to evaluate your request.
- Complete a separate request for each course substitution.
The department chair’s approval is required. Submitting the form does not guarantee that the requested substitution will be approved.