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School of Informational Sciences

Important information:
• Completion of the Course Approval Summary Form is required before departure.
• Grading options need to be decided by mid-term.
• All courses taken abroad must be approved.
• Submit the Course Approval Summary Form to: bsis-advising@illinois.edu.

This webpage is for students enrolled in the School of Information Sciences (iSchool) that are studying abroad on a pre-approved university programs. To be considered a full-time Illinois student and qualify for financial aid, you must be enrolled in the minimum full-time academic load as defined by your host institution and complete 12 or more Illinois credit hours abroad. Students who receive the Monetary Award Program (MAP Grant) from the state of Illinois, are required to complete the equivalent of 15 Illinois credits.

Course Approval Instructions

Complete the information that is requested on the top portion of the Course Approval Summary Form. The Course Approval Summary Form will not be processed unless this information is completed. Type or print all information.

Instructions for Completing the Course Approval Summary Form

Please follow instructions in order.

Completed by the student

List the titles of the courses offered at the institution abroad. You may find information on course offerings for your particular term(s) abroad on the host institution’s website, within My Study Abroad, a course catalog or a combination of these resources.

List the courses in the exact wording used by the host institution, including the subject and number of the course abroad (e.g., AUST 2022 Australian Studies).

Completed by the student

Check the Course Approval Database to see if your courses have received prior approval:

  • If the course has already been approved, print it out, mark “Y” in Column #2, and attach the printout to the Course Approval Summary Form.
  • If the course is not in the Course Approval Database, or you wish to seek approval in a subject area other than what is already approved, mark “N” in Column #2.

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

Indicate in this column if the student is taking all of the courses for a grade or for credit/no credit. If the student is taking course towards specific major, GenEd, or minor requirements the courses must be taken for a grade. If any of the courses are meeting a requirement for a minor, the student must have an “Intent to Declare a Minor” form on file with iSchool Undergraduate Affairs before study abroad courses can be approved for the student’s minor and all of the courses must be taken for a grade.

Students may change their credit declaration post-departure up until the midpoint of semester. It is recommended that any changes be discussed with a iSchool advisor prior to submitting credit change request.

Completed by the student

For those courses found in the Course Approval Database, please attach the Course Approval Database printout and write “see attached” in Column #4. Skip Columns #5, 6, 7, and 8, and go to Column #9.


Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor

For those courses not found in the Course Approval Database, or for those courses for which the student wishes to seek approval in a new subject area, the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the corresponding subject area will fill out Column #4 based on information provided by the student. In most instances, the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor is not the same person as your Academic Advisor.

If you approve this course, please enter the Illinois Subject and number/or level. If this course has a direct Illinois equivalency, enter Illinois subject and number (e.g., SPAN 210). If this course is acceptable as college-level transfer work in your department, enter Illinois subject and level (e.g., SPAN 2--).

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

If you approve the course, please enter “Y” in the box.

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

If you do not approve the course, please enter “N” in the box. The Office of the Registrar will process credit recommendation for non-approved courses taken abroad by identifying these courses as non-transferable coursework. The nontransferable coursework will not show up on the student’s Illinois transcript.

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

Please print and sign your name. For a more detailed explanation use the “Comments” area either on the front or back of the form.

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

If you approve this course to be added to the Course Approval Database, please enter “Y” in the box. Enter “N” if you do not recommend the course be added.

You can approve courses for individual students but opt not to add the course to the Course Approval Database if you would prefer to review the course on a case-by-case basis.

Completed by the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool

Please indicate what this course will be considered for upon the student’s return by using the following guide:

  • M: Core (Major) credit in field
  • S: Supporting course work
  • E: Elective credit
  • GR: Must be taken for a Grade
  • Other (Adv. hours, group req., etc.)

Use of this section is to be determined by the advisors.

This form will not be considered complete without your (the student’s) signature.

For iSchool students, this signature must be from a Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool.

The Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool will need to see all attached printouts from the Course Approval Database and course descriptions in order to make copies for your records. You must have both the printed name and the signature of the Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool.

The Study Abroad Course (299) Advisor in the iSchool grants approval of your course plan on behalf of the school.


Final Instructions

After signing your Course Approval Summary Form, the iSchool will keep the original course descriptions and supporting course materials and will make copies of the following documents which will be added to your student folder:

You must get approval for all the courses you took abroad. If the courses you received pre-approval for and the courses you took do not match, you must get approval for all additional courses upon return.