Studying Abroad in Political Science
How to get your courses approved for
the major
Policy on Study Abroad Courses
A maximum of three upper-division Polisci requirements may be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. These courses must conform to standards set by our faculty for all courses counting for the major. Please read the information below carefully. Courses that are designated as Political Science by the EAP office not necessarily be accepted for the major. All courses must be reviewed by the UCB PoliSci Department.
Additional rules apply for students pursuing the new major (students admitted to UC Berkeley as freshmen Fall 2008 onwards and junior transfer students admitted to Berkeley Fall 2009 onwards): A maximum of one course taken abroad can count towards the major's subfield specialization requirement and none can satisfy a distribution requirement. It is therefore advised that students complete their five distribution requirements before going abroad.
Haven't Left Yet?
Bring us your program information and course description and we'll review it with you. We'll also advise you on the best strategy for choosing courses once you get there. However, unless you can obtain all of the information listed below, you will not receive an up-front guarantee that the courses will count for the major. Usually complete information is not available beforehand. While you are there, be sure to collect the needed documents: syllabi, reading lists, information about the program - all the things listed below. Bon voyage!
A maximum of three upper-division Polisci requirements may be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. These courses must conform to standards set by our faculty for all courses counting for the major. Please read the information below carefully. Courses that are designated as Political Science by the EAP office not necessarily be accepted for the major. All courses must be reviewed by the UCB PoliSci Department.
Additional rules apply for students pursuing the new major (students admitted to UC Berkeley as freshmen Fall 2008 onwards and junior transfer students admitted to Berkeley Fall 2009 onwards): A maximum of one course taken abroad can count towards the major's subfield specialization requirement and none can satisfy a distribution requirement. It is therefore advised that students complete their five distribution requirements before going abroad.
Haven't Left Yet?
Bring us your program information and course description and we'll review it with you. We'll also advise you on the best strategy for choosing courses once you get there. However, unless you can obtain all of the information listed below, you will not receive an up-front guarantee that the courses will count for the major. Usually complete information is not available beforehand. While you are there, be sure to collect the needed documents: syllabi, reading lists, information about the program - all the things listed below. Bon voyage!
Criteria for Transfer:
Remember that you must provide evidence that all your EAP courses conform to the same standards that are used for our own UCB courses. They must be:
- within the school's Political Science department;
- upper division (EAP programs provide this information);
- taken at a 4-year university or college (EAP programs provide this information);
- taken for a letter grade;
- comparable in instruction hours (at least 4.5 quarter units or 3 semester units) to receive full credit
The following materials must be submitted to the undergraduate advising office. Students who study abroad during their sophomore or junior year must submit the paperwork for evaluation no later than the end of the first semester of their senior year. Evaluating courses can take up to three weeks.
- A syllabus in English. If translated from another language, attach the original foreign language syllabus to the English translation. The syllabus should include the following:
- A description and summary of the course.
- Required texts and readings.
- Course outline, week by week.
- Request for Course Evaluation. This form is obtainable at the Polisci Undergrad Office and online as a word document (click here).
- For EAP course work: An EAP Student Course Information Form for each course you wish to count towards the major, obtainable at: http://eap.ucop.edu/common/Forms/studentcourse-info.dot. These forms are given to you in your packet by the EAP Office before you leave.
- For non-EAP work: In addition to the first two items listed,
- (a) Information (online or in a printed course catalog) about course level (e.g., proof that it's upper-division).
- (b) A copy of your transcript (once available). An unofficial copy is ok.
Course approvals can take up to three weeks!
Plan ahead!
Submit all of the above to the Undergrad Office, 296 Barrows Hall. We will review the materials and email you a response. Please be prepared to provide additional materials, such as papers and reading lists. Occasionally this information is necessary if we have additional questions about course content.