Student exploring his surroundings while studying abroad.
Study Abroad

Course Credit While Studying Abroad

Understanding how foreign courses taken during study abroad will fit into your Pace degree plan is the most important part of the study abroad process. Education Abroad will explain the process during pre-departure advising in the Abroad 102 info session, which is mandatory for all study abroad students. You may also watch this pre-recorded Abroad 102 info session (16 minutes long) at any time, to refer back to for guidance. All Pace students who study abroad must pass a short quiz as part of their application process, confirming that they understand the basics of Course Equivalencies.

How do credits work for study abroad?

When you study abroad at a Pace partner institution — for a semester, year, or summer program — you will receive Pace credits for courses taken abroad. Study Abroad credits are processed as Pace institutional credit (and not transfer credit) so that students can get Pace institutional aid while studying abroad. In order to get these Pace credits, there are steps you must take. It's your responsibility to follow these steps; you will not be able to get academic credits otherwise. Undergraduate students going for a semester abroad must enroll in, complete, and pass a minimum equivalent of 12 Pace credit hours (though it is strongly recommended you take the equivalent of 15 Pace credit hours while studying abroad). You must take all courses abroad for a grade; you may NOT take a class abroad P/F or audit.

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What are “course equivalencies”?

Any course you take at a foreign university (or through a study abroad program provider) must closely match a course offered at Pace, in terms of content and academic level. You will select courses from those offered at the overseas institution, with the assistance of your Pace faculty/Academic Advisor. Every course taken abroad must be approved by a Department Chair as a similar course at Pace. This process is referred to as obtaining course equivalencies.

The Chair's decision on whether or not to award Pace credit is based on the academic merit of the program and courses. Credit will not be given for informal, non-credit "enrichment" nor "extracurricular" activities. Students must also follow all other Pace protocols for study abroad by first applying through Pace Education Abroad. If a Pace Department Chair refuses to grant credit for a course, the student will receive an UNS grade for that course on their transcript. Review the current list of Pace Chairs (PDF) to determine who to send your forms to.

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How do I obtain course equivalencies?

Talk to your Pace Academic Advisor about courses you want to take abroad and how they will fit into your academic plan. Complete your Course Equivalency Forms in consultation with your Academic Advisor. (Not sure who your Academic Advisor is? email: whoismyadvisor@pace.edu)

When you study abroad, you will need to generate your own Course Equivalency Forms (one form for each course) via your Pace Study Abroad Application. We strongly recommend that you take courses abroad that have already been approved as having a Pace course equivalent, as it will be much easier and quicker to obtain Pace credits (because the course won't need to be reviewed and approved by a Pace Department Chair). Remember: the Abroad 102 info session walks you through this process! You can also watch this 3-minute video tutorial on creating course equivalency forms.

Pre-Approved Course Database

First, check and see if there are courses you want to take abroad that are already in Pace’s database of previously-approved courses for your program:

  • Go to the Pace Study Abroad portal (Terra Dotta) and find your program's brochure page
  • Go to the Academics tab
  • Go to the "PRE-APPROVED COURSES" section, and click on the link to see the historical archive of all the courses that already have an approved Pace course equivalent on your program
  • Review the courses to see if there are any you're interested in taking

How to Make a Course Equivalency Form—if you want to take a Pre-Approved Course

Step-by-step instructions for creating your Course Equivalency Form

  • Log into your Pace Study Abroad Application (Terra Dotta)
  • Click on the “Course Equivalency Form” button (lower right-hand side of your Program Application page)
  • Click on the “New Equivalency Request” button (upper right-hand side)
  • Select the foreign course you want to take (from the drop-down menu), then click the “Next” button
  • Next to Option 1, click the "Show Equivalent Courses” button
  • Select the circle next to the Pace course you want to earn credit for (underneath "Select"), then click "Next".
  • Your Course Equivalency Form (CEF) has been created!
  • Print the form by clicking “Print CEF Form: Save as a PDF and Seek Approvals” at the bottom of the page, and save it as a PDF
  • Ask your Academic Advisor to sign each form
  • Upload your signed forms to your Study Abroad Application under the "attached documents" section - one form for each course

How to Make a Course Equivalency Form—if you want to take a course that hasn't been Pre-Approved

Step-by-step instructions for creating your Course Equivalency Form:

  • Log into your Pace Study Abroad Application (Terra Dotta)
  • Click on the “Course Equivalency Form” button (lower right-hand side of your Program Application page)
  • Click on the “New Equivalency Request” button (upper right-hand side)
  • Click on “Other Course: Not Previously Approved” at the top of the drop-down bar options
  • Manually input the foreign Course Code and foreign Course Title – be precise and accurate! The foreign Course Code should have letters and numbers, like they do at Pace. *If the course code doesn't exist, input NA.
  • Click the “Next” button
  • Next to Option 3, click “Search Home Courses”
  • Scroll down to "Department" and select “**NEEDS APPROVAL: Select This Only!”, and click "Next"
  • Select the circle on the right-hand side next to “NEEDS DEPT. CHAIR APPROVAL”, and click “Next”
  • Your Course Equivalency Form (CEF) has been created!
  • Print the form by clicking "Print CEF Form: Save as a PDF and Seek Approvals” at the bottom of the page, and save it as a PDF
  • Ask the relevant Department Chair to review the course syllabus and approve an equivalent Pace course, and sign your form. You must obtain a formal class syllabus from the institution/program abroad that clearly states: (1) course requirements and curriculum, as well as (2) the total number of hours in formal class sessions for the duration of the program. Please give the Chair ample time to review your forms and syllabi - at least 2 months prior to departure. Pace credit will not be given for the informal, non-credit "enrichment" or "extracurricular" activities. The Chair's decision on whether or not to award Pace credit is based on the academic merit of the program and courses.
  • Ask your Academic Advisor to sign each form.
  • Upload your signed forms to your Study Abroad Application under the "attached documents" section - one form for each course

Remember: if your course isn't in Pace's Pre-approved Courses database then you must submit your Course Equivalency Forms to the applicable Pace Department Chair and obtain the Chair's approval/signature! See attached email template of a request to a Chair (PDF). If the Pace chair confirms your Course Equivalency via email, you must upload a PDF of the Chair’s email confirmation to your Terra Dotta portal. (Note: you should never sign/forge the Chair’s name on a Form! Forging a signature on the Course Equivalencies Forms may result in the termination of your Study Abroad application, discontinuation of your Study Abroad program, and/or denial of study abroad credits.)

Foreign courses approved as equivalent to Pace’s courses must satisfy the same curriculum requirements as the Pace course satisfies. Courses for which there is no Pace equivalent — but which are deemed appropriate/desirable to enhance the student’s educational goals— must have approval from the Department Chair. If there is no equivalent course, the Department Chair can list the course as meeting the requirements for major, minor, or general/open elective. Note: Pace Department Chairs evaluate course equivalency, and Academic Advisors determine how courses fit within students' degree plans. Only the Registrar can evaluate credits and determine their value.

If you cannot easily access your Study Abroad application to create a Course Equivalency Form, you can download and print a blank Course Equivalency Form (PDF).

Need more help? Watch this pre-recorded Abroad 102 info session (16 minutes long) that walks you through the whole process, step by step. You can also watch this 3-minute video tutorial on creating Course Equivalency Forms.

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How do credits work if I want to study abroad on a summer/January program that has not been approved by Pace?

Any student who chooses to participate on a study abroad program that is not found on the Pace pre-approved programs list must secure course approvals from the respective Pace academic department Chairperson/s - prior to departure for the program abroad. Failure to do so may result in denial of credit, which will delay students' on-time graduation. Course approvals must be submitted to Chairs at least 2 months prior to departure. The Chair's decision on whether or not to award Pace credit is based on the academic merit of the program and courses. Credit will not be given for informal, non-credit "enrichment" or "extracurricular" activities. If a Pace Department Chair refuses to grant credit for a course, the student will receive an UNS grade for that course on their transcript. Students must also follow all other Pace protocols for study abroad by first applying through Pace Education Abroad.

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How many courses should I seek approval for?

Seek approval for more courses than you intend to take — so that you’ll have flexibility in choosing your schedule after you arrive abroad (in case a course is cancelled or there’s a schedule conflict). For example, we recommend that you seek approval for up to 10 courses if you plan to take 5 courses.

Need more help? Watch this Prezi, walking you through the process step by step.

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Which courses can I seek approval for?

You can seek approval for most major, minor, and Pace University core courses. Courses you can take abroad include AOKs 2, 3, 4, and 5 (not AOK1); language courses; major/minor electives; open electives and lab science courses. For Lubin students, you may want to consider taking MGT 150, MGT 222, MGT 240, MAR 201, or FIN 260 abroad. If you want to get an AOK course approved by a Chair, the course must be deemed equivalent to an existing Pace course that is already designated as an AOK 2, 3, 4, or 5 — and in such cases, the Course Equivalency Form must have that already-existing Pace course listed by name.

Courses that you may NOT take abroad (because you will not get Pace approval/credit for them):

  • AOK 1 (Civic Engagement), Learning Community, Writing Enhanced, Anti-Racist Education core requirements
  • Any course for which you have not yet satisfied the Pace prerequisites
  • Any course you already took, passed, and got credit for
  • For Lubin students: MGT 226/490, MAR 221/222/345/445/499, ACC 300 & above, BUS 255, and for-credit internships
  • For Honors students: ENG 201
  • You may NOT take a class abroad P/F or audit

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What if I change courses while abroad?

If you need to make changes to any courses while you're abroad, follow these 5 steps:

(1) First, check to see if your new course is in Pace's database of Pre-approved Courses for your program.

(2) If not, you must obtain new course(s) approval from the relevant Pace Department Chair via email. In your outreach to the Chair (see attached template of an email request (PDF)), you must include the following in your email:

  • an introductory greeting and explanation of who you are (what overseas school you're attending and where that school is located)
  • foreign course title
  • foreign course code
  • foreign course syllabus
  • completed Course Equivalency Form

(3) Once the Chair reviews and approves the foreign course via email, you must ask your Academic Advisor to confirm their approval as well with their signature.

(4) After the Chair and your Academic Advisor have both signed the completed Course Equivalency Form, please upload it to your Pace study abroad application (under "attached documents").

(5) Inform Pace Education Abroad that you've completed steps 1-4 above.

You must obtain approval for each of your study abroad courses. You will not receive academic credit for classes that are not on your signed Course Equivalency Forms (regardless of whether you have completed them and/or paid for the new courses). This will delay your graduation from Pace.

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What if I return from study abroad and haven’t yet obtained my course equivalencies?

You must upload your Course Equivalency Forms for each missing class retroactively, and let Education Abroad know when completed by emailing studyabroad@pace.edu. Education Abroad cannot submit these Forms into your application on your behalf. The Course Equivalency Forms are generated by logging into your Pace Study Abroad application (see 'step-by-step instructions' outlined above). The Office of the Registrar will NOT process your foreign Transcript until all your Course Equivalency Forms have been uploaded for all your classes taken abroad. If Education Abroad has not been informed that you've uploaded your Course Equivalency Forms, we won’t know to begin processing your transcript.

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What happens after I complete my Course Equivalency Forms?

You must upload all of your completed Course Equivalency Forms to the 'attached documents' section of your online Study Abroad Application. Then, let Education Abroad know when you have done so by emailing studyabroad@pace.edu.

Pace Education Abroad will receive your transcript from your overseas host institution/program (possibly months after your program has ended) and forward it to The Registrar for processing and conversion of your foreign credits. The Registrar will then update your Pace transcript based on the completed/signed Course Equivalency Forms you submitted. Please allow 12 weeks for the Registrar to process your credits. When processed, the Registrar will notify you via email with your final TCE (Transfer Credit Evaluation). If you haven’t heard from the Registrar in 12 weeks from the date that Education Abroad has notified you that your documents have been sent to the Registrar, open a help desk ticket with the Registrar. Remember: The Registrar will NOT be able to process your transcript until all your Course Equivalency Forms have been uploaded for all your classes taken abroad.

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Who does what at Pace (concerning courses taken during study abroad)

  • Department Chairs–have the sole authority to identify a Pace equivalent course for a foreign course taken abroad
  • Office of the Registrar–has the sole authorization to determine credit values for courses taken abroad
  • Academic Advisors–determine how courses fit in with a student's degree plan. (Advisors can also sign off on open electives when there’s a pre-approved Pace equivalent course in the study abroad database.)
  • Education Abroad–acts as an intermediary support to Pace students by receiving transcripts from overseas partner universities; tracking students’ progress with course equivalencies; intervening when necessary with Dept. Chairs and Academic Advisors; and informing the Registrar of student’s status related to Course Equivalency Forms.

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What happens if I DON'T do my study abroad course equivalencies?

  • You may be denied Pace credit for courses you've taken during study abroad - if the courses don't meet Pace University standards, after review by a Pace Department Chair.
  • You’ll have less flexibility with future course registration at Pace (because your course registration date/time slot is associated with the number of credit hours completed).
  • You may receive credit for the “wrong” courses at Pace. (The courses you took abroad might not be approved by Pace as the courses you hoped they would be approved for.)
  • Your graduation will be in jeopardy. If you don’t do your course equivalencies, you will NOT graduate on time.
  • You won’t be able to complete an application for grad school, as you can’t show proof of having graduated from Pace.
  • You may not be able to prove to a potential employer that you graduated–which could be a condition of employment.

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Can I get credit if my foreign transcript is not in English?

As you agreed to during the Pace study abroad application process, it is your responsibility to have any non-English language transcripts translated into English via one of the below professional methods, and it is your responsibility to pay for that translation service. Please see the list of approved translation services from the Office of the Registrar:

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It is your responsibility to obtain your course equivalencies for courses taken during study abroad, and Education Abroad will support you with the process. You will not be able to graduate from Pace without taking these steps!