Study Abroad Program

A distinctive feature of SUA’s academic program is the requirement for all students to spend one semester of their junior year abroad. This semester must be spent in a country where the primary language aligns with the student’s language studies at SUA. These programs aim to deepen a student’s foreign language skills through complete immersion in the everyday life of another culture.

Participating in study abroad helps students further develop the qualities necessary to be global citizens. Upon returning to campus, they bring back a network of new friends and associates, fostering deep, potentially lifelong relationships. Additionally, the experience broadens students' intellectual understanding of the world's diversity.

Please note, SUA is not liable for any potential adverse effects on a student’s U.S. immigration status that may arise from participating in the Study Abroad requirement.

Eligibility for Study Abroad

Students must fulfill the following criteria prior to participation in study abroad:

• Students on academic probation are not permitted to embark on study abroad programs.
• Incomplete grades: Default grades will be factored into the student's semester GPA to determine study abroad eligibility. A student whose default grade results in a term or cumulative GPA below 2.0 will be deemed ineligible for study abroad the following semester.
• Participation in study abroad is mandatory for graduation and must be completed in the third year. However, students who, through circumstances beyond their control, are not able to Study Abroad in their third year can request to defer study abroad. Students are not permitted to participate in study abroad during their final semester.
• Before departing for their semester abroad, students must have passed the 202-level or higher in their target language on campus.
• All study abroad target language courses at the 100 and 200 level must be taken on a graded basis. Students starting at the 300-level must take their initial course on a graded basis.
• Official enrollment is required in the semester preceding a semester of study abroad.
• Attendance at all orientations organized by the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs (SAIP), along with submission of all necessary documents, is mandatory prior to departure for study abroad
   

Study Abroad Deferral Request

Study abroad is mandatory for graduation and must be completed in the 3rd year. Students unable to meet this requirement due to circumstances beyond their control must consult with the SAIP office. If approved, deferred study abroad must take place in the fall of the 4th year. Study abroad is not permitted during the spring of the 4th year. Students intending to graduate at the end of their 4th year must submit a deferral request to the SAIP office as early as possible but at the latest before the last Friday of September of their 3rd year. Students who have taken a leave of absence or are otherwise following an irregular pattern of degree progress should seek guidance with the SAIP office. Failure to do so may affect study abroad eligibility and potentially delay graduation. 

Before submitting a request for a study abroad deferral, students must carefully consider how a deferral may affect their graduation readiness. They must consult with their academic advisor, the SAIP office, and the LCP Director for guidance and assistance with the deferral process.

STAMP Test Administration

SUA students are required to take the STAMP Test for language proficiency, administered by the Language and Culture Program (LCP), before and after Study Abroad. Students are required to approach the test with the necessary seriousness and adhere strictly to the guidelines, or risk having to retake the test at their own expense. The SUA STAMP test does not determine your language level of your courses abroad: the host program requires a separate language placement test to determine course levels.

Academic Load Abroad

Study Abroad Credit Requirements

Students must earn a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 16 credits in their target language during study abroad. Certain programs include a mandatory pre-semester course which will count toward the minimum of 12 US credits needed. Failure to maintain 12 transferable credits may result in a change in a student’s financial aid eligibility and/or visa status.

The course load is determined by the student in consultation with the Director of the SAIP office. The academic suitability of a specific program or course is assessed by the Study Abroad Committee in collaboration with the SAIP office. 

Credits not for Transfer

While students are encouraged to explore various courses offered by the host institution or program, not all courses are eligible for credit transfer. Credits are awarded only for in-person language and culture studies taught in the target language of the program. Courses outside this scope—including elective or required courses in non-language/cultural areas, skill-based workshops, courses taught in a language other than the target language, or courses that teach a different foreign language using the target language—are not eligible for credit transfer.

Approval Process for Courses Abroad

Before departing for their study abroad program, students should schedule a consultation with a member of the SAIP office. This consultation ensures that students select courses aligned with their interests, SUA's academic standards, and the educational objectives of the host university.

Pre-approval Process

After the course consultation, students must complete the "Approval Form for Courses Abroad." This form outlines their intended course selection for the semester abroad, including possible alternatives.

To ensure compliance with SUA's Academic Guidelines, particularly regarding credit transfer from abroad, students must follow these steps:

1. List all courses intended to be taken during the semester abroad, including those not for credit transfer.
2. Provide course names translated into English.
3. If your program requires you to enroll in more than 16 transferable credits, specify which course will receive partial credit to stay within the maximum of 16 credits.
4. Indicate whether each course is a “course for international students”, or a “regular university course” with local students.
5. Specify whether each course will be taken on a graded or Pass/No Pass basis. Note that Core 1 is designated as Pass/No Pass, while Core 2 is graded.
6. List all non-transferable courses in the "Courses not for Transfer" section.

A copy of your completed form will be automatically emailed to you via AdobeSign for your reference.

Final Approval Process

Students should be aware that course selections made before departure may be preliminary, as actual course offerings on-site could differ from those listed by program providers. If students make changes to their course enrollment on-site, they must resubmit the course approval form within the first 14 days of semester classes (or the first 3 days of a pre-semester class if applicable). Failure to do so may impact credit transferability. The final course selection must be approved by the Director of the SAIP office and/or Study Abroad Committee.

16 Credits Limit and Declaration

If your course enrollment exceeds the 16 maximum transferable credits, indicate which course(s) should transfer for reduced credit. For example, if your transferable courses total 17 credits, indicate a course for one less credit (e.g. list a 4-credit course as 3 credits) or the SAlP Director will decide which credit(s) to exclude.

Add/Drop Class Policy

After arriving at the host institution, students may need to add or drop courses due to placement test scores or changes in course availability. Students may not drop a course if doing so results in less than 12 US transferable credits.

Transferred Grades from Abroad

The grading system outlined in the SUA Undergraduate Catalog applies universally to all study abroad programs.

12-16 Transfer Credits

Study abroad courses, totaling from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 16 credits in the target language, contribute to the student's GPA regardless of whether they pass or fail. While credits earned during study abroad (ranging from 12 to 16) contribute to overall SUA credit, they do not fulfill concentration or general education requirements.

Policies of Individual Programs

1. Credit Requirements:

Each program sets its own minimum and maximum credit requirements. You must comply with both SUA's academic guidelines for academic load and the credit guidelines of your chosen study abroad program. For instance, some programs may require enrollment in up to 15 credits to meet their study abroad criteria.

2. Grading Systems:

Study abroad programs follow the grading systems of their host universities and institutions. SUA respects these varied grading standards. Credit transfers to SUA will be based on official transcripts provided by the host programs.

Note: SUA's grading system does not include D+ or D- grades. Thus, grades of D+ or D- earned abroad will be recorded as a D at SUA.

3. Instruction Hours and Credit Conversion:

We adhere to the credits as they appear on the final transcript from the host program or institution. In cases where programs only specify contact hours on their final transcript, credits will be calculated based on the standard of 15 contact hours per credit.

Courses Registered as "NOT for Soka Credit"

All courses undertaken during study abroad, regardless of their transferability status, will be recorded on the SUA official transcript. Only courses or units approved by the Study Abroad Committee will contribute towards degree requirements and GPA calculations. Any courses marked “not for credit” on a student’s Approval Form for Courses Abroad, or not approved by the Study Abroad Committee, will appear as “No Credit” on the official SUA transcript.

Graded or Pass/Non-Pass

    1. Declaration Procedure:

• Pre-Departure Declaration: You must declare your Pass/No Pass choices before departing for study abroad, indicating your decision on the Approval Form for Courses Abroad.
• Changes During Study Abroad: If you change courses while abroad, you must re-submit your Pass/Non-Pass declaration via email within the first 14-day add/drop period of the semester (or within 3-day add/drop period for pre-semester courses). Retroactive declarations are not permitted.

   2.  Limitations and Eligibility:

• Total Allowance: You may elect to take a maximum of 4 courses as Pass/No Pass throughout your entire course of studies at SUA, including during study abroad. A Pass indicates a C- quality work or better. A D is recorded as No Pass and is equivalent to an F in GPA calculation and in awarding units.
• Responsibility: You are responsible for keeping track of the number of Pass/No Pass courses you have taken. Any courses exceeding the allowed Pass/No Pass limit will be converted to a letter grade.

    3. Course Credit Conversion:

• Be aware of the conversion rates for Pass/Non-Pass Units based on course credits:

   4. Academic Risks:

• Students risk academic standing issues if they fail to fulfill the minimum 12-credit requirement by receiving failing grades or a D in a Pass/No Pass course. Consequences may include loss of scholarships or financial aid and delayed graduation. Students falling short of 12 credits must enroll in language class(es) upon returning to SUA to compensate.

Internships/Service-Learning

SUA recognizes the value of internships and service-learning experiences during study abroad, offering students the chance to apply their language skills in practical settings. To ensure credit transfer, students must obtain pre-approval from the SUA Study Abroad Committee, ensuring that the internship or service-learning opportunity meets specific SUA criteria:

• Internships/service-learning must be graded.
• Students must utilize their "target" language throughout the activity, excluding English.
• The activity should include academic components such as reading/writing assignments, presentations, or class discussions.

For internships/service-learning, students can earn a maximum of 3 credits, with contact hours varying based on the program or host university. If students opt not to receive academic credit, they should list the course in the Not-for-Credit section of SUA’s Approval Form for Courses Abroad. Credits for internships/service-learning will be awarded upon successful program completion and transcript review.

SUA & Original Transcripts

Before studying abroad, students register for placeholder courses on Learn. Once the official transcript from the study abroad program is received and processed, these placeholders are updated with the final courses, grades, and unit information.

Personal Travel During Study Abroad Programs/ Temporarily Leaving the Study Abroad Program Location:

Students must inform program staff of any personal travel during study abroad, especially if it involves leaving the host country. This ensures their safety and compliance with program policies. Failure to follow these guidelines may affect their standing in the program and limit support in case of an emergency. 

If you intend to travel back to the US or your home country, you must receive additional approval from the SAIP director. In cases of accidents, severe illness, or family emergencies, each situation will be evaluated on an individual basis. Non-emergency absences may impact a student’s ability to continue or re-enter the program.
 

Post Study Abroad Preparations

Registration for SUA Courses in the Following Spring

Students abroad must register for SUA classes online. Access to People-Soft and soka.edu email is essential upon arrival at the host institution. Registrar's office communications, including registration details, are sent exclusively to soka.edu accounts. A hold on registration remains until students attend a mandatory Academic Advising appointment. Financial obligations must be settled before registration. 

"Rush Transcript" from Study Abroad

FAt the start of your study abroad program, please request a "rush transcript" from your on-site program director or host institution. Delays in transcript processing may impact scholarship eligibility and athletic participation in the following semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

SAP is reviewed at the end of the term after grades are posted (see SAP Policy in the Catalog). Delays in transfer of credits from host institutions may require study abroad courses to be marked as Incomplete on the student’s transcript. These courses count as attempted credits with no earned credit until study abroad grades are received. 

Incomplete study abroad courses do not affect SAP GPA calculations. Once study abroad grades and credits are received, they undergo the same SAP review as regular courses.

If study abroad grades are not available upon financial aid disbursement, students may receive an SAP warning from the Financial Aid Office, and disbursement may be delayed until study abroad grades are received and SAP recalculated. If an SAP suspension of financial aid results from study abroad grades or delay, students have 20 business days to appeal after notification.

Withdrawal and Return

Withdrawal from Study Abroad

Study abroad is mandatory for SUA graduation. Withdrawal necessitates written notification, reviewed by both SUA and the Program Provider. Subsequent submission of an SUA withdrawal form to the Registrar's office is required. Re-registration at SUA is not permitted during the same semester as study abroad withdrawal. The earliest re-registration opportunity is the following semester. If withdrawal occurs before the study abroad start date, re-registration at SUA may be possible before the SUA add/drop period ends.

Winter Block and Financial Aid Implications

Students considering study abroad in the spring semester should be mindful of potential financial aid implications if they enroll in Winter Block. For more information, please refer to the Financial Policy and Guidelines for Study Abroad or contact the Office of Financial Aid.

If study abroad plans change after Winter Block enrollment or if the program is canceled after SUA’s spring semester add/drop period, the student will not be able to register for spring semester classes. This will result in the student being withdrawn from the term and financial aid adjustments may be necessary. For international students, this may impact their visa status. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and/or the Office of International Student Services for more information and guidance.

Conduct Policy: Dismissal from the Study Abroad Program

Students are required to adhere to the conduct standards set by the Program Provider and host institution. Dismissal may result from improper behavior or failure to comply with these policies, as well as with local laws. Written notification of dismissal will be reviewed by both SUA and the Program Provider.

Students will not be allowed to register at SUA during the Study Abroad semester during which they were dismissed. Registration may be possible in the subsequent semester, in accordance with university policies.

Failure to Participate in Coursework

In the situation where a grade of F is received for all transferrable course units, and the failing grades are unearned, that is, the grade was received as a result of non-participation or completion), there may be further financial aid and/or immigration implications.

Re-Entry

Upon return, students must complete an online program evaluation and the Post-Study Abroad STAMP Test within the timeframe specified. Failure to complete these steps may result in a hold on your record.

Housing for Study Abroad Students

• Fall study abroad students may stay in SUA’s residence halls during the preceding summer but are responsible for the cost of summer housing and must check out before the start of the fall semester at SUA.
• Spring study abroad students enrolled in Learning Cluster must check out of SUA residence halls before the spring semester begins or pay additional fee to extend their stay for a maximum of 2 weeks.
• Spring study abroad students not enrolled in Learning Cluster must check out of SUA residence halls before the winter block begins or pay additional fee to extend their stay for a maximum of 2 weeks.