Fulfilling Degree and Graduation Requirements
In order to use your study abroad courses to fulfill major or minor requirements, you must obtain faculty approval for courses that are not pre-approved in the database. Upon approval to study abroad by the Office of International Education, you will need to download and complete a course abroad approval form and provide a syllabus or course description for each course used to complete major/minor or degree requirements. Send this information to the appropriate faculty member via email prior to an appointment or visiting the professor's office.
Faculty members designated to approve courses are:
- Arts & Sciences: relevant department chair
- Business: Fae Bell, Director, Business Study Abroad Programs
- Leadership Studies: associate dean for academic affairs
- Law: director of international programs
- Second language courses: language abroad advisor in LLC and LAIS
A study abroad advisor in the Office of International Education can suggest programs where you are likely to find courses that suit your academic needs. Students also should review the host institution's website for course offerings and information. Students are strongly encouraged to have their courses pre-approved prior to studying abroad.
General Education Requirements
Field of study courses need to be approved by an "evaluating instructor." Refer to the course approval form page for more information. Students must go to the relevant department to approve general education courses. For example, for the FSLT requirement, students should seek approval from the chair of the relevant department (e.g., a Spanish or German literature course should be approved by the chair of the LAIS or LLC department). Students should go to the English department only for literature originally written in English.
Transfer Students
Students who transfer into the University of Richmond after 2 years of study at another institution may count 4 units of study abroad credit towards the 17.5-unit residency requirement. Students who transfer in after 1.5 years of study at another institution may count 1 unit of study abroad credit towards their 17.5-unit residency requirement.
Elective Courses
Courses taken as elective credit (those that do not count toward your major, minor, or field of study requirements) toward graduation do not need individual course approval unless it is a language course similar to one already taken at Richmond or a course not in a department awarding credit at Richmond.
Leadership Studies
Leadership studies majors may count a maximum of one unit of study abroad credit toward the leadership studies advanced course requirement. Requests for LDST study abroad credit should be submitted to the associate dean for academic affairs as soon as possible after acceptance to a program. Only in special cases will approval for LDST study abroad credit be determined upon the student’s return from abroad.
Business Students
Specific program restrictions, course requirements, and transfer policies are applicable to Robins School of Business students. Refer to the Robins School website for more information.
Seniors Studying Abroad
Final-year students may study abroad; however, these students are highly encouraged to discuss implications for graduating with their academic advisor. Business students must consult with Fae Bell, Director, Business Study Abroad Programs.
Students who study on a UR semester abroad program during their final semester do not need a waiver of the residency requirement. Seniors planning to graduate in May and who are studying abroad in the spring semester often will not be able to participate in the May commencement ceremony. Students may need to select an August graduation date when studying abroad in their final semester.