Academic Toolkit for 2019-20 and 2020 Participants
WELCOME TO YOUR ACADEMIC TOOLKIT! The more you know about the academic part of your program, the better prepared you will be to successfully manage your studies abroad. So, empower yourself. Learn what the "rules" are for your program and how to maximize your academic experience by accessing the academic resources below. Check your Academic Toolkit periodically since this page can be updated throughout your year abroad.
Click on the name of the hyperlinked publication or form to access the document. Note that some documents will not be linked until your year abroad begins so check your toolkit regularly for updates.
UPDATED ACADEMIC INFORMATION: SPRING 2020
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, CSU International Programs (IP) suspended all programs during the month of March 2020 and required all participants to leave their host countries during CSU’s spring semester. The document below contains academic information pertaining to CSU IP participation for those who enrolled in 2019-20 academic year and 2020 calendar year programs, and whose participation was affected by program suspensions.
- Updated Academic Information for 2019-20 and 2020 CSU IP Participants
This document also provides FAQs about 1) academic reporting (relevant to all students including those who have withdrawn from CSU iP) and 2) adjustments to academic program requirements that are relevant to students who are completing their courses remotely through their overseas study centers in Spring 2020. We, at CSU IP, are aware that this has been a challenging time. If you have any questions or concerns about your program, please contact our office.
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Read the publications below and refer to these documents before your departure, while you are abroad and upon your return as it will address many of the questions that you may have at the various stages of your study abroad experience.
The
Academic Guide for CSU IP Participants (also known as the "Academic Guide") contains sections on Academic Planning (Section I), Academic Policies (Section II) and Academic Reporting (Section III). Section I contains information on the academic planning process and how courses are applied towards your degree. Section II contains academic policies which are applied to all IP participants while abroad regardless of the program of study. Section II topics include but are not limited to CSU Registration, Enrollment Requirements, Minimum/Maximum Unit Load in a Semester, Attendance, Examinations, Assignment of Grades, Grading Symbols, Credit/No Credit Option, Course Withdrawals and other policies. Section III contains information about the academic reporting process including when to expect your academic report at the end of your year abroad.
The
Academic Bulletin is the catalog for your specific program and study center for your year of study. The Academic Bulletin contains academic information on program requirements, grading, units and courses for your program.
REQUIRED ACADEMIC FORMS (WHILE YOU ARE ABROAD)
CSU IP Registration Form (for Semester 1)
. Another form will be provided for Semester 2 by Friday, May 1. This form is to be completed by students studying in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the UK. This form serves as your CSU IP registration record. Complete this form each semester or during your second semester listing all courses that you have taken during the year. This form is required in order to process your end-of-year academic report. Upload forms to your CSU IP portal. Use a PC when completing this form (not a Mac) as the form is not Mac-compatible.
Course Description Form. All students are required to complete this form (in English) for each course you are taking and upload the forms to your CSU IP portal. Use a PC when completing this form (not a Mac) as the form is not Mac-compatible. In lieu of the Course Description Form, you may provide and upload the course syllabus if written in English. Note that the CSU IP Office reserves the right to request additional information from you if the information provided is insufficient to finalize your academic report. Therefore, it is in your best interest to respond to these requests as quickly as possible to avoid delays with the processing of your academic report.
Students studying in Chile, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Spain and Taiwan: Do not use the IP Registration Form above. Your CSU IP representative (Resident Director or Program Coordinator) at your study center will facilitate the distribution and collection of the IP Registration form. Do, however, upload the course syllabus for each course as instructed above. Scan and upload course syllabi (or course descriptions if syllabi are unavailable) to your CSU IP portal before submitting them to your Resident Director or Program Coordinator.
Service Learning/Internship Bilingual Form (for Mexico and Spain) and
Service Learning/Internship Form (for other countries). If you are enrolled in a service learning or internship course, you are required to complete this form, obtain the necessary signatures and upload the form to your CSU IP portal. The form is used to report the course appropriately on your academic report and can also be used a way to document your service learning/internship experience for record-keeping purposes. Your academic report cannot be released until you upload this form.
IMPORTANT: Failure to upload the forms above will result in delays with processing your academic report at the conclusion of your studies abroad.
OPTIONAL ACADEMIC FORMS (WHILE YOU ARE ABROAD)
Credit/No Credit Request. Each semester, you can request to have a grade for a course reported to your CSU campus as Credit or No Credit.
(An exception will apply for students taking courses remotely through their overseas study centers in Spring 2020.) Special conditions apply. Refer to "Academic Policies" (above) or the form itself for policy and deadline date information. It is your responsibility to be aware of deadlines and submit the form by the deadline date. Late forms are not approved. Carefully read instructions on completing and submitting the form. Remember to scan and upload academic forms into your CSU IP portal. Use a PC when completing this form (not a Mac) as the form is not Mac-compatible. If you experience issues with how the form is displayed on your PC, use a difference browser, e.g. Chrome.
General Petition Form. This form is to be used when requesting changes to your course enrollment for a given term at your study center including adding/dropping courses after the add/drop deadline, exceeding the maximum unit load or taking below the minimum unit load for a given semester and requesting to be exempt from taking a required course.
ACADEMIC TIPS AND OTHER RESOURCES
10 Essential Tips for Academic Success with CSU IP contains the essentials to help you succeed while you are studying abroad.
The
Academic Reporting webpage provides answers to commonly asked questions about the reporting process, course crediting and the academic report that you will receive after you complete your study abroad experience.
CSU Campus Catalog Links provides links to your CSU campus catalog.
Don't Pack it, Upload it! contains instructions on how to upload academic forms and other documents in your CSU IP portal.
Pre-Departure Orientation Session Presentation: This presentation contains slides related to academic information presented at the pre-departure orientation. It covers important information about academics and strategies to help you succeed academically while abroad.
Required Courses for CSU IP Participants for 2019-20 and 2020 is a reference table which lists the courses that CSU IP participants are required to take during their year abroad. Required courses are organized by country, study center and academic track (study area). This table is also linked to your "Understanding of Academic Responsibilities" found in your CSU IP portal as a signature document.