Course Planning

At Elon, study abroad is more than just travel—it’s an academic experience designed to enhance your global perspective while keeping you on track toward graduation. Whether you’re participating in a semester, summer, or Winter Term program, you’ll engage in coursework that aligns with Elon’s academic standards while exploring diverse cultures and perspectives.

Explore how study abroad can fit into your academic journey and take your learning beyond the classroom!

Tips for a Successful Global Experience

Academic Planning
  • Meet with your academic advisor to review graduation requirements.
  • Consult a GEC advisor to align study away courses with your degree plan.
  • Take the right mix of courses and credit hours to stay on track.
  • Have backup course options in case your first choices are unavailable.
  • Ensure you meet all prerequisites for both Elon and your host program.
Course Planning & Expectations
  • Study away shares similarities with studying at Elon but may also differ significantly in terms of practices and policies around courses and grading. For instance, it’s not unusual to have only one or two assignments/exams for entire semester. Syllabi may also not be readily a available or will look different.
  • Follow course registration instructions specific to your program type.

Semester Study Abroad

Most credit from semester and summer programs away is transferred to Elon from other institutions. In order to ensure that credit transfers as expected, students must complete a course review form.

The only courses that do not need to be reviewed on a course review form are courses taught by the Elon faculty in residence on Elon-in “Center” programs.  All other courses on center, affiliate, and exchange programs should be reviewed through the process below.

Course Review Process
  1. Ensure that you have an updated graduation plan.
  2. Review your intended program’s course offerings. Course information or a link to the provider’s webpage is provided on individual program pages. If courses are not yet available, base your selections on the most recent posted information. Make sure you are referencing courses offered in the correct term; offerings abroad vary between fall and spring semesters just as they do at Elon.
  3. Complete the Course Review Form.
    • To complete the Course Review Form, you must be on campus or connected to the Elon VPN. Instructions for accessing the Elon VPN are provided on Elon’s IT site.
    • Identify the requirements you plan to fulfill during your time away.
    • Search for courses at your host institution that may meet your requirements. Reference the Transfer Articulation Table.
    • List your preferred courses and backup options on the form and submit. The Course Review Form will be returned to you via email by the Office of the Registrar approximately two week after submission.
    • Complete the Course Review Form Questionnaire via the MyElonGlobal portal. You will need to upload a PDF of your returned Course Review Form with the Registrar’s notes and approvals and certifying that you understand and have followed the Course Review Process.
    • Timeframe for submission of form:
Summer & Fall December 15 – March 15
Spring June 15 – October 15

 

Study USA

  • Elon in LA and Charlotte Semester: Students register themselves for courses through OnTrack.
  • Elon in DC Semester & Summer:
    • Download the The Washington Center – GEC Course Review Form.
    • Save the document as: Last Name_First Name_DC Course (e.g. “Review Form.Example: Washington_George_DCCourse Review Form”
    • Complete & email the completed form to registrar@elon.edu with the subject line “Elon in DC”.
  • Summer, Winter Term & fall embedded short-term program (including for NYC, LA & Charlotte): follow the instructions below for short-term programs.

Short-term Programs: Winter & Fall Embedded

More details about short-term programs, including registration, can be found here.

  • For winter and fall-embedded programs, students must register for a fall preparatory seminar during their designated registration period in the preceding spring.
    • Enrollment is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on students’ registration windows.
    • Once enrolled in a course or program, students must then register separately for the winter-term program. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure registration for both courses.
    • The fall prerequisite course and the winter-term course must be assigned to the same requirement on the degree audit.
    • If there is a course scheduling conflict for your course or your prerequisite preparatory seminar, a student will not be able to enroll in the program.
  • Summer programs operate similarly to winter-term programs; however, students must register for the spring preparatory course in advance of the subsequent summer program.

Other Global Experiential Opportunities: Internships, Research, & Independent Studies

Other Global Experiential Opportunities are generally academic internships, independent research, or an Elon independent study experience. These opportunities are developed by a student in conjunction with a faculty member, approved by an academic department and the GEC.

Students register for Elon coursework, often independent study, after the independent program application is approved.

Non-Elon Petitions

A non-Elon program is one that is not affiliated with Elon University through an agreement. Elon will approve study abroad at such a non-Elon program if there is a compelling academic reason.

Students complete a transfer credit form, available from MyElonGlobal after their Non-Elon petition is approved.

More details can be found here.

Course Review Form Submission Guide: