Department of Political Science

Study Abroad

So you want to study abroad….

Good for you!  Spending a semester or more abroad is an experience that will enrich your life.  Here is the procedure for transferring credits taken abroad toward your political science (POLS), international relations (PSIR) or international development (PSDV) degree.

Keep in mind the rules:

  1. We do not pre-approve classes at international universities, since we cannot control what is actually taught in those classes.  However, we can give you a sense of how certain classes are likely to transfer.  Contact the Department Advisors (listed below) with questions.
  2. Take whatever classes you want!  We do not need to have a direct equivalent in our catalog.  We do not offer a class on Macedonian Politics, for instance, but if you find yourself in Macedonia and want to take one, go right ahead.  As a general rule, if another university considers a class to be political science, we are likely to agree.  Just be careful about classes that are history or sociology or economics masquerading as political science.  If you have any questions about a particular course, feel free to ask.
  3. To count towards the out-of-department electives for the PSDV major or minor, a non-Political Science course has to be accepted by the appropriate department at Tulane first; only afterwards will we consider it for PSDV elective credit.
  4. No more than THREE classes for one-semester studies abroad or FIVE for a whole year will count toward fulfillment of a POLS/PSIR/PSDV degree.
  5. The courses students take will typically transfer in at the 3000-level or below.  We do not transfer classes at the 4000-level or above unless we have a direct equivalent in our catalog.  And under no circumstances will we substitute courses from other universities to satisfy the Tier-II writing intensive requirement.
  6. Some courses taken abroad carry more than three credits for their program.  In most cases such classes will only be awarded 3 credits towards your POLS/PSIR/PSDV degree. Any “excess” credits will count towards graduation.

And most importantly:

  1. Students MUST consult our Department Advisors upon their return in order to have their classes given numbers that will be recognized by the department (course number “5380” is automatically assigned by the registrar, but is NOT the actual course number.)  These courses will NOT satisfy your requirement for 4000-level classes.

For Tulane-approved study abroad programs: Once Tulane has received your transcript from the institution abroad, fill out the Office of Study Abroad Course Equivalency form and the checklist for your major or minor track. The course equivalency form changes unassigned courses (usually numbered 5380), to credits toward your major or minor.

For non-Tulane approved programs: Once Tulane has received your transcript from the institution abroad, fill out the Degree Audit Substitution form, available here: https://tulane.app.box.com/s/qu2mzyf9o1jh0w2m3fyapphu1pj2493q , and the checklist for your major or minor track.

Email the form and the corresponding course syllabi along with your checklist to Prof. Kiel or Sloan, depending on your major or last name:

Prof. Christina Kiel ( ckiel1@tulane.edu )
- All PSIR majors
- POLS majors/minors with last names A-H

Prof. Dauphine Sloan ( dsloan@tulane.edu )
- All PSDV majors/minors
- POLS majors/minors with last names I-Z