Getting started
Check the College website for exploring your options to study abroad and for College policies governing eligibility and rules for study abroad
STSC majors interested in studying abroad should carefully plan how and when to fulfill their core major requirements and departmental electives at Penn before and after going abroad.
As many core courses as possible should be completed before going abroad.
What programs are good for STSC?
- Decide if you are interested in going to a particular place or are looking for a particular program
- Study abroad doesn't have to focus on STSC, but some programs are better than others in terms of STSC-relevant programs; consult with Penn Abroad to learn more
How do courses from abroad get onto the transcript?
- Courses taken abroad must be submitted to XCAT for approval by the department
- Courses taken abroad will appear on the transcript as STSC 2980
- They will appear on the transcript after submission to XCAT, approval by the department, approval by the College, and receipt of the courses and grades from the study abroad site
How many courses can count toward the STSC major?
- Study abroad courses may be counted only toward the concentration requirement
- Up to two courses relevant to the topic of the concentration may be accepted for credit in the major
Submitting to XCAT
If you would like help determining whether or not a specific course will be a good fit for transferring into STSC, please reach out to STSC Undergraduate Chair Dr. Harun Küçük. Generally, we in STSC take the same approach to granting study abroad credit as we do when it comes to accepting your petitions for courses from outside our program: if you can make a rational argument for why the course ought to count towards your major and the course meets basic expectations for academic rigor and analytic perspective, then it is likely we will accept the course for credit into your concentration. Many students like to discuss these plans with us in advance, and we welcome these conversations because it helps us to know what your plans are for your study abroad experience, and it helps put you at ease regarding your credit transfer once your study abroad program is completed.
All transfer credit, study abroad, or credit away requests must be submitted through the XCAT system.
(1) Credit for courses taken away from Penn is not automatic. We will only consider credit requests AFTER the course has been completed, we will not pre-approve courses in XCAT (*with the exception of courses from the pre-approved International International Honors "Health & Community" program).
All courses are reviewed by the department on a case-by-case basis through the XCAT system. It is each student’s responsibility to enroll only in courses that are as demanding as those taught at Penn. It is the responsibility of STSC majors/minors to meet with the STSC Undergraduate Chair prior to enrolling in a Study Abroad program or in courses at other domestic institutions to discuss planning.
(2) For a course to be considered for credit, the following standards must be met:
• Instructors should hold an advanced degree
• The course must meet regularly (at least 30 to 40 hours over the term)
• The course must include a substantial reading component
• The course MUST require a significant written component and students must be able to demonstrate completion of that work
(3) All XCAT applications must include the course syllabus, details on how you would like us to count the course (i.e. As a free-elective? As an equivalent to one of our numbered courses?), and why you think the course is a good fit for STSC. A writing sample from your work in the class may be requested on a case-by-case basis.
Your syllabus must enumerate the course in full, including the lecture schedule, list of readings, exams, and all written assignments. In cases where additional documentation is necessary, students will be asked to provide copies of graded work by uploading to the XCAT request. Students should save all work completed for these courses.
(4) Courses that do not meet the standards listed above will not be approved; these typically include:
- Purely or predominantly laboratory-based science courses
- Courses exclusively on business methods or management practices
- "Science appreciation" courses or other courses that remove science, technology, or medicine from its historical, political, and cultural context
Courses that do not require substantial written work and substantial reading
(5) For STSC majors, a limit of two study abroad/transfer credit courses, approved by the department, can count towards the major—these must fit within the concentration. For STSC or BIOE minors, a limit of two study abroad/transfer credit courses, approved by the department, can count towards the minor.
(6) Classes will only be approved as a general requirements course if the content, scope, approach, and work-load is judged to be equivalent of a general requirement course (like STSC 0600, for example).
(7) Please check with your Advisor in your School regarding the amount of credit you will ultimately receive on your transcript. Most often, if you have fulfilled our requirements, we are pleased to grant you 1 CU as an STSC elective. However, credit values can vary from School to School.