Memorial Building 205
345 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Academics Abroad
Regardless of whether you will be directly enrolling in a university abroad or studying at a center for U.S. students abroad or on a field-based program, you will likely find exciting new learning opportunities. And you will discover that academics, facilities, and your lifestyle can be quite different during OCS than when you are in residence on the Whitman campus.
Academic Expectations
Academic expectations abroad are heavily influenced by the local educational system and culture and are often different from US higher education practices. Some typical differences include:
- syllabi may be less detailed and leave it up to the student to read about the subject independently
- instructors may prefer to lecture and be less inclined to foster class discussions
- assessment may be based on few assignments over the course of the semester with a large part of the grade determined by one final paper or one final exam in class
- attendance policies may be much stricter than Whitman
- no flexibility for rescheduling exams
If you are unsure about assignments or course expectations be sure to ask your instructors or your local program staff.
Drop/Add Abroad
Many OCS programs and foreign universities have a very strict drop/add period that may be as short as a few days. Clarify the final date to drop/add and the process involved at your OCS program immediately upon arrival abroad. If you fail to drop a course before the period expires and stop attending the course, you will likely receive a failing grade on your transcript.
Final Examinations Abroad
At universities in other countries there is more likely to be a lengthy reading period prior to finals. You are expected to remain in your host country until the date of your last final. Whitman will not, for example, proctor make up examinations in Walla Walla for students who wish to return home early because they have booked a flight before their last final. Many foreign universities are much more strict about due dates of assignments and are usually unwilling to alter final examination schedules.
Grade Appeals
Whitman College does not have the authority to change a grade that you received on your study abroad program. If you feel that you have a strong case as to why you should have received a different grade for a course abroad, then you should contact your study abroad program provider directly to inquire about the process to appeal a grade. Please inform Off-Campus Studies about your grievance before you start your grade appeal process with your program.
Research Abroad (IRB)
If you plan to do any human subjects research while studying off-campus (including interviewing people in your host country) that you think might possibly be included in your senior thesis, presented at a conference (even Whitman's Undergraduate Conference), or published in any way, you must have approval from a federally-sanctioned IRB of your off- campus study program, if one exists, or from Whitman’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) BEFORE the research begins. Due to federal laws protecting human subjects, any information you gather before getting IRB approval cannot be included in your thesis, conference presentations, or publications.
There are three possibilities if your research involves human subjects as follows:
- If your study abroad program has a federally-sanctioned IRB, you should follow their process and obtain approval before your research begins. After you obtain approval for your research from your program’s IRB, be sure to keep all documentation related to your IRB approval including the identifying project number, so that you can prove that you have gone through the process after you return to Whitman. If you are attending an SIT program, please note that all SIT programs have a local review board that fulfills IRB requirements.
- If your program does not have a federally-sanctioned IRB in place and you wish to undertake human subjects research, you may still pursue the research but you will not be able to use your findings in your thesis, nor will you be permitted to publish it or present your work publically.
- If your program does not have a federally-sanctioned IRB in place but you are working with a Whitman faculty member who is willing to serve as a mentor for your project, then you may apply to the Whitman IRB to request approval. To apply for Whitman IRB approval, please see the guidelines at www.whitman.edu/irb and submit your proposal directly to the IRB committee at irb@whitman.edu. If you have any questions about the specifics of the requirement, please contact Prof Ginger Withers, IRB Chair, Whitman College at withergs@whitman.edu.
Tips for completing the Whitman IRB Application:
- The IRB Form asks for a “Faculty Sponsor" and "Adviser Signature". This must be a faculty member at Whitman.
- If your primary supervisor for the research project is a non-Whitman instructor affiliated with your off-campus program, then please indicate your Whitman major adviser in that space and obtain their signature.
- Apply for Whitman IRB approval at least THREE WEEKS prior to when your research will begin in order to give the Whitman Committee enough time to review your proposal.
- Keep in mind that the IRB Committee will not meet during Whitman breaks.
- Proposals submitted less than two weeks prior to the commencement of your research will not be accepted.
OCS Credits FAQs
Email offcampusstudies@whitman.edu to request approval for the new courses you wish to transfer as soon as possible. Include the course title, course description, and what type of credit you would like to receive for the course. OCS staff will consult with your major adviser and/or the Registrar on your behalf about how the credit will transfer and let you know.
Whitman College can only transfer liberal arts and sciences courses to a Whitman degree. However, effective 2024-25 the Whitman Registrar permits up to 10 credits from non-liberal arts courses to be transferred toward the 124 credits needed to graduate.
Yes. Whitman requires that students enroll in a minimum of 15 credits during OCS. This is primarily because OCS students need to be full time students while abroad in order to maintain their legal status as an international student in the host country.
Yes. Whitman requires that study abroad students enroll in the local language unless they have already completed two years of that language (through the 206 level) prior to study abroad.
Yes. Whitman students can transfer up to 19 credits per semester or 38 credits for an academic year from study abroad/OCS programs. However, there are a few exceptions for programs whose duration is longer than a semester, such as the Frontiers Abroad geology program.
No. The Whitman Registrar does not permit transfer of credits for any courses taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.
Yes. You must earn a C- or better grade (or equivalent) to apply the credit from your OCS courses to your Whitman degree. If you earn less than a C- in any course, you will not obtain transfer credit from Whitman for that course.
Yes. With the approval of your major adviser, students can transfer up to 8-12 credits total (depending on the major) into your Whitman degree. The total includes AP credit, other U.S. transfer credit like Running Start, as well as OCS credits.
All OCS courses and the grades earned (A through F) are posted on your Whitman transcript. However, you will not receive any transfer credit for courses for which you earned a C- or lower.
No. Whitman does not permit “dual enrollment” during OCS. Meaning that students may not take a Whitman course remotely or a course through another institution remotely while enrolled on their OCS program.
Off Campus Studies
Office Information
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