STUDY ABROAD COURSE APPROVAL FORM (CAF)
(Required for all non SFA study abroad programs)
STUDENT NAME: ________________________________________________ ID # _______________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________________
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM: __________________________________________________________________________
HOST UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE NAME: _________________________________________________________________
Duration: □ SUMMER
□ ACADEMIC YEAR
□ FALL SEMESTER
□ SPRING SEMESTER 20___
Location: (Country) ________________________________Start/Ending Dates: ________________________________
Provider: ________________________________________________Contact: _______________________________________
The course approval consist of seven steps
1. List the courses to be evaluated. Obtain detailed course descriptions from your study abroad program and
attach them to this form. It is wise to list extra classes in case classes are cancelled or do not make. Please
contact Ms. Carolyn Hardy (chardy@sfasu.edu) who will complete the SFA Course Equivalents column.
Host University Course Title and/or Number
SFA Course Equivalents
Hours
12345678910________________________________________________
Signature of Admissions Officer
_________
Date
2. If you will be studying another language, take this form to the Department of Languages, Cultures and
Communications for equivalency verification.
Host University Course Title and/or Number
SFA Course Equivalents
__________________________________
Signature of Language Department
Hours
_________
Date
3. If you will be taking courses that are part of your SFA plan of studies (not electives), you need to have the
approval of the chair or advisor from that academic unit.
Host University Course Title
SFA Course Equivalents
and/or Number
Hours
Professor Signature and Date
4. Take CAF to your Academic Advisor. Discuss how courses taken abroad will fit into your degree plan (Indicate
major, minor, elective or core).
Host University Course
Title and/or #
Type of Credit:
major, minor,
elective or core
Host University Course Title
and/or #
1-
6-
2-
7-
3-
8-
4-
9-
5-
10-
Total Number of Academic Credits planning to
earn:
Type of Credit:
major, minor,
elective or core
As the student’s academic advisor, I have discussed the proposed outline of study with the student and indicated,
when possible, how these courses may be applied towards the student’s degree plan; I also discussed residency
requirements, advanced hours, and other college requirements leading to graduation.
_______________________________________________
Academic Advisor/Department
___________________
Date
_______________________________________________
Secondary Academic Department
____________________
Date
________________________________________________
Academic Dean’s Office
__________________
Date
HONORS CREDITS: If you are an honors student seeking Honors Credit for any study abroad course, you must have
those courses approved by your Honors Coordinator:
I have met with the student about the intended study abroad program and reviewed course selection for possible
substitutions for Honors requirements.
____________________________________________________
Honors Coordinator
__________________
Date
6. FINANCIAL AID ADVISOR: I have met with this student and discussed her/his financial aid options. S/he has
completed all the required paperwork for this office to continue receiving her/his allotted financial aid package.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Printed Name Title
Signature
Date
6. Please read the statements below and initial them to indicate your acknowledgment.
I understand that:
•If I enroll in a course that I do not have listed on my Course Approval Form and I do not receive email approvals
for the course (see below), I will not receive SFA credit for the work completed in that course. _________
• If I have any outstanding financial obligations to SFA, a hold will be placed on my registration and the Registrar’s
office will be unable to set a study abroad placeholder for me.__________
• I need to make sure that no advising holds will be placed on my registration that will unable the Registrar’s office
to set a study abroad placeholder for me.________
• For seniors, graduation may be delayed if a degree audit is not done before studying abroad. _______
• For seniors, graduation may be delayed until the overseas transcript is received by SFA. Transcripts may take 10-
15 weeks to arrive. __________
Email Course Approval Template
All students who study abroad on a year, semester, or non-SFA summer program must complete a Course Approval
Form before departure. The Course Approval Form lists all the courses you are planning to enroll in while abroad and
it lists the SFA equivalents for these courses. This important piece of paperwork ensures that you receive SFA credit
for the work that you complete while you are overseas!
Oftentimes, course offerings change once you actually arrive in-country and there are new courses that you are
interested in taking, but they are not listed on your Course Approval Form. If you enroll in a course that you do not
have listed on your Course Approval Form and you do not receive email approvals for the course, you will not receive
SFA credit for the work completed in that course.
In order to receive SFA credit for any new courses, you must email your academic advisor, the Admissions office (Ms.
Carolyn Hardy, chardy@sfasu.edu), and your dean to obtain course approval for each new class. A copy of this
approval email must be shared with your study abroad coordinator.. If you plan to take a course that is offered at SFA
and is part of your plan of studies, please contact the professor and ask for his/her approval. There is a sample email
below that you should use as a template when composing your course approval emails.
I understand that I’m responsible to secure course approval while abroad for courses not listed in my Course Approval
Form and I agree to follow the procedures described above.
___________________________________________________________________________
Student S
Student Signature
Date
Your Name
SFA ID #
SUBJECT: Overseas Course Approval
Dear Dr. __________
I am a MAJOR student who is currently studying abroad in CITY, COUNTRY at/with UNIVERSITY/PROGRAM.
Upon my arrival, I learned of a new course: COURSE NAME/NUMBER that I hope to enroll in this semester. Since
this new course is not listed on my Course Approval Form, I require your email approval to receive SFA credit.
ADD COURSE DESCRIPTION HERE (include information about academic credits or contact hours)
Please review the above course description and respond to this email with your decision. I have included my study
abroad coordinator in this correspondence, and I ask that you include him/her in your response by selecting ‘reply
all’.
Thank you,