Planning is key for a successful UCEAP experience.  Carefully review the information below.

Choosing Courses Review how to choose your courses and use Gaucho Credit Abroad Jump to section	Credits & Grades Understand grading and credit policies   Jump to section	Academic Planning Form Learn how to complete your APF and what to ask your Academic Advisor Jump to section	Advising Consult with your advisors during the planning processs Jump to section

Be sure to review the By Major page to learn how you can get major credit when you study abroad.

There are many resources to help you choose your UCEAP courses:

• The "Academics" section on your UCEAP program page outlines how many courses and units you must take and includes links to current course offerings on your program.

• If you want to take courses for credit in your major or minor abroad, read the information for your discipline on the By Major page.  Some departments have pre-approved UCEAP courses for major credit.
   
• Search Gaucho Credit Abroad for the types of credit (i.e. major, minor, GE area, or elective) that UCSB students received for courses taken on UCEAP in recent years. 
   
• Search the UCEAP Course Catalog for courses taken by students from all UC campuses on UCEAP.
   
• If you wish to fulfill General Education requirements while abroad, please refer to your College:
  • Letters & Science
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Creative Studies

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UCEAP Courses Abroad

• You will receive units towards graduation for all completed UCEAP coursework.  However, the application of credit to major, minor or GE requirements is subject to the discretion of your academic department and College.  Speak with your academic advisors before departing, while you are abroad, and after you return.
   
• Major requirements typically may NOT be taken P/NP.
   
• Whether you take courses P/NP or for a letter grade, remember that once the UCEAP grades have been assigned, it is nearly impossible to have the grading option changed retroactively.
   
• Lower-division courses taken abroad may NOT substitute for UCSB upper-division requirements.

UCSB Policies and Procedures

• If you wish to take courses to fulfill L&S General Education requirements while abroad, please refer to the "UCSB General Education Program Outcomes and Transfer Guide" linked here.
   
• Look on Gaucho Credit Abroad for courses previous Gauchos have taken to fulfill GE requirements by searching "General Education" under UCSB Credit Type.  You can sort the results by "UCSB Requirement Met" to search for specific GE areas.
   
• UCEAP courses must be at least 3 UC quarter units to fulfill GEs.
   
• Writing Requirement: Up to two UCSB and/or UCEAP courses can be petitioned for the writing requirement.  The course syllabus and your paper(s) must be attached to the petition.  Be sure to consult with L&S on this matter.
   
• Ethnicity Requirement: This can be very difficult to fulfill abroad.  It must be fulfilled by a course that focuses on the history and the cultural, intellectual, and social experience of designated racial minorities and/or ethnic groups in the United States.

All UCEAP applicants must submit an Academic Planning Form (APF) as part of their UCEAP application.

Please note:

• The APF must be submitted with your application but the advisor signatures may be secured at a later time. Advisor signature due dates are listed at the top of the form.
   
• The APF is only a PLAN.  It is not an enrollment form.  You will register for courses at a later time.  Courses listed on your APF are not guaranteed to be offered during your term abroad.  Have back-up courses in mind in case the courses you've listed are not offered.
   
• You must have this form signed by your academic advisor in your major department(s).
   
• Double majors should get signatures from BOTH major advisors.
   
• All College of Engineering and College of Creative Studies students must have this form signed by BOTH your College and major department advisors.
   
• L&S graduating seniors must have this form signed by BOTH your College and major department advisors.
   
• A minor advisor signature is not required unless you are taking minor courses abroad.
   
• Undeclared students should seek the signature of your intended major advisor.
   
• If you are planning to switch majors at the time of application, you should obtain the signature of the major department in which you are intending to switch in to.

Meeting With Your Academic Advisor

1. Check your academic department website for information about academic advising for your major.  You may need to schedule an appointment weeks in advance!
    
2. Determine what requirements you have left to fulfill by running a Progress Check in GOLD.  Make a rough plan of which major, minor and GE requirements you plan to take each term from now until graduation.
    
3. Choose potential courses you may take abroad by using the resources above.
    
4. Fill out the Academic Planning Form.
    
5. If you intend to take courses for major, minor or GE requirements on UCEAP, collect course descriptions, syllabi, and any other relevant information you can find to bring to your advisor.

Questions for Your Advisor

• Does my plan look realistic?
   
• What requirements absolutely need to be fulfilled during the term(s) that I’m abroad?
   
• Are the courses that I’ve listed likely to fulfill requirements? (provide course descriptions/syllabi)
   
• What criteria should I look for in order for a course to likely fulfill a specific requirement?
   
• If courses I take abroad don’t count toward requirements as anticipated, is it still possible for me to stay on track to graduate on time?  
   
• Can I take these P/NP? 

Remember, students must meet the residence requirement for their major, minor and university units.  This may limit the number of UCEAP courses you might want to take to fulfill major or minor requirements.  See complete details here. 

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Speaking to your advisors is key to being successful in the UCEAP planning process!

UCSB EAP Regional Advisors can show you how to find the types of courses offered on your program.

Major advisors in the academic departments can help you determine if the courses may be able to fulfill major/minor requirements.

Advisors in the College of Creative Studies, College of Engineering and College of Letters & Science can let you know if courses may be able to fulfill GE requirements.

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