UCD Communication Study Abroad Guidelines and Policies
Communication majors are encouraged to study abroad while pursuing their undergraduate degree at
UC Davis. If this interests you, it’s important to meet with an Academic Advisor early in your academic
journey to develop a degree plan that will accommodate your interests in studying abroad while also
working toward degree requirements.
Students seeking to earn credit abroad will typically participate in a UC Education Abroad Program
(UCEAP) because courses taken through UCEAP are easier to transfer and receive course credit for.
Students can study abroad at any point in their academic career however most students typically study
abroad during their junior or senior years. Summertime is also a great time to study abroad, too.
Earning Course Credit
Students may earn general credit or major/minor credits for courses taken abroad. Students are
encouraged to obtain pre-approval for major/minor equivalency requirements by the department, prior
to going abroad. Equivalency reviews for the Department of Communication require a 30-day approval
process; thus, it’s important to submit your petition early. Although we recommend pre-approval,
courses can also be reviewed after a student completes their study abroad experience.
Process
Once you’ve identified a study abroad program and specific courses you’re interested in, you should
obtain the course syllabi. If you believe a course taken at another institution is equivalent to one of
UCD’s CMN major courses, you will need to submit a course equivalency petition on the UCD
Communication web site [ https://communication.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate-courses ].
If a course is not equivalent, you can work with your advisor to determine whether the course may be
petitioned for a substitution request. In this case, the course would be considered as an alternate, upper
division elective [see major requirements]. As with an equivalency request, these petitions are reviewed
monthly.
If a course is pre-approved to satisfy a Communication major/minor requirement, students will need to
ensure that the course is UC-transferable and articulates as upper-division credit to UC Davis. Upon
successful completion and articulation of the course, students may contact the Communication advising
office to update their degree audit.
However, not all courses taken abroad will be appropriate for major credit. Students are encouraged to
work with advisors from the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advising office to determine how
their study abroad coursework can be applied towards any college or university requirements.
Additional Considerations
Students should also take into consideration the residency requirements for both the University and the
College of Letters and Science while studying abroad:
University Residence Requirement: The minimum residence requirement for a bachelor's degree
at the University of California is one academic year (three quarters). 35 of the final 45 quarter
units completed by each candidate must be earned while in residence at UC.
College Residence Requirement: While registered in the College of Letters and Science, a
minimum of 27 upper division units, including 18 upper division units in the major, must be
completed on the Davis campus; work completed while registered in the UC Education Abroad
Program or the UC Davis Extension Open Campus Program may not satisfy the College
Residence requirements.
Students are advised to consult with an advisor in the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advising
Office while planning their study abroad experience and to learn more about your residence
requirements.
Additional Resources
Through the Global Learning Hub, each and every UC Davis student can find global learning
opportunities available on campus, in the region, virtually, and internationally. You can schedule an
appointment with an advisor in their office.
Students can explore UCEAP programs by country, region, and discipline on the UCEAP web site.
For more information about studying abroad in the Communication major, contact the Communication
Academic Advisor at cmnadvising@ucdavis.edu.
For more information about applying your study abroad experience towards your non-major degree
requirements, contact the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advisors.