How to Use the Course Equivalency Database
When choosing a study abroad program, one of the most important considerations is the academic aspect: what do you hope to learn, and how will you use the credits you earn? Credits earned abroad can be used to fulfill your degree requirements for majors/minors, baccalaureate core, upper-division elective credit, and/or general electives.
As you work with your academic advisor to plan your course selection for your study abroad program, you can reference this database, which provides information about how specific courses have been articulated at OSU in prior terms.
Processing Overseas Coursework
All courses from approved programs are articulated, which means they are assigned a course code and number for your academic records. OSU Global Opportunities relies on the content experts in the academic colleges to evaluate overseas coursework which determines how a course is articulated. Overseas coursework may be articulated as an equivalent course or as a non-equivalent but credit-bearing overseas course.
Equivalencies
No overseas course is exactly the same as what is offered at OSU, but some courses are similar enough to be considered equivalent. Academic colleges compare the overseas course to those available in the OSU course catalog to determine equivalency. For example, the course below was determined to have covered enough of the same content as the corresponding OSU course to be considered equivalent, and will appear in MyDegrees as if it was taken at Oregon State.
- University of Stirling – ECNU112: Introductory Macroeconomics
- Oregon State University – ECON 202: Macroeconomics
Articulations
When courses are not determined to be equivalent by the appropriate academic college, they are typically articulated with an O-Code. An O-Code is used to record three pieces of information within the course code: course delivery location, provider name, and level of difficulty. For example, the course below was completed on an API program at the Universidad de Salamanca:
- Universidad de Salamanca – Spanish Art (taught in Spanish)
- Oregon State University – OAPI 388: SPAN: Spanish Art
Notice that the subject designator, which is normally part of the course code, gets moved to the course title when using an O-Code.
O-Code Course Naming Key
- Overseas Credit designator - O
- Course Level - 3 (for 300 level)
- Course Provider Name - API
- Subject designator - SPAN
Important Considerations for Advisors and Students
OSU GO cannot guarantee that the courses listed in this database will be offered every term for the institutions listed.
OSU GO works with faculty to evaluate courses for equivalency and articulation only. Academic advisors determine how courses are applied to a student’s degree plan, and which requirements may be met by specific coursework. OSU GO encourages and expects advisors to use course overrides when applying study abroad coursework to degree requirements.
If an advisor evaluates the syllabus for a course not currently listed in the Course Equivalency Database and determines a course equivalency or articulation, this information should be recorded in the Notes section of the student's MyDegrees for future reference.
The Course Equivalency Database is not an exhaustive list of the courses that are available at our partner institutions, but a record of the courses that have been taken and how they were articulated at OSU.
Questions regarding the articulation of study abroad coursework should be directed to [email protected].
This database is updated quarterly.
| Subject | Foreign Course Number Sort ascending | Foreign Course Title | OSU Course Number | OSU Course Title | Institution | Country | Provider | Bacc Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | SPAN 0001BASP | Communicative Spanish Language | OCIE 188 | SPAN: Communicative Spanish | CIEE Study Center - Barcelona | Spain | CIEE | not assessed |
| Spanish | SPAN 0001 | Communicative Spanish Language | OCIE 188 | SPAN: Communicative Spanish | CIEE Study Center - Monteverde | Costa Rica | CIEE | Not Bacc Core |
| Art | SOIT 360 | Italian Style | OSAB 388 | ART: Italian Style | Accademia Italiana | Italy | College of Liberal Arts | not assessed |
| Sociology | SOCIOL105 | Cultural Studies and Society | OIFS 288 | SOC: Cultural Studies & Society | University of Auckland | New Zealand | IFSA-Butler | not assessed |
| Sociology | SOCI 220 | Sociology of Indigenous Peoples | OEEE 288 | SOC: Sociology of Indigenous Peoples | University of British Columbia | Canada | OSU GO | not assessed |
| Sociology | SOC 370L | Organized Crime: Sociology & History of the Mafia | OAPI 388 | SOC: Sociology & Hist of Mafia | Lorenzo de' Medici | Italy | API | not assessed |
| Public Health | SOC 344 | Health, Medicine, and Society | SOC 350 | Health, Illness and Society | Semester at Sea | Multiple Locations | Semester at Sea | Not Bacc Core |
| Sociology | SOC 342 | Leisure and Society | SOC 454 | Leisure and Culture | Semester at Sea | Multiple Locations | Semester at Sea | Not Bacc Core |
| Geography | SLE332 | Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Scientists | OEEE 388 | GEOG: GIS for Env Scientists | Deakin University | Australia | IE3 Global | not assessed |
| Geography | SLE102 | Physical Geography | OEEE 188 | GEOG: Physical Geography | Deakin University | Australia | IE3 Global | not assessed |