Course Petition Process
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The courses you take abroad will transfer back to Bethel in various ways, depending on the program you choose. Students transferring in credits will want to complete a course petition form, noting the courses to be taken abroad and the course or requirement you would like it to meet at Bethel. Sometimes courses will be direct equivalents to courses in the Bethel catalog, and other times they will simply meet a Gen.Ed. requirement or major elective. Work with your advisor and department chair before you go to determine how your study abroad courses will transfer back. It is recommended that you petition more courses than you will actually take in case there is a conflict with a course not being offered after all.
PETITION STEPS:
PETITION STEPS:
1. Collect and compile course information for 8-12 course options
Visit your program provider's website to find and download syllabi
If syllabi are unavailable on the website, contact your provider's admissions representative or email study-abroad@bethel.edu for assistance
One petition must be submitted for each course (i.e. five petitions for five courses)
It will take 1-4 weeks (or longer over winter and summer breaks) to receive an approval or denial decision from the Registrar's Office. (You will be notified via email either way.)
If "Approved": You are good to go!
If "Denied":
Contact the appropriate faculty member to gather information on why the course was denied
Is there information you can provide that may reverse the decision?
Submit new petition(s) for alternate course options
3. Consider enrolling in the Intercultural Engagement Endorsement (IEE)
Enrolling in the IEE will ensure that all courses taken abroad will count towards graduation requirements and be considered in financial aid calculations.
Please see Course Program of Study for more information on financial aid eligibility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Which study abroad programs require course petitions?
The purpose of course petitions is to evaluate off-campus course equivalencies for transfer credits back to Bethel. Therefore, all students pursuing third-party programs should fill out a course petition for each course they are planning to take while on their program. Bethel faculty-led program students do not need to petition.
Who at Bethel should I speak to if I have questions?
The Study Abroad Office is able to provide the following support: gathering course syllabi, advising students towards certain courses for certain academic requirements, and advising after a course is denied. All other questions can be directed to the Registrar's Office.
Do I need a physical form to petition my courses?
No, the course petition process is now completed entirely online. Here is the direct petition link.
What information is needed to submit a petition?
The online form will ask for the off-campus course's number, title, number of credits, and syllabus for each course you would like to petition.
*Reminder: One petition must be submitted for each course you would like to petition (ie. five petitions for five courses). The Registrar and the Study Abroad Office both strongly recommend petitioning for more courses than you are intending to take while abroad (a total of 8-12 courses).
Start collecting course petition information here!
How long will it take the Registrar to notify me of the decision?
It tends to take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to receive a response. Because the process involves communication between faculty, this process may take longer over winter and summer break. You will be notified via email no matter the decision.
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