Credit Away

Credit away refers to those courses taken at another accredited four-year institution after matriculation at Penn. Credit Away requests must be submitted via XCAT.

Elementary and Intermediate Language Courses (Spanish 0100 - 0300 Equivalents)

The following regulations apply:

  • The course must be taken on the campus of an accredited 4-year North American college/university. The department does not accept courses taken abroad in the summer in a non-Penn Summer Abroad program.
  • The course must be similar in content and contact hours to the equivalent course at Penn.
  • You must satisfy our departmental placement requirements for the corresponding level.
  • You must provide the Director of the Language Program with a course description and syllabus of the course that you are planning to take so that we may give you conditional approval to take the course. This is important to avoid any potential misunderstandings. This provisional approval is required.
  • You must save all your work (exams, compositions etc.) and course materials, including the text and workbook and submit them to us after completing the course. These will be used in our evaluation.
  • Upon completing the course, you must schedule a time to take the transfer credit examination with the Undergraduate Coordinator. This exam is similar to our departmentally administered placement exam; you must demonstrate that you have placed out of the level that you are seeking to transfer. This exam is offered at the beginning of each semester and the week before advanced registration.
  • A grade of C or better must be earned in the course.

Advanced Level Courses (Courses above Spanish 0400)

  • Students wishing to take an advanced course at another 4 year North American college/university must post a course description and syllabus along with any other pertinent material to XCAT. The department does not accept courses taken abroad in the summer in a non-Penn Summer Abroad program.
  • You must provide the Undergraduate Chair with a course description and syllabus of the course that you are planning to take so that we may give you conditional approval to take the course. This is important to avoid any potential misunderstandings. This provisional approval is required.
  • You must save all your work (exams, compositions etc.) and course materials. These will be used in our evaluation. The Undergraduate Chair may request to meet with you to review your work.
  • A grade of C or better must be earned in the course.