Policies

Course Eligibility

As part of the semester application process, students complete a Program Approval Form where they list thepreferred classes they would like to take as well as alternatives.Students must list alternative courses as a precautionary measure so that they will have options in the event that a preferred course is not available upon arrival abroad. Academic advisors review course selections and approve students to take the course listed by signing the Program Approval Form. Please note: Students are ONLY approved to take the courses listed on the Program Approval Form. If class schedules change while abroad it is the students' responsibility to inform their academic advisor and their study abroad advisor. If students do not inform these offices there is a chance that no credit will be given for courses not listed on the Program Approval Form.

Course Pre-Requisites

It is the students’ responsibility to review ALL course prerequisites in the Undergraduate Bulletin before enrolling in a course abroad. While the Office of International Studies Abroad lists prerequisites on the Pre-Approved Course List, it is the students’ responsibility to view course prerequisites in the Undergraduate Bulletin as these may change over time. Students should note the following:

• The Office of International Studies Abroad adheres to prerequisites as determined by each academic department at USD.
• If a study abroad course has a USD course equivalent with a prerequisite (which is outlined on the Pre-Approved Course List or in the Undergraduate Bulletin), students are required to meet this prerequisite prior to taking the course. No exceptions.
• If students enroll in a course without meeting the prerequisite(s), the course will not transfer back to USD. No exceptions.

Restriction by Major/Residency Requirement

Some majors/minors have mandated that a minimum number of upper-division units must be taken on USD's campus. This will impact the number of units that can be taken abroad (off-campus). Details can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. It is the student's responsibility to check with their academic advisor about how study abroad fits in to their declared major and to ensure that they meet these minimum residency requirements (the minimum number of upper-division units that must be taken on the USD campus). It is recommended that students take a wide variety of disciplines abroad that will allow students to meet an array of graduation requirements.

Languages Courses Abroad

If students would like to take a language course abroad, they should review the Language Placement Guide page for steps on how to enroll in language courses. Students who take language courses abroad without having followed the steps laid out in the Language Placement Guide, will not be able to transfer those courses to USD.

There are two types of semester-long study abroad programs for undergraduate students:

1. “Affiliate” (fee-paying partner)
2. “Exchange”

All USD undergraduate students are eligible to participate in either an Affiliate or an Exchange partner program for one semester. If a student is interested in going abroad for a second semester, at least one of the semesters abroad must be done at an exchange partner university or at the USD Madrid Center. Financial Aid is available to eligible students for one semester to participate in an “Affiliate” program. For more information on study abroad and financial aid please visit the Financing Study Abroad page.

NOTE: Students are not permitted to study abroad at a USD-affiliated or Exchange program as independent students and/or without approval from USD.

PREAMBLE

The University of San Diego seeks to make clear the rights and responsibilities of individuals who participate in its programs abroad.

This Code has been established in order to ensure community order and to facilitate students' unencumbered pursuit of education both inside and outside of the classroom. The rules, policies and procedures outlined in this Code provide a framework for all who participate in the program. On behalf of USD, the program administration, faculty and staff reserve the right to employ procedures outlined in this Code to respond to behavioral difficulties or violations of civil or criminal statutes both on and off the official program campus for the duration of the program and regardless of the actions of civil and criminal authorities.

As changing times and needs of the program dictate, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences may appoint a committee to recommend additions to or deletions from this Code.

I. RULES OF CONDUCT

Enumerated below are the specific prohibitions, policies and procedures of the Student Code which are the foundation for individual/group conduct for the duration of the program abroad. As they are the fundamental basis of individual/group conduct, each student is responsible for understanding and following them while participating in the program.

The following conduct is prohibited on the program premises or at program events, wherever they may occur. The same conduct, though occurring off program premises and not at program events, may nonetheless be subject to sanctions if it adversely affects USD, the program, its educational mission or its community. Violation of these rules and regulations will subject an individual or group to disciplinary action.

1. Violations of local law, including, but not limited to: theft; unauthorized possession or storage of a weapon; and use, possession or distribution of any controlled substances.
2. Academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, plagiarism, misappropriation of resource materials, fabrication or any violation defined as serious by an instructor.
3. Knowingly furnishing false information to the program; forgery, alteration or use of institutional documents or instruments of identification with intent to defraud; appropriation of institutional resources for personal advantage.
4. Intentional disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or any other institutional activity.
5. Abuse of any person.
6. Failure to comply with direction of the program or affiliated officials acting in performance of their duties.
7. Damage to host institution or non-host institution property used for a program event.
8. Public display of intoxication or being under the influence of marijuana or any controlled substance while on program affiliated property or at any program-sponsored event.
9. Any inconsiderate behavior, disorderly conduct, sexual harassment, sexual assault, abusiveness, lewd, indecent or obscene behavior while on program affiliated property or at any program-sponsored event, toward any member of the program community, including, fellow students, faculty members, guests or fellow residents of the building in which a program student is housed.

II. ALCOHOL POLICY

1. All students of the University of San Diego programs abroad and their guests and visitors are subject to local law and the program's Alcohol Policy regarding possession and/or consumption of alcohol.
2. No possession or consumption of alcohol is permitted on buses provided by the program.
3. Establishment of a private bar, storage of excessive quantities of alcohol and/or use of a tap or keg is prohibited in all housing.

III. DISCIPLINARY PROCESS

The Disciplinary Process involves a Hearing Officer and Disciplinary Committee (made up of program faculty and staff) appointed by the Executive Director who also serves as the Appeals Officer.

The disciplinary process remains the same for individuals, groups of students and registered student organizations. Decisions may not be based solely on whether or not the accused failed to appear at scheduled hearings during the disciplinary process.

A. The procedure for CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE is as follows:

1. Registration of Complaint

Established disciplinary information channels (e.g., Incident or Accident Reports) or individual complaints are the usual sources for an alleged violation of program rules and regulations.

Upon receipt of the report of a violation, in which the presence of the accused on campus, or in any program-affiliated housing raises concern for public safety, the accused may be required to leave the program campus and/or make alternate housing arrangements until the disposition of the case is completed under the authority of the Intersession Program Disciplinary Committee or Hearing Officer.

The Hearing Officer will notify the alleged violator(s) in writing and give the alleged violator(s) 24 hours to meet with the Hearing Officer.

In the case of alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment, academic and living arrangements may be modified upon request by the victim, provided that such arrangements are reasonably available in the program. If modifications are made, there is no presumption that an alleged perpetrator is guilty. The alleged victim will also be notified of campus support services at the time a report is made.

The Hearing Officer will decide if an informal resolution can be facilitated or if further investigation necessitates a hearing of the Disciplinary Committee.

The student has the right to request a hearing by the Disciplinary Committee.

2. Investigation of Alleged Violation

The alleged violation is evaluated in a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee with the accused in which the accused has the opportunity to present his/her perspective on the incident.

After consideration of the case, the Disciplinary Committee will issue a detailed letter about the corrective measure, expulsion or exoneration of the alleged violation based on the facts within 24 hours. In the case of alleged sexual assault, the alleged victim shall be notified of the decision.

If the alleged violator(s) does not comply with program rules and regulations during the investigation they will be subject to more serious disciplinary action.

B. The procedure for APPEAL is as follows:

1. Registration of Appeal:A written appeal to the Appeals Officer must be filed within 48 hours of the disciplinary decision.
   
   
2. Review of the Appeal
   1. The Appeals Officer will review the details of the case and the verdict and will render a decision to uphold or oppose the committee's verdict within 24 hours of receipt of the appeal.
   2. The decision of the Appeals Officer is final.
   3. Records:A record of all hearings and proceedings will be kept on file in the Student Affairs office at the University of San Diego.

IV. DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

The sanctions listed below may be applied as needed in all disciplinary cases; the Disciplinary Committee may take into consideration prior disciplinary status of a student:

A. Corrective Sanctions

The following sanctions are for cases requiring corrective disciplinary procedures.

1. Formal Warning Notice in writing that repetition of a particular act, within a specified time period, may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
2. General Probation Notification that an individual's behavior must conform to Program-specific rules and regulations or fulfill a specified disciplinary objective for a designated period of time.
3. Specific Probation Exclusion from program activities including, but not limited to, weekend excursions, volunteer opportunities or any other program-sponsored activity, as established by notice, for a specified period of time.
4. Disciplinary Agreement Statement Requirement of a signed agreement to abide by all University rules and regulations with the understanding that violation of any rule or regulation results in immediate expulsion from the program abroad.
5. Fines/Restitution Payment of specified cost of repairs for property damage and/or...

B. Dismissal

The following sanction is for use only in disciplinary dispositions resulting in dismissal from the program abroad. Corrective sanctions, as detailed above, may also be applied to cases ultimately requiring dismissal from the program abroad.

Dismissal: permanent dismissal from the program abroad. (If, upon appeal, significant evidence is presented demonstrating that reconsideration of the case is warranted, then the expulsion may be reversed by the Appeals Officer and the terms of reinstatement will be specified.)

C. Provisions for Community Safety

The Executive Director or his/her replacement may impose temporary removal of an individual deemed to be a potential threat to the program community for a designated period of time pending formal hearing.

STUDENT CODE OF RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Students enrolled in any USD program abroad are expected to conduct themselves appropriately in and out of class as outlined in the "Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities for USD programs abroad." Any violation of the rules will be reviewed by the Program Hearing Officer, Disciplinary Committee or the Director.

Immediately following the review, it will be decided whether a student will be subject to corrective sanctions or dismissal from the program. In the case a student is found responsible for violating a policy, a report of the violation and findings will be sent to the Office of Student Affairs at the student's home institution and, depending on the nature of the violation, additional sanctions may be imposed. Activities that violate local law will also be reported to the local authorities.

The following are eligibility requirements governing student participation in USD study abroad programs.

Minimum Age

Applicants must be 18 years old on or before the departure date of a study abroad program in order to be eligible to apply.

Class Standing

To participate in a USD affiliated semester study abroad program, students must have sophomore standing after completing their first year (or two semesters) at USD at the time of participation. Freshmen, even those entering with completed or A.P. credits, are not eligible for a semester exchange. Junior class standing may be required for some programs. (Please check with the Office of International Studies Abroad for more information.) All students, with the appropriate academic background, may apply for summer and Intersession programs.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may participate in a semester study abroad program after they have completed 15 units at USD at the time of participation.

Class Standing

To participate in a USD affiliated semester study abroad program, students must have sophomore standing and must have completed their first year at USD at the time of participation. Transfer students may participate in a semester study abroad program after they have completed 15 units at USD. Junior class-standing may be required for some programs. (Please check with the Office of International Studies Abroad for more information.) All students, with the appropriate academic background, may apply for summer and Intersession programs.

Academic Requirements & Grade Point Average

In order to participate in a semester study abroad program, students must be in good academic standing at USD, meet the GPA requirement of the partner institution at the time they apply for the program, and remain in good academic standing for the term during which they wish to participate. For information on specific GPA requirements by program, please visit the program home page. Students should check the minimum GPA program requirements before applying. In order to participate in a USD short-term program, students must be in good academic standing at the time of application as well as during the term they wish to participate in the program.

Students will not be eligible to participate in a study abroad program if: a) they are on scholastic probation at the time of application; or b) they are placed on scholastic probation at the end of the term prior to their intended study abroad program (ex: If a student has been enrolled in a summer 2025 program but has been placed on scholastic probation as a result of the spring 2025 grades, the student will no longer be able to participate). For more information on scholastic probation, please consult the Undergraduate Bulletin. During the middle of each semester, the Office of International Studies Abroad will contact study abroad applicants who have two or more mid-term deficiency grades. It is the student's responsibility to work with their appropriate Dean's Office to resolve any deficiency issues. At the end of each semester, the Office of International Studies Abroad will notify all study abroad applicants if scholastic probation will affect their ability to participate in a study abroad program.

Program Specific Requirements

Some study abroad programs have requirements in addition to class standing and minimum GPA. These requirements may include: a minimum level of proficiency in a foreign language, specific course prerequisites, approval from a USD academic advisor and study abroad program director.

Full-Time Enrollment While Studying Abroad

Students must be enrolled full-time while participating in a USD semester-long study abroad program. Students participating in USD-affiliated semester programs must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester units while abroad.

Full Participation in Study Abroad Program

In order to be accepted into a study abroad program, students must agree to participate in the entire program (all class sessions and program-related activities of the study abroad program) and satisfy all USD admission and course requirements.

Conduct Background and Clearance

The Office of International Studies Abroad collaborates with the Office of Student Conduct to review the conduct records of all USD students applying to the programs and reserves the right to deny acceptance to students who have problematic or questionable conduct histories. Students must be clear of any conduct probation prior to participating in any study abroad program and probationary terms cannot coincide with the intended study abroad term (ex: students who apply to study abroad in fall 2024 cannot be on probation for any portion of the fall 2024 semester and must be clear of any probation prior to the program start date). Additionally, students who have "pending" conduct issues/hearing in the Office of Student Conduct MUST resolve these issues/hearings PRIOR to participating in a study abroad program. Failure to resolve these conduct issues/hearings prior to the program start date will make students ineligible to participate in the program and their application will be withdrawn. All students will have their student conduct record reviewed the semester prior to the intended study abroad term. These reviews will take place periodically up until departure and although an application status may read "Committed", this could be revoked at any time for conduct infractions that occur prior to departure.

Any student with a conduct record that is cause for concern will be contacted directly by the Office of International Studies Abroad and the student's application will be suspended until the conduct matter is resolved. Such students may be required to sign a Conduct Contract. It is in the student's best interest to immediately notify the Office of International Studies Abroad if any conduct infraction occurs prior to departure. Students who are deemed ineligible to participate in a study abroad program will be withdrawn from the program and will be required to pay any fees associated with their withdrawal (program deposit, program fee, etc.) per the Refund & Payment Policy. No exceptions.

Encumbrances

Encumbrances placed on a student's records by USD, e.g., by Admissions, Student Financial Services, Student Accounts, Registrar, Health Services, Parking Services, USD Libraries, etc., must be cleared before a student can be granted admission to any study abroad program.

Minimum Attendance at USD For Transfer Students

Students who transfer to the University of San Diego must have successfully completed at least one full semester at USD before they are eligible to participate in a semester-long study abroad program.

Students not meeting the above requirements as per their desired program are encouraged to discuss special approval with the Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, PRIOR TO APPLYING. Those declined due to one of the above criteria may choose to appeal to the Assistant Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. An appeal is NO GUARANTEE of approval.

Studying Abroad After A Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)

Students on Medical Leaves of Absence must successfully complete USD's reinstatement process through the Wellness Area and successfully complete at least one full semester back at USD before they are eligible to participate in a semester-long study abroad program. Exceptions may be made, and all decisions are made in collaboration with the USD Wellness Area (students should contact their Study Abroad Coordinator for more information). To participate in a short-term program (intersession or summer), students on Medical Leaves of Absence must successfully complete USD's reinstatement process through the Wellness Area prior to going abroad.

On May 6, 2010, the USD Academic Senate approved the following change in policy for undergraduate students who choose to participate in an international study abroad program. This new policy went into effect in Fall 2011. The policy reads:

"Students who wish to take courses in unaffiliated international programs and receive academic credit must obtain advance written approval, for sound academic reasons, at the discretion of their Academic Dean in concert with the Office of International Affairs. USD transfer of credit policies will apply for any such approved course. No academic credit will be transferred without advance written approval as described above. This policy applies to all programs: short-term, semester-long, and year-long programs."

For a full list of affiliated USD study abroad programs, click here.

Students who would like to petition for credit for a non-affiliated program, should download the following document and READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FORM:

• TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM FOR UNAFFILIATED INTERNATIONAL COURSES

Additionally, students participating in an unaffiliated study abroad program should be aware of the following:

• USD financial aid is not applicable
• Students will not earn letter grades--grades will appear as transfer units
• Students will be required to complete the Leave of Absence process (if participating in an unaffiliated semester program)
• It is students' responsibility to ensure the USD registrar receives official study abroad transcripts
• For liability reasons, USD is not able to intervene if any issues arise while students are abroad on an unaffiliated study abroad program

PLEASE NOTE: The University of San Diego Office of International Studies Abroad is not responsible for the quality/content offered in non-affiliated programs and that, for liability reasons, the USD Office of International Studies Abroad will not be able to intervene if any issue arises while students are abroad on a non-affiliated program.

External (Non-USD) students who wish to take University of San Diego (USD) short-term study abroad courses can apply through the Open Campus program.

A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Study Abroad with USD as a Non-USD Student

Before You Apply

Before submitting your application, contact the USD International Center to confirm that the course you are interested in has available space.

• Approval Required: You must receive approval from the Director of the Office of International Studies Abroad (OISA) internationalstudies@sandiego.edu

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines can be found on our website.

Steps for Application

1. Search Courses - Browse available study abroad courses in the Study Abroad Portal.
2. Select and Email Course Details - Once you’ve identified the courses you’d like to take, email opencampus@sandiego.edu with the following information:
   • Course name and number (CRN)
   • Class meeting times
   • Instructor’s name
   • Your full name and phone number
   • Approval letter from OISA
3. Submit Transcripts
   • Undergraduate Students: Send official transcripts to the Office of Professional & Continuing Education, Attn: Professional and Continuing Education (David Kaplan) and the Office of International Studies Abroad.
   • Graduate Students: Send official transcripts to the Graduate Admissions Office & the Office of International Studies Abroad.
4. Create an Account and Apply
   • Create a PCE student account at pce.sandiego.edu using the Account Login link at the top of the page.
   • Complete the Open Campus Application Form online.
5. Pay Tuition & Program Fees
   • Pay the registration and course fee by the stated deadline.
   • Claim your USDOne account.
   • Tuition is charged at the standard study abroad per-unit rate.
   • Review tuition and program fees in the Study Abroad Portal.
6. International students and returning Open Campus students should contact opencampus@sandiego.edu before beginning this process.

Important Information

• A $45 non-refundable Open Campus processing fee must accompany all applications.
• SYE and intersession (January term) is not open to non-USD students.
• Each study abroad course costs a different amount - please check each program page to learn more about the individual programs costs.
  
  

Required Documents
A. Official transcripts from all attempted college coursework.
B. Official final high school transcript or proof of high school graduation/equivalent.

Academic Policies

• Open Campus students attend classes alongside degree-seeking students and complete the same coursework.
• All semester deadlines apply.
• A maximum of 18 units per academic year (and 9 units per semester) may be taken.
• Typically, no more than 6 units may count toward a USD graduate degree.
• Open Campus is not available for courses offered through the School of Law.
  
  

Financial Aid & Housing

• Financial aid and university housing are not available for Open Campus students.
• Program housing may be included in short-term program fees. Review program brochures for details.

Passports & Visas

Maintaining valid passports and visas (when applicable) are the sole responsibility of the student. USD will not provide visa support for students participating in study abroad programs and enrolled through Open Campus.

Student Conduct

All USD students, including Open Campus participants, must adhere to university standards of conduct and academic integrity.

Contact Information

Semester Programs

While studying abroad on a semester program, all students earn letter grades from the partner institution. Students may elect to take a course pass/fail if they meet the pass/fail eligibility requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin (regulations can be found in their appropriate catalog year of the Undergraduate Bulletin under "Credit and Grading System"). All students who wish to exercise the pass/fail option obtain prior authorization from their academic advisor by the pass/fail deadline listed on the Academic Calendar. No changes will be made after this date. Courses taken at other institutions and transferred to USD for unit credit only are not considered to fall under the pass/fail option.

USD Intersession/Summer Faculty-Led Programs

While studying abroad on a faculty-led program, students may elect to take a course pass/fail if they meet the pass/fail eligibility requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin (regulations can be found in their appropriate catalog year of the Undergraduate Bulletin under "Credit and Grading System"). All students who wish to exercise the pass/fail option obtain prior authorization from their academic advisor by the pass/fail deadline. The pass/fail deadline for intersession/summer faculty-led courses is the close of business (5:fpm PST) on the eighth day of class. Advisors must approve requests by this date.

Requesting Pass/Fail

Students who wish to transfer a study abroad course back to USD as pass/fail, and are eligible to do so, must do the following:

1. Contact their academic advisor via email for approval and include name, ID number, program location, and the course they are wishing to take pass/fail.
2. Once students has received email approval, this approval should be forwarded to the appropriate Study Abroad Coordinator for processing.

PLEASE NOTE: USD's pass/fail policy overrides the affiliate pass/fail policy.

Please see Financing Study Abroad for study abroad financial policies.

Withdrawing from a Study Abroad Program

All students who have agreed to our cancellation policy are responsible for the fees outlined below. All cancellations MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING (BY THE STUDENT WISHING TO CANCEL) via EMAIL to the Study Abroad Advisor for the program from which the student wishes to cancel. Refunds are issued only on recoverable costs and only after written notice of withdrawal is received by the Study Abroad Advisor. No refunds will be issued 10 days after arrival, regardless of policy. Appeals for partial refunds may be considered only in cases of serious illness or emergency. These are handled on a case-by-case basis and will require additional documentation. Appeals should to be submitted in writing (via email) to the Associate Director of International Affairs Administration, Kanani Meheula (ckmeheula@sandiego.edu), within three business days of notification of cancellation.

Cancellation Policy for Semester Programs

Non-Refundable Application Fee: The $250 application fee is non-refundable after the application deadline.

Tuition & Program Fee: Tuition and program fee refunds for all programs (exception: USD Madrid Program and Semester Exchange Programs - see below) will be processed according to the refund policies of the host institution or university/partner/on-site provider (including housing agencies, hotels and tour operators). Refunds are issued only on recoverable costs and only after written notice of withdrawal from the program is received by the appropriate Study Abroad Advisor. Students are responsible for all non-recoverable costs incurred by USD. For details about a program's specific program fee, please review the "Cost and Funding" section located toward the top of the individual program page. Students who pay expenses directly to a third party (other than USD) must abide by the refund policy of that third party provider (ex: housing agency or tour operator).

Tuition only for USD Madrid Program & Semester Exchange Programs: Tuition refunds for the USD Madrid program and semester exchange programs are processed according to the same on-campus tuition refund policy established by the USD Finance Office.

Program Fee only USD Madrid Program: Refunds are issued only on recoverable costs and only after written notice of withdrawal from the program is received by the appropriate Study Abroad Advisor. Students are responsible for all non-recoverable costs incurred by USD.

Cancellation Policy for Summer & Intersession Programs

All students summer and intersession applicants are responsible for a non-refundable application fee ($250), tuition, and program fee. Please see below for more information on each of these items as well as the cancellation policies.

Non-Refundable Application Fee: The $250 application fee is non-refundable after the application deadline.

Tuition: Tuition for intersession and summer programs is priced per unit. For details about a program's specific tuition fee, locate the program and review the "Cost and Funding" section located toward the top of the individual program page.

Program Fee: The program fee varies by program based on location and program inclusions. For details about a program's specific program fee, locate the program and review the "Cost and Funding" section located toward the top of the individual program page.

Students are held to the cancellation policies, regardless of the date applications are opened. Cancellations must be received (by the student wishing to cancel) IN WRITING (via email) by the appropriate Study Abroad Advisor. Students are responsible for paying fees as denoted on the cancellation policy. Click on the link below to view the cancellation policy pertaining to your study abroad term:

Cancellation Policy by Study Abroad Term

• Cancellation Policy - SYE 2026
• Cancellation Policy - Intersession 2026 (undergraduate, non-SYE)
• Cancellation Policy - Spring 2026, Madrid
• Cancellation Policy - Fall 2026, Madrid

Tuition remission may be used for select study abroad programs. Tuition remission is an employee benefit, and thus is processed with Human Resources. Students should direct the employee to the tuition remission description. Tuition remission can be applied toward select semester programs as well as ALL intersession and summer programs.

Tuition exchange is also managed through Human Resources and this benefit can also be applied toward select semester study abroad programs (these semester programs must be denoted as "tuition remission" eligible). However, unlike the tuition remission benefit, the tuition exchange benefit cannot be applied toward intersession or summer study abroad programs.

Please see the details below for additional information. You may also review the Tuition Remission and Exchange Overview or the Tuition Remission Step by Step Guide for additional clarification.

Semester Programs

• The tuition remission benefit can only be used toward tuition remission-eligible programs, which includes exchange programs and hybrid programs (University College Cork, John Cabot University in Rome, USD Madrid). The tuition remission benefit only covers tuition; students are responsible for the application fee as well as all other program related expenses.
  • The tuition remission benefit is NOT available for non-exchange semester programs. If tuition remission students wish to participate in a non-exchange program, they will be charged the provider cost of the program, which includes the provider tuition and any other program expenses. In this case, students will be responsible for paying the provider's tuition rate rather than the USD tuition rate.

Short-Term Programs

• The tuition remission benefit can be used toward the tuition portion of all short-term programs. Students are responsible for the program and application fee.

The Honors Program values international and intercultural engagement.

Semester Programs

Accordingly, we encourage students to study abroad by waiving 4 units from Honors Program graduation requirements for students who participate in semester-long study abroad programs. Please note that because these units are waived, not earned, they do not count towards the 124 required units to graduate from USD. We simply reduce the number of Honors units that students must complete to graduate from the Honors Program. When students enroll in HNRS 495: Honors Thesis Seminar, the Honors Program conducts a DegreeWorks audit. At that time, we adjust students’ unit requirements to reflect students’ study abroad experience.

Short-Term Programs

Rather than study abroad for a full semester, many students take a course over Intersession or Summer. The Honors Program allows students to receive Honors credit for one short-term study abroad class taught by a USD faculty if the student petitions to contract that course. (This option is only available once during a student’s time at USD). The “H” attribute is added to the course at the end of the course, after the final grade is posted.

For more information please contact the Honors Program Director at honors@sandiego.edu