The Global Education Office expands the tenants of the Washington College liberal arts education by inspiring students to thrive as engaged global citizen scholars who foster positive impacts as ethical, knowledgeable leaders of the world. GEO creates a culture of care and welcoming environment through outstanding service and programming to students, scholars, faculty, and staff, in the local and global communities it serves.

International Programs

International Academic & Research Programs

Washington College faculty and staff organize and lead several short-term programs during the summer and winter sessions, typically for two to three weeks. Short-term programs are open to all students in good academic and social standing at the College. Students should contact the program leaders regarding their summer and winter-sponsored programs. The department leading the short-term program has additional information.

International Short-Term Courses

Due to the length of these faculty-led study abroad courses, students may not withdraw after departure; however, students may drop the course prior to departure (not all fees may be refundable).

Study Abroad Programs

Students participating in a Washington College-approved study abroad program receive Washington College credit and grades for their coursework. Course equivalencies are established and students earn credit and grades for courses taken with host universities. The College follows the appropriate national grading system when articulating grades and credits from overseas institutions. The Global Education Office provides students applying for study abroad with information on how grades and credits earned at their specific host institution will be articulated upon their return to Washington College. The following policies apply:

Students should take the equivalent of 16 credit hours per semester abroad in order to return with a full course load equivalent at Washington College. Students must take the equivalent of 12 credit hours or more in order to maintain full-time student status.

All courses must be pre-approved by appropriate department chairs and by the student’s faculty advisor using the Study Abroad Approval Form available from the Global Education Office.

If course registrations change while the student is abroad, they must contact their faculty advisor, the appropriate department chair, and the Director of the Global Education Office to communicate these changes in a timely manner (not later than the host institution’s Drop/Add deadline).

Students may only take courses on a Pass/Fail basis with permission of their faculty advisor, subject to the rules explained in the Pass/Fail Policy.

When the official transcript from the host institution is received by the Registrar’s Office, the courses are given equivalent Washington College course numbers and credit values based on the approvals noted on the Study Abroad Approval Form. All grades and credits become part of the student’s Washington College transcript.

General credits will not count towards major, minor, or distribution requirements, but will be counted toward the minimum credits required to graduate and will be factored into the student's' GPA.

Only courses equivalent to three or more credit hours in Washington College’s curriculum may be counted toward major, minor and distribution requirements. Some institutions offer courses/sessions for fewer than the equivalent of three credit hours. With permission of the department chair, two courses worth fewer than three credit hours each may be combined to count toward these requirements.

Non-Washington College Approved International Programs 

Washington College is not responsible for any international program which is not approved or sponsored by the College. 

Students participating in a non-Washington College approved international program can request review of their coursework for transferability. The following policies apply:

• All courses must be pre-approved by the department chairs and by the student’s faculty advisor using the Transfer Credit Approval Form available from the Registrar’s Office.
• When the official transcript from the host institution is received by the Registrar’s Office, the courses are given equivalent Washington College course numbers and credit values based on the approvals noted on the Transfer Credit Request Form. Only courses earning a letter grade of “C-” or better will become part of the student’s Washington College transcript. Grades earned in these courses will not become part of the student’s cumulative grade point average.