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Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

Credit Transfer Policy

General restriction: The University now makes a clear distinction between GW-approved "Study Abroad" programs and all other forms of "Study Away" programs. “Study Abroad” credit transfer is handled through the online course approval system CATS. Any course at another university, domestic or international, that is not part of the GW-approved "Study Abroad" programs is considered "Study Away." "Study Away" courses are transferred through the Registrar's office via a Transfer Credit Approval Form.

The Registrar's office keeps track of “Study Away” transfer credits. All "Study Away" credits, domestic or international, are subject to the same limitation: 9 credits or 3 classes up to 12 transferred credits. This limitation on “Study Away” credits applies to your entire career at GW, not per semester. There is no such restriction on GW-approved "Study Abroad" programs.

1. Transferring “Study Abroad” credits

1.1   Transferring “Study Abroad” credits for JAPN 1002, 2003, 2004, 3105, 3106, 4107, and 4108 through CATS

Students who have completed at least one Basic or Intermediate Japanese language course at GW—JAPN 1001 through JAPN 2003—can receive credit for succeeding GW courses in sequence up to JAPN 2004, upon successfully passing a Study Abroad Japanese language course regardless of the level into which they were placed in Japan. Credit for the course(s) will be granted on a one course-per-one-semester basis. That is, credit for one GW Japanese language course will be granted for each semester of Japanese language studied at the Japanese university.

Example 1: A student spends one semester in Japan after completing Japanese 1002 at GW. He/she can have study abroad credits transferred as Japanese 2003 without taking a test.

Example 2: A student spends two semesters in Japan after completing JAPN 1002 at GW. She/he can have study abroad credits transferred as JAPN 2003 and 2004.

Any other credits earned in Japan for a modern language course will be transferred as JAPN 1099. If the student can demonstrate the equivalency of the course taken in Japan to the GW Japanese language class for which he/she seeks credit transfer, by successfully passing an examination and/or an oral interview, then credit may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor. This also applies to credits earned by a student who begins his or her study of the Japanese language for the first time while abroad at a Japanese university.

1.2  Transferring “Study Abroad” credits other than those listed in 1 through CATS

If you want JAPN 3123 or 3124 credit, first submit the application through CATS. Then bring all relevant materials from the course taken in Japan— syllabus, textbooks, tests, and reading and writing assignments, etc.—as evidence of equivalency to Professor Hamano or Professor Tsujioka. Credit transfer is at the discretion of the instructor.

If you want JAPN 3111, 3112, 3132, 3162, 4109, or 4110 credit, first submit the application through CATS. Then bring all relevant materials from the course taken in Japan— syllabus, textbooks, tests, and reading and writing assignments, etc.—as evidence of equivalency to Professor Morley. Credit transfer is at the discretion of the instructor.

If you want credit for any other upper-level Japanese humanities course taken in Japan for which there is no equivalent at GW, first submit the application through CATS. Then bring all relevant materials from the course— syllabus, textbooks, tests, and reading and writing assignments, etc.—to Professor Morley. Credit transfer for JAPN 1099, 2099, 3099 or 4099 (or none) is at the discretion of the instructor. If you further want to use 3099 or 4099 credits to satisfy the elective portion of your major or minor requirements, the Japanese Program director or faculty advisor will write a DegreeMAP petition on your behalf. 

2. Transferring “Study Away” credits

"Study Away" courses are transferred through the Registrar's office via a Transfer Credit Approval Form. Before departing for a Study Away program, students must go over their planned Study Away courses with Professor Hamano, Professor Tsujioka, or Professor Morley and determine what the courses are likely to transfer back to GW as. 

Study Away institute must be an accredited university.

All credit transfer is at the discretion of the instructor.

A Japanese language course must be at least 6-weeks long. (Students on shorter programs may place out of a level upon return on the basis of their placement test results, but cannot receive academic credits.) Furthermore, to receive regular JAPN credits for a language course such as JAPN 1001 and JAPN 2003, you will be required to pass an examination. Otherwise, you will receive elective credits such as JAPN 1099 and 2099 credits. 

Students may be able to receive transfer credits for non-language, Japan-related courses shorter than 6 weeks, but this is at the discretion of the instructor.

Upon your return to GW, contact Professor Hamano, Professor Tsujioka, or Professor Morley and present a filled Transfer Credit Approval Form as well as all relevant materials from the course—including syllabus, textbooks, tests, and reading and writing assignments, etc.

[adopted on 7/23/2020]