Course selection
Most U.S. study abroad students are allowed to take courses in a variety of subjects; however, the departments do not need to schedule their classes so they fit another department’s system or that they will be located anywhere near each other. You may be more restricted in your course selections for that reason. Consider studying in only a couple of fields to make your life less complicated.
Grades and credits
One Israeli credit is equivalent to one MU credit. You must maintain full-time student status (at least 12 MU credit hours per semester), which usually means four courses per semester.
The grades you earn for the courses you take will not appear on your MU transcript, nor will they be factored into your MU GPA. The credits you earn will be added to the total number of credits on your transcript. However, the transcript from the Israeli university will appear in the transfer credit section of myZou and the grades will be visible.
Grading scales
Host university structure
The university system in Israel is similar to the one in the United States. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are awarded, and undergraduate coursework takes three to four years (120–160 credits). The academic year is structured on a semester system with fall and spring terms. Summer courses vary according to different tracks and lengths of programs.
Your classes will be taught in English, but you are required to attend an intensive Hebrew language session, known as Ulpan, before the start of the fall or spring semester. This cultural immersion will enhance your study abroad experience in Israel.
Transcripts
Upon returning, students often have to wait for their transcripts to be sent from their host universities. While this can be frustrating, there are some things you can do while abroad that make this an easier process, as well as to protect yourself from any possible discrepancies.
- Make sure you are properly registered. You should check and double-check that you are properly enrolled in the classes at your host university for which you want to earn credit. If you are not properly registered, no grade will be posted and you may not be able to earn credit for the course. If you enroll in a class and then decide to drop it, it will appear on your transcript as an incomplete, which will be translated as unsatisfactory on your MU record.
- Keep class materials. To avoid any discrepancies, it is crucial that you keep all materials related to the course work you take at your host university. If the course has a syllabus, keep a copy of it and ensure it lists the course name, instructor’s name, department, address, phone number and email address. If there isn’t a syllabus, you should ask the instructor to give you all the above-mentioned information. It is also a good idea to get a written bibliography of the texts used in class. Keep a hard copy of all papers you write for class and, if possible, get a copy of all tests you take. If you don’t want to carry all of these documents with you on your travels, you can send them home through a trackable courier service, such as FedEx, so you are sure they arrive safely. If you are returning home as soon as your program ends, then keep these documents in your carry-on luggage to be sure they don’t get lost.
- Obtain an official transcript before returning if possible. If you are studying abroad during your last 30 hours at MU, it is in your best interest to get an official transcript of all course work from your host university prior to your departure. It sometimes takes the university as long as five or six months to send the transcripts to the Mizzou Study Abroad office, which may be too late to get your credits translated and posted before the applicable graduation deadlines. Take the official transcript to your study abroad adviser in a sealed envelope so your grades can be posted to your MU record shortly after you return.