IS THE COURSE ALREADY PRE-APPROVED ON THE PROGRAM'S ABROAD.CALPOLY.EDU BROCHURE PAGE?	If Yes,	You do not need to take any action! If you complete the course abroad, it will fulfill the GE requirement listed on the pre-approved page. Pre-approved courses are listed on each program’s brochure, under the “Academics” tab (click the green “Course Pre-Approvals” button).
	If No,	Submit a GE Substitution Form for the GE requirement you want the course to count towards. Instructions on how to complete the form are listed below.

Note for Cal Poly Global Programs and First Year GO (Global Opportunities) programs: Students participating in a Cal Poly Global Program or First Year GO program do not need to submit GE course substitution forms to have their GE courses pre-approved. 

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GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION FORM INSTRUCTIONS

Before beginning your GE Course Substitution Form, be prepared with all the documents to support your request such as course descriptions or syllabi, URLs, etc.

1. Review the GE requirements in your specific Cal Poly Catalog.
2. Learn what the GE Area Guidelines are for each GE area:

   Area A	Area C	Area E
   Area B	Area D	Area F

3. Determine which GEs you need to complete. Refer to your Degree Progress Report or check with your academic advisor. 
4. Review the Course Pre-Approvals for your program (under the “Academics” tab on your program's brochure page). DO NOT include pre-approved classes on the GE Course Substitution Form: they are already approved and do not need to be reviewed. 
5. List up to 3 classes per GE area that have not been pre-approved as you are interested in. Include the prefix and number associated with the class abroad, indicate whether it is upper- or lower-division, and provide the number of quarter units each class is worth. You may need to convert semester units into quarter units (1 semester unit = 1.5 quarter units) or ECTS credit into quarter units (1 ECTS credit = .75 quarter unit).  Do not round the credits up or down.
6. Attach the course description or syllabus for each class to your form. 
7. Sign and date the form. 
8. Click the "Send" button. 
9. See GE Course Substitution Form PDF example for more guidance.

NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? View a copy of our GE Course Substitution Workshop slides (PDF) that go over these instructions in detail: GE Course Substitution Process.pdf and/or join us at a GE Course Substitution Workshop during the academic year!

GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION WORKSHOPS

Need to petition a class for GE credit and want some step-by-step guidance on the process? Keep a lookout for a GE Course Substitution Workshop during the academic year! Have a question or issue now about your GE petition or the petition process? Email studyabroad@calpoly.edu.

Spring Quarter GE Course Substitution Workshops

Virtual	Thursday, April 24	2:10-3pm	REGISTER
In person	Wednesday, May 28	1:10-2pm	REGISTER

 

ACCESS THE GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION FORM     

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GE COURSE SUBSTITUTION FORM EXAMPLE

AFTER SUBMITTING A FORM

The International Center staff will review the form to verify the accuracy of the information you entered and will contact you by email if they have any questions. After the International Center signs the form, it is forwarded to the Evaluations Unit in the Office of the Registrar, which reviews the courses for possible approval. Once Evaluations has made a decision, you will receive an email from evaluations@calpoly.edu. Please note that the process can take 6-8 weeks, so submit your forms early!

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IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• DO NOT include major courses or support courses. See the Course Planning - Major & Minor webpage for information on completing the Major/Support Course Substitution Form. 
• If you end up taking classes that are not on the Course Pre-Approvals list or not on your initial GE Course Substitution Form, you can submit an additional GE Course Substitution Form using the process explained above at any point. 
• When entering the number of units of each class, remember to multiply the number of semester units by 1.5 (Ex. A 3-unit semester course is worth 4.5 units on the quarter system) or number of ECTS credits by .75 (Ex. A 6 ECTS course is worth 4.5 units on the quarter system). Include only the number of quarter units for each class. 
• GE Course Substitution Forms are valid only after receipt of official transcripts and verification of the educational institution, courses, course levels, and units. 

International Center staff will return the form to the students for revision if: 

• Any classes on the form are already pre-approved
• The units are listed as semester units rather than quarter units
• The form is not completed in its entirety

International Center staff will review the form and forward on to Evaluations typically 1-2 weeks after complete and accurate submissions are received. Once Evaluations has reviewed the information and made a decision, you will receive an email from evaluations@calpoly.edu. Please allow 6-8 weeks for review.

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