TIPS ON COURSE SELECTION FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Any visa-related information listed here is based on the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. You should contact the U.S. Embassy to confirm all visa related information provided below.
Why Pre-register?
NC State students pre-register in late April/November and some courses fill up quickly. If you choose to register for courses upon arrival, you may have trouble getting into full courses. We try to minimize that problem with pre-registration for the courses you request in your application. Upon arrival, you will meet with an academic adviser and you are welcome to change your course selections, subject to availability.
*Pre-registration is essential for exchange students interested in Business. Undergraduate business courses fill up very quickly, and the department is unable to add exchange students to their full classes. Many business courses are also restricted to majors (NCSU degree-seeking students) or to upper-level students who need the courses for graduation.
**All courses are subject to cancellation at any time.
Where do I find courses?
See the NC State Course Catalog to get an idea of the courses offered. Use this to help with your course preferences on your Study Abroad application. The finalized list of available courses for a given semester will be available online (called Pack Tracks) in March for Fall courses and October for Spring courses. You should consult this list to make any final course selections after your acceptance.
Examples:
ACC 100
Introduction to Accounting Profession
1(1-0-0) F
Introduction to an accounting degree at NC State and the accounting profession, including career opportunities, certifications, professional organizations, required business skills, and ethics.
Course Offerings: fall
The above course is usually offered in the fall semester (F), though it is not guaranteed. This course will be worth 1 credit hour (the first 1 in 1(1-0-0)).
ACC 210
Accounting I Concepts of Financial Reporting
3(3-0-0) F,S,Sum
Financial reporting concepts, the accounting information generating process, reporting practices, financial statement preparation, and the interpretation and analysis of financial statements. Basic accounting principles and concepts, the accountingcycle, income measurement, and internal controls.
Course Offerings: fall sum1 sum2 sprg
The above course should be offered each fall and spring semester, though it is not guaranteed. This course will be worth 3 credit hours (the first 3 in 3(3-0-0)).
What is a credit hour?
For each credit hour you are expected to spend 1 hour in class per week plus 2 hours studying per week. So, for the standard course of 3 credit hours, you should expect to spend 3 hours in class plus 6 hours studying per week for a total of 9 hours/week spent on that course.
Which courses am I allowed to take?
You are responsible for working with your department at your home university to find out which course requirements you need to fulfill, or are able to fulfill, while at NC State. Based on the courses listed in your application, you will be registered in the appropriate department determined by the NC State Study Abroad Office.
Some courses in your department may be restricted by major or by class (such as SR-for senior/4th year students). In some cases, we may be able to register you for a restricted course. However, degree-seeking NCSU students have priority, and we cannot guarantee you will be registered for restricted courses.
You are not restricted to courses in your department, however, for visa purposes your schedule must include a majority of courses in one subject area or curriculum. This will be determined by the Study Abroad Office and Office of International Services, based on your course requests.
All exchange students registered at the undergraduate level are classified as 'UN' and are required to take at least 12 credit hours per semester. Undergraduate students should choose courses numbered 100-499. All exchange students registered at the graduate level are class as 'GR' and are required to take at least 9 credit hours per semester. Graduate students should choose courses numbered 500 and above, but may be permitted to take undergraduate classes as well.
Example:
Amy is registered as an undergraduate Business student.
Major: BUS, Class: UN
Bill is registered as an undergraduate Industrial Engineering student.
Major: IE, Class: UN
Here is a typical course listing:
BUS 422 002 INVEST PORTFOL MGT call no:138000 status:restricted cr:3.0 total class size:40 open seats avail:0
days: T H time:0105-0220PM instr:C JONES bldg:NELSON rm:01130 rstr seats avail:37 wait list avail:5 restrictions:MAJOR=ACC OR ACF OR ACM OR ACS OR BUS OR EC OR ECS OR LEA OR LEB OR M OR MAC
The above course is restricted to specific majors. Since Amy's major is 'BUS' she should be allowed to register for this course. This course is worth 3 credit hours (cr: 3.0) toward Amy's 12 required credit hours. Bill will not be allowed to register for this course. However, Bill can try contact the instructor (C. Jones) upon arrival at NC State, and the instructor might allow him into the course.
BUS 100 002 INTRO COL MGT call no:131180 status:restricted cr:1.0 total class size:280 open seats avail:0 days: F time:0230-0325PM instr: bldg:NELSON rm:03400 rstr seats avail:280 wait list avail:10 restrictions:CLASS=FR; MAJOR=BUS OR M
The above course is restricted to specific majors and to a specific class. Amy will not be allowed to register for this course because the required class is "FR" and Amy's class is "UN."
IE 505 001 LINEAR PROGRAMMING call no:493230 status:open cr:3.0 total class size:20 open seats avail:20
days: T H time:1120-1235 instr:PETERSON bldg:POLK rm:00110 rstr seats avail:0 wait list avail:N/A
The above course is a graduate level course because the course number is 500 or higher. But, since there is no class restriction, Bill will be allowed to register for this course. However, if the instructor (Peterson) decides that Bill does not have the appropriate background for this course, the instructor may ask Bill to find a more appropriate course. This course is worth 3 credit hours (cr: 3.0) toward Bill's 12 required credit hours.
PE 249 003 TENNIS I call no:685140 status:open cr:1.0 total class size:24 open seats avail:22
days:M W time:1015-1105 instr:LEATH bldg:CARMICHAEL rm:02037 rstr seats avail:0 wait list avail:10
The above course is not restricted, anyone can register for PE 249. Exchange students are encouraged to enroll in PE courses (Physical Education courses) as these courses offer a fun way to meet students and exert some stress and energy. This course is worth 1 credit hour (cr: 1.0) toward the 12 required credit hours.
PS 231 001 INTERNAT RELATIONS call no:722210 status:open cr:3.0 total class size:40 open seats avail:0
days:M W F time:1015-1105 instr:HALL bldg:CALDWELL rm:0G109 rstr seats avail:0 wait list avail:5
The above course is full (open seats avail: 0), however there is a wait list available (wait list: 5). If your preferred courses are full, the SAO staff will attempt to add you to a waitlist. If you are on a waitlist, you will automatically be placed in the course if enough of the other registered students drop the course.
*Occasionally full courses open up during the first week of classes. If you are interested in a full course, keep checking for availability during orientation week and during the first week of class. TRACS is updated nightly at midnight. If you are not able to get into a course through the waitlist, you may speak with the professor to see if there is other space available in the class.
Course Number Explanation
Courses numbered 100 - 400 are at the undergraduate level, and courses 500 and above are at the graduate level. Additionally, as course numbers increase, the level of difficulty of study increases as well. Please see Graduate Students for information regarding difference between an undergraduate and graduate student.
Can I change my courses after I arrive at NC State?
Yes. You will meet with an academic adviser during orientation week, and will be able to finalize your schedule at that time. You may wish to attend the first meeting of a course in order to get the syllabus and decide whether the course is appropriate for you. You may change your course schedule until approximately 2 weeks into the semester.
What can I do if the course I need is full or restricted so I am not allowed to register?
It is possible that there will be a class that does not have room for additional students, or is restricted to NCSU students, and you simply cannot take the course. However, you can try talking to the instructor when you arrive on campus to ask if they might be willing to allow you into the course.
Can I take distance education courses?
Distance educations courses are usually taught online. Currently, a student visa allows one (1) distance education course per semester. However, distance education courses are not covered by your exchange student tuition waiver. You would be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
Can I take summer courses?
Summer Prior to Program of Study:
Currently, students on J-1 and F-1 visas are only allowed to arrive up to 30 days prior to the start of their program of study. However, students on J-1 and F-1 visas are not allowed to take courses the summer prior to their program of study. An exception may be possible for students who are accepted to an English language program. (These are not arranged through the Study Abroad Office.)
Summer Following Program of Study:
Currently, a student on J-1 visa is allowed to stay in the U.S. up to 30 days after the end of his/her program of study and a student on F-1 visa is allowed to stay in the U.S. up to 60 days after the end of his/her program of study. However, this grace period is not for the purpose of study. For this reason, students on J-1 and F-1 visas are not allowed to take summer courses during the summer following their program of study.
