Students who wish to participate on an Off-Campus Studies Program for credit must receive approval from their major adviser for their off-campus study plans prior to leaving campus by completing the Whitman Off-Campus Study (OCS) Leave Application.
The OCS Leave Application includes a four-year course plan. Major advisers are asked to review the courses their advisee has listed on the form to check that they have completed all major, distribution requirements and the 124 credits required to graduate if they study off-campus. Major advisers also approve how the off-campus study credits will apply to the student's Whitman degree (eg, major, distribution and degree credit) as follows:
Indicate on page 4 of the OCS Leave Application how the off-campus courses for your advisee should transfer back to Whitman (ie major credit, distribution, degree credit) using the Credit Transfer Codes located at the top of the page. To view a sample of a completed course approval page, please click here.
Whether or not credit from courses enrolled in off-campus can be applied to the major is at the discretion of the major adviser (or major department). If you need additional information such as a course description or syllabus, please see the program information available through the Programs section of this web page or contact the OCS staff.
When courses are suitable for major credit, you should indicate the Credit Transfer Code (#1, #2 or #3 for major) in the appropriate column. You must also initial the far right column for any courses for which you approve of major credit. Your signature serves as "consent" for the transfer credit to the major. In the "Whitman Equivalent" column, major advisers may 1) indicate how the off-campus course replaces a Whitman course, eg Bio 310 Physiology; or 2) leave blank if the course is applicable to the major but is not offered at Whitman; or 3) comment about how the credit should transfer to the major, such as "upper division major credit" for majors in which a minimum number of upper division credits is required.
Major advisers should indicate which off-campus courses they believe should apply to a distribution area by indicating #4 in the Credit Transfer Code column. You may use the "Whitman Equivalent" column to indicate which distribution area, such as "Fine Arts" or "Alternative Voices." It is not necessary to list a specific Whitman Equivalent course.
Major advisers should indicate which off-campus courses they believe should be awarded elective degree credit (rather than major or distribution credit) by indicating #5 in the Credit Transfer Code column. It is not necessary to list a specific Whitman Equivalent course.
If your advisee indicates courses for which Whitman can not offer transfer credit, such as vocational courses like business and nursing, you should indicate the #6 Credit Transfer Code.
If your advisee wishes to take courses abroad that are for a minor, please ask them to obtain approval from the chair of the minor department. Please do not approve minor credits for departments other than your own. The best way for the student to obtain minor credit approval is to ask the Chair of the minor department to write in "OK for [dept name] minor credit" in the Whitman Equivalent column and initial in the Adviser's Consent column.
Major advisers are asked to review the courses the student lists on the last page of the application indicating what classes they will take at Whitman after off-campus study and prior to graduation. The OCS staff advises students to use the most recent Whitman catalog to complete that section and solicit advice from their adviser to help them complete the last page of the form. Students often are unsure about what they should be taking during their last 2-3 semesters, especially with respect to senior seminar and thesis courses. It is important for major advisers to review this page carefully with advisees for accuracy.
Major Advisers are asked to sign the bottom of the last page of the OCS Leave Application to indicate overall approval for the student's plan to study off-campus and attest that completing the outlined program will enable the student to complete all requirements for graduation. If you are not sure if your advisee will be able to graduate on time if he/she studies off-campus or if you have concerns about the student's overall suitability for off-campus study, please discuss this with your student and/or the OCS staff.
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