StudyAbroad

Many computer-science students travel abroad during their time at Middlebury. Many of those students put their CS studies on hold when they're elsewhere, but it is definitely possible to take CS classes abroad and get credit towards the major at Middlebury.

Getting Credit for CS Courses

Because courses at other institutions cover different material (even if they claim to entail the same topics) it is highly unlikely that we will grant credit for core requirements (ie, non-electives). The department has a specific set of concepts we feel are necessary for undergraduates in computer science to know, we have designed the core courses accordingly, and the chances of finding a course abroad that fits in just right are low.

Electives are a much different story.

You can receive credit toward your CS major (TODO: minor? joint?) for electives that you will be taking when traveling abroad (this includes the first year at Dartmouth if you are in the dual-degree program). This is subject to approval by the department chair.

The process to have classes considered for credit is the following:

1. Gather as much information as possible about the CS course(s) you are planning to take while away (especially the syllabus or something equivalent that will provide a list of the material that will be covered in the course). This will help up determine whether the course entailed sufficient depth and work to count as an equivalent of a Middlebury College Computer Science elective. The more detailed a syllabus you can get for us, the better. Typically courses should have the equivalent of 201 - Data Structure - as a requirement to be considered towards the major. Also, make sure you check the courses prerequisites. Often institutions will require you transcripts to verify that you meet the prerequisites for the courses you want to take so, you want to avoid surprises and find out you are not eligible for a class you thought you could count towards your major.
2. Have a chat with your CS advisor (and with one of the pre-engineering advisors, if you are in the dual-degree program) about the classes you are planning to take. It really helps if you show up to the meeting with a plan that shows how you will satisfy the major requirements including the classes you are planning to take abroad (you can use the forms on this page for your planning). It also helps if you fill up a back up scenario where you show that you will still meet the major requirements if you cannot count the classes you will take abroad towards your major. Bring them both!
3. Fill up a 'Transfer Credit Application Form' (you can find it in the Transferring Credit page of the Study Abroad site) and bring together with all your material to the current CS department chair.
4. The chair will let you know if the class can be considered for credit towards the CS major.

Although this process can be done after you come back, we strongly recommend you go through the process before you travel.

Programs to Consider for CS Courses

Some programs are particularly amenable to studying computer-science, and often offer electives that provide a valuable complement to the set available at Midd. These are some possibilities:

- Copenhangen https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/

- AIT Budapest

- St Andrews

Links

- Middlebury College Study Abroad office: http://www.middlebury.edu/international/sa