Summer Course Equivalency Service Web Site
The Summer Course Equivalency Service (SCES) is for UW–Madison students who plan to complete summer course work at another institution. It is an optional service that provides information on how course work will transfer back to UW–Madison. The service is available March 1 through May 15.
Submission Checklist
The following three items are required for a complete Summer Course Equivalency Service submission. Due to the volume of SCES requests, we are unable to follow up on incomplete submissions; you will not receive notification that your incomplete submission was not processed.
- Form. Complete the Summer Course Equivalency Service Form. You may complete the PDF electronically and print a copy for submission to the Office of Admissions, or you may print and complete the form by hand. A total of four courses can be equated for the summer term.
- Course descriptions. For each course you intend to take, include a copy of the appropriate departmental sections from the other school’s catalog so we can check course sequencing and prerequisites. What we are requesting is a listing and descriptive paragraph about each course offered by the relevant department at the other school so that we can better determine how the course in question correlates to UW–Madison curriculum.
- Self-addressed stamped #10 business envelope. We will mail your completed SCES Form and course evaluation to you in this envelope. Please use the address where you will be receiving mail three weeks from the date you submit your materials.
Submit each of these items to the Office of Admissions on the third floor of the Red Gym, 716 Langdon Street. Office Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday–Friday. The deadline for submission is May 15.
Non-SCES Situations
There are some UW–Madison students for whom the SCES is not the appropriate course of action. This includes:
- Students taking a course at a UW System school or at a Wisconsin Technical College
Obtain course equivalencies from the Transfer Information System (TIS). TIS equates first- and second-year courses for all UW System schools and Wisconsin Technical Colleges. Make an appointment to review the course work with your academic advisor to ensure it is applicable to your degree. - Students in the Medical School Health Professions Program
Follow the directions outlined below and complete the Summer Course Equivalency Service Form, but submit your paperwork to 1070 Medical Sciences Center instead of the Office of Admissions. - Nursing majors who plan to take professional nursing courses
The School of Nursing will need to approve and equate your course work. For more information, go to the dean’s office in the School of Nursing (600 Highland Avenue, K6/223). If you also plan to take non-nursing courses, use the SCES to evaluate that course work. - Engineering majors
The College of Engineering will need to approve and equate your course work. Students should complete the Course Approval Form for Official Off-Campus Study. - Pharmacy majors
The School of Pharmacy will need to approve and equate your course work. For more information, contact Student Services (1203 Rennebohm Hall, 608/262.6234).
Additional Considerations
To help ensure a successful equivalency process and credit transfer, be sure to do the following:
- Attempt to determine how the course work will transfer by comparing the other school’s course descriptions to UW–Madison’s course descriptions. Since a maximum of four courses will be equated by the SCES, this will help ensure you select courses that meet your needs. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If there is not an exact equivalent, but you think it is the type of course taught by a UW–Madison department, review how breadth and level are assigned to similar UW courses. In this case, we will probably equate it to electives in the department (e.g., history electives with social studies breadth at the intermediate level).
- If UW–Madison does not offer a similar course (such as technical, hotel management, and remedial courses), chances are it will not transfer.
- If the other school is on a quarter credit system, avoid courses that are part of a yearlong sequence (e.g., Chemistry I, II, and III). A single quarter course will not be equivalent to one of our semester courses.
- Think about the content of the course that you want to take. Be sure it does not duplicate or overlap the content of a course you have already completed.
- Most UW–Madison schools and colleges require permission to repeat a course off campus for credit. Ask your advisor.
- If you are taking an online course during the summer term, you must complete the course by the last day of UW–Madison's summer term or you risk not receiving credit.
- International students for whom English 118 is required to satisfy GER Communications Part A may NOT substitute other communication/English courses. Very few schools offer a course equivalent to UW–Madison’s 118.
- Review your general education requirements (GER), school/college requirements, and program/major requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog or on your Degree Audit Report (DARS), to ensure the course work will satisfy the requirements you intend to complete.
- Make an appointment with your academic advisor if you are considering course work in your major or course work to satisfy GER. Upper-division courses and sequence courses in the science and math fields may not be acceptable for satisfying a major requirement. (L&S Students: Keep the major courses in residence requirement in mind.)
Next Steps
Once we receive your completed Summer Course Equivalency Service Form and materials, we will process your submission and respond in writing within three weeks. We will send you a copy of your completed SCES Form indicating UW–Madison course equivalents, as well as a second set of instructions outlining your next steps.
If you have questions about the Summer Course Equivalency Service, send an e-mail to equivalencies@admissions.wisc.edu.