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Information

for Advisors

Academics

Academic Framework & Institutional Partnership

Academic Programs Abroad offers university-level coursework designed to support credit approval at students’ home institutions. Students enroll in a combination of APA-taught courses and direct enrollment courses at local universities, depending on the program and academic profile.

Courses are taught by qualified faculty and supported by structured academic advising, clearly documented learning outcomes, and defined assessment methods.

Curriculum development and academic oversight are informed through regular consultation with U.S., French, and Francophone faculty, universities and institutions, government education specialists, and members of the APA Advisory Committee. This process ensures courses and direct enrollment options remain academically sound, current, and appropriate for an evolving international student population.

APA supports partner institutions through:

  • Documented learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and contact hours
  • Faculty oversight and discipline-specific academic advising
  • Direct enrollment coordination with host universities
  • Multiple transcript options to meet institutional requirements
  • Guided course selection and pre-approval support

APA is recognized as a private higher education institution by the French Ministry of Education.

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Transcripts

APA provides flexible transcript options to accommodate the needs of partner institutions. At the end of each program term, APA can issue an official APA Transcript Package or provide a School of Record Transcript. 

APA Transcript (Standard Option)

  • Course titles, grades, and U.S. grade equivalents
  • Contact hours and credit recommendations
  • Detailed syllabi with learning outcomes and assessment criteria
  • Faculty and institutional information
  • This transcript is sufficient for most APA partner institutions
    • Not all students are required to request a School of Record transcript.

School of Record (SOR) Transcript

Beginning in 2026, Arcadia Abroad will serve as APA’s School of Record.

In the capacity as School of Record, Arcadia Abroad will:

  • Issue official academic transcripts for APA coursework when required
  • Support academic review aligned with U.S. accreditation standards
  • Provide a consistent transcript option for APA’s new institutional partners

All syllabi — including assessments, learning outcomes, faculty credentials, and institutional references — are reviewed and recorded by Arcadia Abroad.

Female professor and advisor with student in APA office in Paris

Course Selection for Academic Success (Pre-Authorization)

All APA students are required to participate in a Pre-Departure Academic Advising Zoom led by APA’s Academic Dean.

Through this process, students:

  • Review course offerings, academic expectations, and partner institution calendars
  • Learn how APA courses align with home institution catalogs and approval timelines
  • Begin pre-course selection prior to departure
  • Meet individually (online) with an APA academic advisor based on their field of study (e.g., STEM, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences)

Students may share their intended course selections with their home institution before departure for preliminary approval.

After arrival, APA submits finalized course enrollment information to the home institution, allowing students and advisors to confirm approved coursework early in the term

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Credit Transfer

APA coursework is designed to support clear and efficient credit transfer.

  • APA generally recommends 4 U.S. credits per course, though final determinations are made by the home institution
  • Courses are supported by comprehensive academic documentation to assist institutional review
  • APA staff are available to clarify syllabi, grading scales, and assessment structures as needed

➡️ While some students may require a School of Record transcript, most APA partner institutions rely on the APA transcript and grading report for credit transfer.

To supplement the classroom instructional hours, APA has created an academic and language support system to award an additional contact hour for each class.