SFS participants are registered at and receive transcripts from Boston University, which accredits SFS programs. The only exceptions are students from SFS Affiliate and Consortium schools who receive credit directly from their home institutions.

All SFS courses are approved and assigned course numbers by Boston University. SFS semester programs incorporate four courses and carry a total of 16 semester-hour credits in biology or environmental studies from Boston University. Summer courses carry 4 semester-hour credits in environmental studies. Participants receive an official transcript from Boston University approximately six- to eight weeks after the conclusion of the program for delivery to the office responsible for credit transfer at a student’s home institution.

Students come from over 275 colleges attend SFS programs each year and most are able to transfer credit for their participation. The final decision regarding credit and grade transfer rests with your home institution. Therefore, you should check with your advisor/registrar when applying to our programs to learn how your SFS course work will be applicable for credit in your degree program. If you have questions regarding credit transfer, please call the SFS Admissions Office (800-989-4418). In most instances, we can direct you to someone on your campus familiar with credit transfer for SFS programs.

The SFS Affiliate Program

The SFS Affiliate Program is designed to assist students in maximizing their SFS experience by building better linkages to the academic community from which SFS students are drawn. Students from Affiliate institutions receive preferential admission and financial aid from SFS. Affiliate schools typically provide direct academic credit for SFS participation and have curricular input into our programs. Each Affiliate school has an SFS Academic Liaison who is available to provide on-campus advising on our programs. Applicants from Affiliate schools must obtain permission to participate from their campus Affiliate Representative.