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COVID-19 Update: For updates on the current status of each opportunity, please contact the Advisor listed, or for courses, check the linked Class Roster page.

Academics

Academic Calendar

Fall Semester:

  • Orientation: End of July - Early August
  • Semester Begins: Early August
  • Semester Ends: Early December

Spring Semester:

  • Orientation: Early January
  • Semester Begins: Early January
  • Semester Ends: Early May

For exact program dates, reference the full academic calendar.

Courses

CALS Exchange students have to enroll in the equivalent of 15 US credit hours. All students are advised to be as flexible as possible with their module requirements. There are no guarantees for any modules at NUS, and some modules are in high demand and will be difficult to register for. The language of instruction at NUS is English. 

Students may take modules across disciplines (business modules are not available to exchange students). The ability to register will depend on a student's prerequisites, the availability of the module, and if the module will fit within a student's timetable (schedule) without overlapping other modules. Students typically register for modules in the 1000-3000 levels. 4000 level modules are available but are limited and typically not available to exchange students. Modules at the 5000 level (graduate classes) are NOT available to exchange students. Modules are graded on a bell curve. Students must be prepared to study independently and participate in class. 

Since English is one of the four official languages in Singapore, CALS students are not required to enroll in a language course at NUS. However, there are language courses available through the Centre for Language Studies (CLS) if of interest. 

You can review the list of modules available and review the course syllabi. To review the syllabi, put the course code in the module code text box (ex. GEH1061). You will then put in the appropriate academic year and the semester you are taking the course (ex. 2018/2019, semester 2 for spring 2019 semester).

A credit hour equivalency and grading scale conversion chart is available for reference.

Research Opportunities

Students interested in pursuing research are able to do so through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS). Students must be supervised by a faculty member and are expected to proactively reach out to faculty members regarding supervision for the semester. Students participating in the UROPS program typically earns 4 NUS credits (basically one course) and are able to register for up to four more regular semester courses. The research is unpaid and students will not receive financial sponsorship. 

Courses Taken in Previous Semesters

Below is a list of courses taken in previous years for reference and not a list of course offerings. There is no guarantee of course availability. Courses are listed in alphabetical order by the subject and course code at NUS. The majors that students were in while abroad include:

  • EL1101E: The Nature of Language (COMM)
  • FST2102B: Chemistry of Food Components (FDSCI)
  • FST2106: Post Harvest Food Processing (FDSCI)
  • FST3288: Advanced UROPS in Food Science and Technology I (FDSCI)
  • GE2218: Leisure Recreation and Tourism (LA)
  • GE3241: Geographies of Social Life (LA)
  • GE3246: Environmental Pollution (IARD)
  • GEH1009: Framing Bollywood: Unpacking the Magic (BIO-concentration: Marine Bio)
  • GEH1032: Modern Technology in Medicine and Health (BSOC)
  • GEH1058: The Theatre Experience (FDSCI)
  • GEH1061: Representation and Media (COMM)
  • GES1003: Changing Landscapes of Singapore (LA)
  • GET1020: Darwin and Evolution (BSOC)
  • GET1026: Effective Reasoning (BSOC)
  • GET1038: Communication in Small Groups (COMM)
  • HY2260: History and Popular Culture (COMM)
  • JS1101E: Introduction to Japanese Studies (FDSCI)
  • LAC1201: Chinese I (IARD)
  • LAF2201: French 2 (BIO-concentration: Marine Bio)
  • LAJ1201: Japanese 1 (FDSCI)
  • LAL1201: Tamil 1 (BEE)
  • NM2213: Intro to Human-Computer Interaction (LA)
  • NM2220: Intro to Media Writing (IDS)
  • NM3222: Interactive Storytelling (COMM)
  • PL1101E: Introduction to Psychology (FDSCI)
  • PL3234: Development Psychology (BSOC)
  • SN1101E: South Asia: People, Culture and Development (BIO-concentration: Marine Bio)
  • ST1131: Introductory to Statistics (IDS)
  • ST1232: Statistics for Life Sciences (FDSCI)