Academics

Academic Calendar

Wageningen's academic year is organized in 6 periods and every period ends with an exam.

Participants in the fall semester must participate in both period 1 and period 2 in order to meet the minimum US credits required for study abroad. 

Spring participants have started in January but may start their studies in February. Most US students will study through Period 5. Some students have stayed through Period 6 but must inform Wageningen for immigration reasons. You must study through at least two periods in order to meet the minimum required US credit hours.

CALS Exchange students typically have to enroll in the equivalent of 15 US credit hours (30 ECTS). Due to the block schedule at Wageningen, it may be difficult to enroll in 30 ECTS and students are allowed to register for 12 US credit hours (24 ECTS). All students are advised to be as flexible as possible with their module requirements.

Fall semester:

  • Orientation is in August
  • Period 1: 8 weeks long. Begins the end of August/early September 
  • Period 2: 8 weeks long. Begins end of October to Mid-December

Spring Semester:

  • Period 3: 4 weeks long. Begins in January
  • Orientation is in February
  • Period 4: 4 weeks long. Begins in February
  • Period 5: 8 weeks long. Begins in March
  • Period 6: 8 weeks long. Begins in May

For exact program dates, reference the full academic calendar.

Courses

In general you may choose courses on MSc level and 3rd year BSc level, because the 1st and 2nd year BSc courses are taught in Dutch. Most 2nd and 3rd year BSc classes and all MSc classes are in English. When choosing courses make sure to check that it is taught in English, you meet the prerequisites, and there is no overlap in your class schedule. The study handbook page will provide further instruction on course selection. It is preferred that you choose most of your courses from one program although not a requirement. Wageningen University has 37 minors in English which exchange students can opt to follow.

To search for courses use the course planning worksheet. On the right side of the webpage, look for "course planning" and choose the most updated available course list. The link will prompt you to download an excel sheet of available courses.

Students are required to take Social Dutch 1 which is offered in September, January, and April. 

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

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 Wageningen. The majors that students were in while abroad are in ( ). 

  • AFI20306: Aquaculture and Fisheries (AGSCI)                        
  • BMO24806: Supply Chain Management (FDSCI)                         
  • CPT24306: Risk Communication (PLSCI)                                         
  • CPT30806: Social Justice, Technology, and Development (IDS)         
  • CPT35806: Intercultural Communication (AGSCI)                   
  • CSA20306: Soil-Plant Relations (AGSCI)                                                     
  • ENP30306: International Environmental Policy (NTRES)
  • ENP31806: Globalization and Sustainability of Food Production and Consumption (AGSCI)   
  • ENP37306: Water Governance: Concepts and Practice (AGSCI) 
  • ENR22806: Principle of Climate Change Economics and Policy (ANSCI)           
  • ENR31306: Economics and Management of Natural Resources (E&S)    
  • ESA22806: Environmental Systems Analysis: Methods and Applications              
  • FNP24306: Governance for Forest, Nature and Biodiversity (E&S)     
  • FPE21306: Food Production and Preservation (FDSCI)             
  • FPH20806: Molecular Gastronomy (FDSCI)                               
  • FSE31806: Agroecology (AGSCI)                                      
  • GEO23306: Cultural and Historical Geography (LA)
  • GEO37306: Global Landscapes and Place-Making (LA)                 
  • GEO56306: Introduction Leisure, Tourism and Environment (ANSCI, NTRES, LA)    
  • GRS10306: introduction to Geo-Information Science (ANSCI)  
  • HNH23306: Pharmacology and Nutrition (ANSCI)                        
  • HNH26806: Introduction to Global Nutrition and Health (AGSCI)       
  • HSO10306: Global Health (ANSCI, PLSCI)      
  • INF22306: Programming in Python (ANSCI) 
  • LAR37306: Reflections on planning and Design Practices (LA)
  • LAR39306: Master Studio Park Design: A Narrative Approach (LA)        
  • LAW55306: Food, Nutrition, and Human Rights (AGSCI)    
  • LUP23806: Planning for Urban Quality of Life (LA)
  • LUP36806: Landscape Theory and Analysis (LA) 
  • MCB20806: Principles of Consumer Studies (FDSCI)                     
  • MCB30806: Sensory Perception and Consumer Preference        
  • MCB50306: Sustainable Marketing (NTRES, AGSCI)                  
  • PPS31306: Global Food Security (AGSCI)    
  • RSO21806: Origin Food: A Market for Identity (FDSCI)                  
  • RSO30806: The Sociology of Farming and Rural Life (IDS, IARD)        
  • SBL31806: Nutrient Management (AGSCI)  
  • SBL50806: Agrobiodiversity (IARD)                                  
  • SDC22806: Natural Resource Governance in a Complex World (E&S)      
  • SDC32806: Sociology in Development: Towards a Critical Perspective (IARD) 
  • SDC35306: Natural Hazards and Disasters (ANSCI, NTRES, IDS)                               
  • SLM51306: Adaptation to Climate Change (NTRES)
  • WSG33806: Integrated Water Management (ANSCI)
  • YBI37806: Frontiers in Biology (ANSCI)