Earn College Credit
Our School of Record for college credit is University of Montana. However, Carpe Diem has a long history partnering with Institutions of Higher Education: from Portland State University, to Seattle Central Community College, University of Portland, Naropa College and others. We deeply appreciate the way that structured learning can add significantly to the experiences on a Carpe Diem program and foment the learning that happens on program. Inevitably, students who opt-in to the college credit report deeper outcomes as they reflect and translate their experiences into papers and journaling. Our most sincere hope is that every student is able to harvest their experiences thoroughly into college, career, and life.
All Carpe Diem students are eligible to complete between 3 & 12 semester credits* during their program (up to 24 semester credits during the Latitudes Year).
Carpe Diem works with the University of Montana and the Gap Year Association (GYA) to facilitate access to college credit and use of 529 college savings plans. Initial credit options are a bit limited for the fall 2024 / spring 2025 semesters, however additional course options are being approved for 2025 and beyond.
Fall 2024 / Spring 2025
COLS 191: Self & Culture in Experiential Cohorts – 3 semester credits.
This course provides experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students participating in studyaway programs. The course is designed to use a student’s real-world experiences as a foundation for understanding fundamental principles of communication, relationship-building, cultural development, and other group dynamics within an experiential cohort-based program. Students will engage in self-reflection and explore group dynamics in various contexts, gaining essential skills for personal and professional communication while examining the particular dynamics of a cohort-based experience in various cultural settings. Through readings, reflections, and applications to real-world examples, students will examine the roles that culture, identity, and communication play in cohort formation within personal, academic, and/or professional settings.
CTE 191: Intro to Leadership Development – 3 semester credits.
This course provides experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students participating in studyaway programs. The course is designed to introduce students to the principles, theories, and practices of leadership development. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, self-reflection, and practical applications to lived experiences, students will gain insights into effective leadership strategies, communication skills, and ethical decision-making. The course facilitates critical self-assessments of students’ leadership styles, and examines successful leadership qualities in various personal and professional contexts.
CTE 298: International Internship – 1-6 semester credits depending on hours.
This international internship program is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in a wide range of industries (including, journalism, graphic design, creative writing, marketing, finance, etc.). Interns will work closely with mentors and professionals within their chosen field and engage in various projects to enhance their skills and understanding of their assigned area of work experience and career development.
CTE xxx: Intro to Ethical Volunteering – 3 semester credits (pending final approval).
This course is designed as an independent study of ethical approaches to volunteering for students participating in volunteer/service-learning work during study-away opportunities. In this course, students will be introduced to an ethical framework for dissecting service-learning models and reflecting on their own volunteer experiences. Students will explore the history of exploitative volunteer practices while examining power dynamics, vulnerable populations, and foundational principles of developing reciprocal community partnerships, which they will apply as they engage in community-based service-learning activities.
Fall 2025
Climate Change & Its Impacts (3 credits).
This course provides students with tools for understanding the local impacts of global climate change. Through assigned readings followed by travel, service-learning, and community engagement, students will examine how the effects of global climate change have impacted—and will continue to impact—a particular local ecosystem and community. The course will ask students to explore the science that explains the effects of climate change in a particular area; local ecological, economic, and social impacts; and potential community solutions.
Intro to Environmental Sustainability (3 credits).
This course asks students to explore the concept of sustainability—an endeavor to meet the needs of society today without endangering the ability of future generations to meet theirs—as it pertains to the ecosystems and communities they encounter during their study-away program. Through readings and applications to real community issues and initiatives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the “triple bottom line” (environmental, social, and economic health) and the complexities of pursuing sustainability in different local contexts.
Intro to Intercultural Communication (3 credits).
This course provides students with a theoretical and practical foundation for understanding cultural differences and engaging in effective intercultural dialogue. Designed for students experiencing immersion in new/unfamiliar cultural contexts, the course asks students to examine different cultural groundings (including their own) in order to better understand how culture influences communication, and how to achieve specific outcomes through intentional communication strategies. Through both readings and real-world applications, students will gain a deeper understanding of their personal cultural influences while improving their overall intercultural sensitivity and literacy.
Environment & Society (3 credits).
This course compels students to examine environmental issues as social issues. Focusing on the complex relationship between human societies and the biophysical environment, students will explore the major social institutions, human dynamics, and ethical frameworks that have shaped the natural world through agriculture, rural and urban development, natural resource extraction and preservation, and population expansion. Students will examine local environmental issues encountered during their program as symptomatic of more systemic global issues, assessing the societal conditions that lead to environmental problems and prevent their solutions.
Eco-Tourism in Practice (3 credits).
This course will introduce students to primary principles in eco-tourism development. Students will gain a foundational understanding of ethical considerations and best practices in eco-tourism development, and will have an opportunity to examine real-world applications of eco-tourism initiatives in visited regions. Students will use a holistic perspective in order to identify a projects impacts, including mutual benefits to host and visitor, direct conservation benefits, direct funding and empowerment for local communities, and ensuring awareness and respect for environment and culture.
Environment, Community, and Public Health (3 credits).
This course provides students with a framework for understanding public health systems and practices in the communities they visit during their program. The course offers an overview of general topics in environmental health and management, including pollution, sanitation, wastewater, and epidemiology. Students will then examine how history, politics, economics, culture, and social inequalities have influenced the development of specific health management systems and issues in a local context, noting both successes and areas for improvement when it comes to public health systems, policies, and/or infrastructure.
Step 1:
Check Your Eligibility & Select Your Courses
- Students must be 17 years of age or older by the start date of the program
- Students can either be currently enrolled in high school, recently graduated, or enrolled in college/university
- Students must be enrolled in a program of 3 weeks or longer.
*Note that the number of courses students are eligible to enroll in is based upon the number of contact hours they will have while on the program. 45 contact hours are required for EACH 3-credit academic course and 45 contact hours are required for each 1-credit earned for "Independent Studies."
All courses are offered each semester. We only have one Spanish Language Course that will be offered starting in spring of 2025. When selecting courses we find that students are most successful with those they’re most interested in. Read through each syllabus to understand all requirements and note any prerequisites. You can find the full syllabi by logging into your Carpe Diem Student Portal.
Step 2:
Register
Once you’ve been accepted to a Carpe Diem program and have selected your courses, you’ll submit a Course Registration Form to Carpe Diem NO LATER THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR PROGRAM START. We will then complete the registration process with University of Montana on your behalf. Note, late registrations are available but incur a $100 late fee.
If the form does not show all the approved courses, please write or type the course title in the appropriate space on page 2. These forms will lag sometimes from what's available as University of Montana is approving new courses each week. Once a course is approved, you'll see it change officially in status on this college credit web page, and in the appropriate section of the Student Portal.
Step 3:
Pay Course Fees
The course registration fee is $1,950, payable to Carpe Diem. Whether you choose to complete 1 or multiple courses, the fee is the same. If you are a Latitudes Student you do not need to submit the registration fee as it is included in your tuition. Once you’ve paid the credit registration fee to Carpe Diem, we will work with the Gap Year Association and University of Montana to assign you an approved Instructor of Record within two weeks prior to the start of your program. This Instructor will be your point person for all questions about college credit and your selected coursework.
529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS:
Students with 529 tax-deferred college savings plans can use their funds to pay for the entire program free and college credit fees. Travel such as flights, however, are not eligible for 529 spending. The process is fairly simple: complete the student contact information and course details (fees & program), and send the form to Carpe Diem. For more information, please refer to the FAQ at the bottom of this page, or download the 529 registration form.
Families should complete what's in the red-box, factoring for any scholarships needs you might want to use 529 dollars to fund. Once finished, families should send the form to Carpe Diem Education, where we send it to the University of Montana. UM then sends an invoice to the name and email listed in the form (student), where you'll then give that invoice to your 529 plan administrator to disburse to UM. UM then pays Carpe Diem.
Step 4:
Submit Course Work
All course work will be submitted directly to the course instructor that is assigned to you typically two-weeks prior to departure. Note: Please pay attention to the full course requirements on each syllabus - missing a requirement, turning in an assignment late, or failing to read/properly cite a required reading are a few of the most common reasons that student grades are reduced.
If you would like to make any adjustments to a course reading list, deadlines, final paper topic, etc., your Instructor of Record has the authority to approve such adjustments as appropriate. Please contact your assigned Instructor of Record directly.
It IS possible to change your course(s), but you must officially request a change to both your Instructor of Record and GYA staff at info@gapyearassociation.org. Course change requests are only allowed within the first two weeks of your program.
Aside from temporary absences related to illness or other emergencies, attendance throughout the duration of your program is required for participation in the University of Montana college credit option.
Step 5:
Receive Your Grades
All course work will be submitted directly to the course instructor. All coursework is due to your Instructor of Record no later than 30 days after your program’s end date. Instructors of Record will submit final grade reports within 30 days of receiving completed coursework.
Grade reports are submitted to UM on the last business day of each month. Official transcripts will be available by the 15th day of the following month. Students are expected to submit coursework to their Instructor of Record by the deadlines listed above. Following initial submissions, students are expected to respond to questions and feedback from their Instructors until final grades are given.
Students who do not complete their Accredited GYA Program will be withdrawn from college credit, incurring a “W” on their official UM transcript. Incomplete or missing coursework will result in an assessment of “Incomplete” (I) on the official UM transcript.
Once you submit your journal and paper(s) for grading, it takes approximately 30 days to get your grade report, which your Instructor of Record will email directly to you. For privacy reasons, grade reports are only shared directly with the student.
Grading cannot begin until your Instructor receives your journal and ALL final papers for ALL courses in which you are enrolled.
Note: If you need an expedited grade for some reason, please communicate with your Instructor of Record so they can prioritize your grading.
Step 6:
Request a Transcript
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS: Once grades are posted, UM will email students a registration confirmation with their UM Student ID number and instructions for ordering official transcripts. Students must pay a small additional fee for any official transcripts ordered.
Students will NOT receive a tuition statement tax form (Form 1098-T) for receiving college credit. In lieu of a Form 1098-T, it is recommended that you maintain proof of tuition payment to your program provider and documentation of enrollment with the University of Montana in the form of a student ID number and/or official transcripts.
Step 7:
Transfer Credit
Many Carpe Diem students successfully transferred university credits to other colleges/universities. Many colleges/universities typically count transfer credits as general elective or entry-level credit. However, because every college/university has different guidelines for evaluating transfer credits, Carpe Diem Education can not guarantee their transferability.
We encourage you to talk with the International Programs/Study Abroad Office and/or the Admissions Office at your college/university to understand how transfer credits are evaluated.
Life Happens
Drops/Withdrawals
The last day to drop coursework is two weeks from the program start date. If you drop by this date, the dropped course will not appear on your official UM academic transcript. Students who withdraw from coursework within two weeks of their program’s start date will incur a $850 cancellation fee. After the first two weeks of the program, no college credit refunds will be provided for any reason, including illness, injury, or inability to complete the program.
Intent to withdraw from a course after the two-week mark must be confirmed via email to BOTH your Instructor of Record (assigned once payment and registration form are complete) and the Gap Year Association: info@gapyearassociation.org.
COLLEGE CREDIT FAQ
What are the benefits of earning college credits while taking a gap year?
- By earning college credits, you can take a gap year without feeling like you are losing a year of academic progress.
- The cost of the college credit ($1,950) is minimal when compared to the cost of typical college credits, and adds tremendous value to your investment.
Can I use 529 College Savings Plan funds for my gap year?
YES! If you or your family have invested in a 529 tax-deferred Education Savings Plan and you’re planning on earning college credit, then you can use those funds for all qualified educational expenses (not including airfare). Typically, the 529 fiduciary agency will either pay Carpe Diem directly (at your instruction), or they’ll reimburse you for qualified expenses.
In some cases they prefer to pay the University of Montana directly, however this incurs an 8.75% handling fee so it’s typically the more expensive (and slow) process.
CONTACT YOUR 529 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR, and let them know that you will be earning college credit during your gap year. Every 529 plan is different; most will allow the funds to be sent directly to the program provider or to reimburse you for tuition expenses … either of these are by far easiest. You’ll have to complete your UM coursework as well as maintain proof of payment for your tuition and completion of the college credit coursework in the form of their official UM transcript.
If, however, your fiduciary (529 plan administrator) requires that payment be made directly to the institution of higher education, then The University of Montana will accept the funds on behalf of the program and add an 8.75% processing fee. This process looks like:
- Carpe Diem will have you complete the middle STUDENT CONTACT INFORMATION of the 529 Education Savings Plan Form, and you’ll send that back to Carpe Diem where we will share it with the University of Montana.
- GYA will notify UM of students wanting to use 529 funds.
- UM will invoice the student/family directly (based on the contact information you entered in step 1), and add an 8.75% processing fee.
- Once payment is received by UM, UM will initiate payment to the Program Provider. Providers can expect payment from UM within 3-4 weeks upon receipt of the initial funds.
Note: UM is unable to initiate payment until the initial 529 funds are received. It is up to Carpe Diem to communicate with the student/family to ensure the funds are sent to UM by the 529 plan administrator in a timely manner.
Note: Using AmeriCorps Segal Education Awards is available through your Instructor of Record, who will work with you to process the payment.
What’s it like to earn college credit while abroad with Carpe Diem?
The world becomes your classroom! The majority of course hours are built right into the experiential education components of CDE programs.
That means your coursework will include volunteer projects, cultural immersion, and language study hours. Courses requirements may ask you to interview locals, read relevant books for your program’s region, create an art project, and/or give a short presentation to your student group.
You will be required to keep a daily reflective journal, and at the conclusion of each semester, write a 5-10 page paper for each course you choose to complete (refer to the course syllabus for full completion requirements).
How do I register?
Once you’ve been accepted to a Carpe Diem program, you’ll submit a Course Registration Form and your Registration Fee of $1,950 to Carpe Diem. The registration form can also be found within your Carpe Diem Student Portal. Once the form and payment have been received, Carpe Diem will then complete the registration process on your behalf, connecting you to the Gap Year Association who will assign you an approved Instructor of Record for the University of Montana.
*Latitudes Students only need to submit the Course Registration Form; the Registration Fee is included in your tuition.
PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to apply separately to University of Montana. This is a special arrangement we have through the University of Montana and the Gap Year Association (which our founder also founded).
What are the fees?
The course registration fee is $1,950, payable to Carpe Diem Education. Whether you choose to complete 1 or multiple courses, the fee is the same. This is an amazing value for an opportunity to earn up to 12 semester credits!
How and when do I submit coursework?
You’ll submit all coursework directly to the course instructor WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE COMPLETION OF YOUR PROGRAM. Please refer to the syllabi for further instructions.
How do I communicate with my instructor?
The instructor is available to students via email. We encourage you to ask questions of your assigned Instructor of Record, whether about the course, syllabi, reading list, or any changes to deadlines – they’re also travelers and understand that life needs to be outside of the lines at times so don’t be shy with questions.
How do I receive my grades?
You’ll receive your unofficial grade report via email after all course work has been submitted. The unofficial grade report will have your University of Montana student ID, and any other information you’ll need to access your official transcript. From there, you’ll have to pay a small fee to the University of Montana, share your student ID, and where you’d like the transcripts mailed. Typically this can take 6 weeks to send an official transcript but we encourage you to advocate with your Instructor of Record if you’re needing to expedite things.
How do I request a transcript?
Once your coursework has been reviewed, grades will typically take a month or so for processing. Official transcripts will be available on the 15th of the month AFTER your unofficial grade report is complete, and can be ordered through the University of Montana Registrar’s office. Details on how to order this will be shared by your Instructor of Record.
How do I transfer credit?
Many Carpe Diem students have successfully transferred credits from their Carpe Diem program, to other colleges/universities. Many colleges/universities count transfer credits as General Elective or entry-level credit. However, because every college/university has different guidelines for evaluating transfer credits, Carpe Diem Education cannot guarantee their transferability.
We encourage you to talk with the International Programs/Study Abroad Office and/or the Admissions Office at your college/university to understand how transfer credits are evaluated.