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Academic Credit

As an accredited institution, we are proud to offer transferrable academic credit for students and educators who travel with us. All coursework is created and evaluated by our Academics Team—composed of  full-time experienced educators—designs and evaluates all coursework to ensure it meets the specific developmental and educational needs of every learner in our programs.

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A group of teenagers visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., as their guide explains details about the memorial and its historical significance.

Free High School Credit 

  • Course Options:  Online courses are paired with corresponding travel programs to reflect themes and destinations. Choose courses from a custom menu.
  • Eligibility:  Most WorldStrides programs offer the ability to earn credit. Students in grades 6-12 at the time of travel on a WorldStrides program are eligible to participate.
  • Cost:  Discovery for Credit course participation is free—that means you pay nothing!
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A group of teenagers visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., as their guide explains details about the memorial and its historical significance.
Group of tourists admiring the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval citadel in France.

College Credits

  • Course Options: Students have multiple options for completing coursework online. College credit options differ in theme and destination based on the content of the WorldStrides program.
  • Eligibility: College courses are open to students who are enrolled in grades 9-12 at the time of travel. Rising Freshman are not eligible for college level coursework.
  • Cost: Per-credit fees vary by program.  In some cases, college credit is included in your program fee. To find out if free credit applies to your trip, contact your WorldStrides rep. Transcripts for college credits are ordered directly from George Mason University.
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Start Earning Now

Getting started is easy! You can register online through the Academic Credit Portal before, during, or after your program. Once you select the course(s) you’re interested in, you can work at your own pace to complete the online coursework. You have up to six months to complete the course after your program ends.

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Receiving Your Transcripts

After successfully completing both the WorldStrides travel program and the online courses, you’ll receive an official transcript. High school credit is issued through WorldStrides. College transcripts are ordered directly from our university partner, George Mason University.

Once you've received your transcript at home, and you have two ways of applying the credit:

  • You can submit this transcript alongside your traditional high school transcript as a form of distinction in your academic profile during the college/university application processes.
  • You can submit the transcript to your school registrar for consideration toward inclusion on your high school or college transcript. Acceptance is determined at the discretion of the receiving institution. Contact the WorldStrides Curriculum & Academics Team at education@worldstrides.com for supporting documentation.
A teacher explaining the principles of aerodynamic lift to a group of students using a whiteboard and a projected diagram.

Credit and Professional Development for Teachers

Teachers that travel with WorldStrides as a chaperone or program leader can earn 5 points/hours or 0.5 CEUs per day of travel. Educators also have the opportunity to earn graduate credit through our partnership with the University of California San Diego Extended Studies.

Contact WorldStrides' Curriculum and Academics team via education@worldstrides.com to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

All educators that serve as Program Leaders or chaperones are eligible to receive professional development points. Details and the amount of credit vary by program. Educators leading middle and high school programs also have the opportunity to enroll in our 3-credit graduate course: “Instruction and Management for Increased Learning.” This course is designed to serve teachers across all content areas and is run on a semester schedule. For more information and to enroll, contact our team at education@worldstrides.com.