Academic Policies
Grades and the Grading System
April 16, 2008: Updated text for
Graduate College under Pass/Fail Option.
Please see the Change Control Page for
more information
| Grade: |
In GPA: |
Description: |
| A |
yes |
excellent
(regular grade) |
| B |
yes |
good
(regular grade) |
| C |
yes |
satisfactory (regular grade) |
| D |
yes |
poor
(regular grade) |
| E |
yes |
failure
(regular grade)
|
Regular Grades:
A, B, C, D, and E constitute the regular grades used at the University of
Arizona. Regular grades are included in the calculation of the grade-point-average (GPA).
The majority of courses at the University are graded with regular grades.
Exceptions include: most house-numbered
courses (independent study, colloquium, etc), and some law, medicine, pharmacy and public health courses.
Courses using alternative grades are designated as such in the course
descriptions.
Alternative Grading:
(Policy updated 5/2/08 with the addition of S, P, F grading
system)
S (superior) and P (pass)
grades are used in place of regular grades A and B,
respectively, for courses graded S, P, C, D, E and S, P, E, K. S and
P grades are NOT included
in the calculation of the GPA, nor do they count toward meeting the criteria for
dean's list, honorable mention, or academic distinctions.
S, P, C, D, E grading: for several house numbered courses (proseminar, colloquium, etc), one of the grading systems available is the combination of special and
regular grades (S, P, C, D, E). *
S, P, E, K grading: some 900-level house numbered courses
use this grading
system. In these cases, the grades S and P are used in place of regular
grades A and B, respectively, and students not attaining B level course work receive
the failing grade of E. See K Course in Progress below.
S, P, F grading: For the majority of individual studies courses,
the only grades available are the special grades of S, P, F. Grades of S
(superior), P (pass), and F (fail) are not included in the calculation of the
GPA, nor do they count toward meeting the criteria for
dean's list, honorable mention, or academic distinctions.
Medical grades: all 800-level
courses offered by the College of Medicine are graded on an honors/pass/fail
system (S, P, F, K). See the 
Medicine
Catalog for more information.
Law grades: law students please
consult the
College of Law.
* NOTE: For house numbered courses with a choice of grading systems (senior
capstone, colloquium, etc.), an instructor may have the option of awarding
regular grades only (A,B,C,D,E) or the combination of special and regular grades
(S,P,C,D,E), as departmental policy dictates. However, in any single class
offering, all registrants must be graded by the same system.
K Grade, Course in Progress:
K for non-900-level courses: if a course requires more than one term for completion, the grade of K is awarded
for each term except the final term. The final term is awarded a non-K
grade appropriate to the grading scheme for the course (see regular and
alternative grading above). For example, a course that continues for
3 terms would receive the permanent grade of K for the first 2 terms, while the final
term would receive a non-K grade appropriate to the grading scheme for the
course. Course re-registration is not required.
K grade for 900 through 925 house
numbered courses and graduate level English writing project courses (e.g. ENGL
501, 604, & 609): the grade of K is awarded by the instructor for
each term when
the course continues for longer than one term. Once the course is
completed the K grades are replaced with permanent non-K grades appropriate to the grading scheme for the
course. For example, a course that continues for 3 terms would receive
temporary K grades for the first 2 terms. When the course is completed
successfully in the 3rd term all 3 terms then receive the same permanent non-K
grade appropriate to the grading scheme for the course. Students must
register for
these courses each term, as needed. Time-limit for completion of such work for full credit
for the master's degree is 6 years; for the doctoral degree, 10 years.
K grade for 930 house
numbered courses: the grade of K is awarded
for each term except the final term. The final term is awarded a grade of
CR (credit) upon completion of degree requirements. Example: for a student enrolled in a 930 course for 6 terms, the first 5 terms would receive
permanent grades of K, and the final term would receive a permanent grade of
CR. Students must register for 930 courses each term, as needed.
Pass/Fail Option:
For certain courses, a qualified student may elect to register under the
pass/fail option. Under such registration, the only final grades available to
the student are P (pass) or F (fail). To receive
the grade of P, the student must be doing work comparable to a D or better.
If a course is taken under the pass/fail option, the grade of P or F will
be permanently recorded. If the course is passed, the units of credit will be applied toward
graduation. Pass/fail grades are NOT included in the GPA.
Undergraduate students may elect to take courses under the pass/fail option
only after they have attained sophomore standing and only if they have earned
grade-point-averages (GPAs) of 2.000 or better.
Courses taken under the pass/fail option must be electives only, and may
not be used to fulfill general education, major, minor, or other specified curriculum
requirements.
Students registering for a course under the pass/fail option must meet the
prerequisites or otherwise satisfy the instructor of their ability to take the
course.
Undergraduate students may register under the pass/fail option for not more
than 2 courses per semester up to a maximum of 12 courses. Further, they
must carry a minimum of 12 course units graded with regular grades during each
term in which they take courses under the pass/fail option. Any
exceptions to this policy must be approved by the student's academic dean.
Students may change from pass/fail enrollment to enrollment for a regular
grade, or vice versa, only during the time period prior to the last day of the
fourth calendar week (Fall and Spring) during which classes are held, except with special
permission of the student's college dean.
Each department decides which of its courses will be available under the
pass/fail option. Further, the instructor of the course must approve of its
being offered pass/fail. The instructor shall be informed by the Office of the
Registrar
which students are enrolled under the pass/fail option.
Courses that are available for pass/fail are designated as such in the Schedule
of Classes as "Available: Pass/Fail."
Student Teaching: pass/fail grades are the only grades available for
FSHD 489, TTE 493A, and TTE 493B.
Enrollment in these courses will not reduce the amount for which a student can
otherwise enroll under the pass/fail option.
Graduate Students:
Graduate students can take courses offered by
the College of Law for Pass/Fail for graduate credit.
Graduate students who need to complete admission
deficiencies or who wish to take undergraduate credit
courses available for P/F grading, may take Pass/Fail
courses but will not earn graduate credit for these courses.
In addition to the above situations, graduate students may
be permitted to elect a Pass-Fail option for graduate credit
under the following guidelines:
- The course must be in an area outside the student's
major or minor.
- Courses taken Pass-Fail will not count toward the
minimum number of credits required for the degree.
- The instructor and the student's advisor must
approve the Pass-Fail option on a change of schedule
form.
- The student should take the change of schedule form
to the Registrar's Office at Admin 210 for processing
I Incomplete Grade:
(Policy updated May 26, 2004:
circumstances when the “I” grade is not to be awarded; June 12, 2007:
circumstance for filing General Petition.)
The grade of I may be awarded only at the
end of a term, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been
satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded in place of
a failing grade or when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a
case, a grade other than I must be assigned. Students should make
arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end
of the term.
Instructors are encouraged to use the
Report
of Incomplete Grade form as a contract with the student as to what course
work must be completed by the student for the I grade to be removed and
replaced with a grade. On the form, the instructor states: (1) which
assignments or exams should be completed and when; (2) how this work will be
graded; and (3) how the student's course grade will be calculated. Both the
instructor and student sign this agreement and both should retain copies.
After the course work is completed, the instructor
should assign the appropriate grade on a Change of Grade form and submit it to
the Office of the Registrar for processing. After processing, the new grade will
be included in the calculation of the GPA.
If the incomplete grade is not removed by the
instructor within one year (the last day of finals one year later), the I
grade will convert to a failing grade. For undergraduate courses, the one-year
limit may be extended for one additional year if, prior to converting to an E,
the extension is approved by the instructor and the dean of the college in which
the student is registered. This extension requires the instructor and dean's
signature on a Petition for Extension of Course Work. Notification of the
dean's approval or denial is to be provided to the student by the dean's
office. A copy of the approved or denied Petition must then be forwarded from
the dean's office to the Office of the Registrar, Administration 210, for
appropriate processing. Once the I has converted to an E,
a one-year extension will only be considered if the student submits an appeal to
the University General Petition Committee. Additionally, a request for an
extension of time beyond 2 academic years of the original course enrollment
requires approval by the General Petition Committee. For courses taken for
graduate credit, such approval may be granted only by the Graduate College.
W Withdrawal, Dropping a Course:
Prior to the end of the fourth week of classes (Fall and Spring), official withdrawal (drop)
of a course cancels the registration for the course. A dean’s approval is
not required. No grade for the course will appear on the student’s permanent
record.
During weeks five through eight, the grade of W is awarded to students
who are passing at the time of withdrawal. The grade of E may be awarded to
students not passing at the time of withdrawal. Either W or E will show on the
student’s permanent record.
After the eighth week of classes, the grade of W can be awarded only with
the approval of the student’s academic dean, and only under exceptional
circumstances. The W may also be awarded in the case of complete withdrawal
from the University.
WP and WF Withdrawal, Complete Withdrawal from the University:
In the case of complete Withdrawal from the
University, if a student
withdraws before the end of the 4th week of classes in Fall or
Spring
(end of the 1st week in Summer), no classes show on the
student's transcript for the term. If a student withdraws from the
University between the 5th week of classes in Fall or Spring (2nd
week in Summer) and the last day of classes for the term, the
faculty member for each course may assign a grade of WP (withdrawal while
passing) or WF (withdrawal while failing). Withdrawal grades are NOT
included in the GPA. The refund schedule is listed for each term in the 
Registration Dates
and Deadlines calendar.
O Audit Grade:
The grade of O is awarded for courses taken for
audit. Audit grades are not
awarded unless the student is registered for audit. (In the case of COOP
100, students are automatically registered for audit.) Audit grades are
NOT included in the GPA. See the audit
policy for details and the use of WO and XO grades.
CR Credit:
The grade of CR is a passing grade
awarded for courses taken by Special Examination for
Credit. Failing grades are not recorded. The CR grade is NOT included in the
GPA.
CR grade for 930 house
numbered courses: the grade of CR is awarded upon completion of degree requirements. Also see K
grade for 930
courses above.
(Blank) No Grade Submitted:
(Policy updated May 13, 2004: Change 'Y' to Blank
indicator for no grade submitted.)
| No grade indicator is entered when an instructor fails to
submit grades for all students in a course by the grade reporting deadline
at the end of the term. Prior to Spring 2003, students were awarded a temporary grade of 'Y' after the grade
reporting deadline and prior to receiving the final grade from the
instructor. Consistent with current practice, if grades are issued for
some but not all students in a class, those students who were not awarded
a grade by the instructor will be awarded an administrative grade of 'E'
by the Office of Curriculum & Registration. |
Related Topics:
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