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Academic

Grading

Graduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering are graded in two standard ways: either with a standard letter grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, E) or on the basis of pass/fail (S, E). In either case, the course must be graded consistently for all students. Dissertation courses (897, 997, 899, 999) can be graded only on the basis of pass/fail (S, E). 

For more information about the graduate grading scheme, visit the registrar’s scheme page. Please note that the graduate grading scheme is different from the undergraduate grading scheme.

While some courses will be graded via a standard letter grade, GPAs are not calculated for graduate programs due to the number of courses graded on the basis of pass/fail. If necessary, students can estimate a GPA using the GPA calculator found on the registrar’s website. If necessary, the AS&E GEPA office can provide verification that a GPA is not issued.

Incomplete Policy Link to section

The notation of I (incomplete) is an option providing a student with additional time to complete unfinished work. It may only be used in conjunction with a Contract for Notation of Incomplete between the student and the instructor describing precisely what additional work must be completed by the student to enable the instructor to assign a final course grade and when this additional work must be completed. The Contract for Notation of Incomplete must be submitted to the GEPA office to be kept on file.

With the exception of extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the AS&E dean of graduate education and postdoctoral affairs, this additional work must be completed no later than one calendar year after the end of the semester in which the original course was taken. If a final grade is not posted by the instructor within one calendar year, the student’s final grade will be set by the GEPA office to the grade noted on the Contract for Notation of Incomplete or a grade of E (fail) if no such grade is noted.

The official transcript will show only the final grade as assigned by the instructor or set after the expiration of the Contract for Notation of Incomplete.