Undergraduate

Grading

Grade Symbol	Description	Quality Points
A	Excellent	4
B	Good	3
C	Satisfactory	2
D	Poor	1
F	Failure	0
I	Incomplete	0
P	Pass	0
NC	No Credit	0
AU	Audit	0
W	Withdrawal	0
X	No grade given	0

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Grade points for a single course are calculated by multiplying the points assigned the letter grade (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0) by the number of credits of the course. Total grade points are calculated by adding the grade points earned in each course. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted, (repeated courses are counted only once). Grades earned in courses taken at other colleges for transfer are not computed in the grade point average at Slippery Rock University unless the courses were taken with Slippery Rock University’s approval as a “Visiting Student” or “Distance Education Student” at another PA State System of Higher Education university. Further explanation concerning the calculation of the GPA may be directed to the student’s academic adviser, the Office of Exploratory Studies & Academic Progress or the Office of Academic Records and Registration.

Graduate

Grading

Grade Symbol	Description	Quality Points
A	High quality graduate work	4
B	Satisfactory graduate work	3
C	Acceptable graduate work (cumulative grade average must be at least 3.000). Some departments will not consider a “C” as an acceptable grade.	2
D	Unacceptable graduate work*	1
F	Failure*	0
I	Incomplete (becomes an “F” if not completed by faculty deadline. If no earlier deadline is set by the professor, all incompletes must be completed within 12 months, except for thesis and dissertation, or they will be changed to an “F”.)
ID	Incomplete (used for dissertation). Does not automatically convert to an “F.”	0
IT	Incomplete (used for thesis). Does not automatically convert to an “F.”
W	Withdrawal	0
P	Passing (In all programs except Physical Therapy, this is equivalent to a letter grade of “C” or better. In Physical Therapy, it is equivalent to a “B” or better.)	0
X	No grade given (becomes an “F” if not removed by the end of the student’s next semester of enrollment)

*

Credits earned with less than a “C” grade cannot be accepted as satisfying any of the requirements for the master’s degree.

These grade symbols are translated into grade points as follows: each semester hour of credit with a grade of A counts four grade points; B, three points; C, two points; D, one point. Degree candidates must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0*. Credits earned with less than a “C” grade cannot be accepted as satisfying any of the requirements for the master’s degree*. Some departments will not consider a “C” as an acceptable grade. Grades earned in all graduate courses taken at Slippery Rock University are used in the calculation of grade point average.

The formula for grade point calculation is as follows:

GPA = grade points earned divided by number of semester hours attempted. Graduate courses in which a letter grade of “C” or less was earned on the first attempt may be repeated. No course may be repeated more than once. Permission to repeat a course shall be granted with the approval of both the adviser and the graduate coordinator of the student’s program. A student may repeat a total of two courses during the six-year statute of limitations, and any repeat must occur within the six-year statute of limitations.

Any extensions of the time limit shall not entitle the student additional repeats. Course repeats in Physical Therapy are permitted only with approval of the Dean of the College of Health, Engineering and Science. When a student repeats a course, only the grade earned on the most recent attempt is used in the GPA calculation. A grade of “I” is not a permanent grade. An incomplete grade for a course must be removed whenever the professor requires it, but no longer than within one calendar year, and an incomplete grade for thesis (IT) and dissertation (ID) must be removed within the six- year statute of limitations. Unless the instructor has submitted a change of grade prior to the expiration of the specified time limit, the grade of “I” will automatically be converted to a grade of “F”. Grades of “IT” for thesis and ID for dissertation will remain an “IT” or “ID” until the requirements are met and a grade change has been submitted.

X and I Grades - Undergraduate and Graduate

See the I Grade Policy for more information on I Grades.

See the X Grade Policy for more information on X Grades.