Absence from class will be noted and will negatively affect your grade unless prior notice is given to the professor and the reason is legitimate. Requirements for this class will include class meetings, assignments and/or performances that will be held off-campus. Students/participants will provide his/her own method of transportation to the off-campus location.

Grades for undergraduate courses may be:            A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F

All assignments issued by the professor are gradable and will be taken into account in making a final grade. Submission of any assignment past the due time and date will incur a penalty of one grade loss per day late. Grading will follow course specific grading criteria described in each course syllabus, in full accordance with the School of Architecture Grading Standards as presented below.

A Represents comprehensive excellence and a quality that is exemplary. Not only does the work fulfill all requirements in an excellent and professional manner, but it goes beyond the given requirements aiming at standards higher than requested. The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities. Intellectual progress and development have been demonstrated by the timely preparation of thoughtful work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

B Represents work which can be distinguished as being of truly ‘good’ quality. This work is of a quality that has been instructive to the rest of the class. The work is free of significant flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture. The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities. Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

C Represents satisfactory and average performance. The work is free of major design flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture. Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis. The student and instructor can take ‘satisfaction’ in the average resolution of the design exercise.

D Represents ‘passable’ work which fulfills requirements, is completed on time, and represents a minimal response to the design exercise. Overall, the quality of work is inferior and undistinguished.

F Represents substandard work that is not passable. Work has not fulfilled requirements, or has not been completed on time, or it is not an appropriate response to the design exercise.

I An ‘Incomplete’ can only be given in exceptional cases where there is a serious excusable reason for not completing course requirements. The quality of work in the course up to that point must have been C level or above. Timely completion of the course requirements must be agreed in a University mandated written contract between student and instructor.

A grade of X is issued when the instructor feels there is no basis for a grade, such as non-attendance.

A grade of Incomplete (I) cannot be carried into the next immediate term of studio classes. If the grade of (I) has not been removed by completion of work, the student will not be permitted to enroll in the next studio class in sequence since the prerequisite will not have been fulfilled.

For 300 and 400 level classes grades of less than C- will not count towards fulfilling Major requirements. For 100 and 200 level classes grades of less than B- will not count towards fulfilling Major requirements. Two consecutive grades of C- (at 300/400 level), and B- (at 100/200 level) in any studio sequence will prohibit enrollment in the next studio.

Grades for graduate courses may be:            A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F

All assignments issued by the professor are gradable and will be taken into account in making a final grade. Submission of any assignment past the due time and date will incur a penalty of one grade loss per day late. Grading will follow course specific grading criteria described in each course syllabus, in full accordance with the School of Architecture Graduate Grading Standards as presented below.

A Represents comprehensive excellence and a quality that is exemplary. Not only does the work fulfill all requirements in an excellent and professional manner, but it goes beyond the given requirements aiming at standards higher than requested. The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities. Intellectual progress and development have been demonstrated by the timely preparation of thoughtful work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

B Represents satisfactory and average performance. The work is free of major design flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture. Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

C Represents substandard work; overall, the quality of work is inferior and undistinguished. Any form of C grade will NOT count towards graduation and courses will need to be retaken. Such a grade is also very likely to lead to academic probation, and potentially exclusion from the graduate program.

D, F Unacceptable grades in the graduate program.

Other Grades

X A grade of X is issued when the instructor feels there is no basis for a grade, such as non-attendance.

I An ‘Incomplete’ can only be given in exceptional cases where there is a serious excusable reason for not completing course requirements. The quality of work in the course up to that point must have been B level or above. Timely completion of the course requirements must be agreed in a University mandated written contract between student and instructor. A grade of Incomplete (I) cannot be carried into the next immediate term of studio classes. If the grade of (I) has not been removed by completion of work, the student will not be permitted to enroll in the next studio class in sequence since the prerequisite will not have been fulfilled.

Academic Probation

Grades of B- or less do not meet acceptable standards for graduates in the Master’s program. Please see graduate studies grading criteria in the PSU Bulletin for a full explanation regarding such grades and the University’s policies regarding Academic Probation for Graduate Students.

Graduate Learning Objectives

View and download the Graduate Learning Objectives and Assessment Measures.

Faculty for individual courses are responsible for developing and publishing course specific grading guidelines for individual courses in accordance with School Grading Standards, as published here. It is the student’s responsibility to become aware of these standards and the standards for individual courses.

The instructor of an architecture course is empowered to evaluate a student’s performance in a class and determine a grade for that course.  The student is responsible for meeting an appropriate level of performance corresponding to the established standards and level of the course.

A grade received in a class can be appealed according to the following procedure:

1.  The student confers with the instructor to review course requirements, course activities, and evaluation of performance.

2.  If the student wishes to appeal a grade, a written appeal must be made to the School Director within 30 days from the posting of grades for the class that was taken.  This appeal must contain factual information identifying student, instructor, course and term.  

An appeal must contain a specific reason(s) as to why the grade should be changed; a difference of opinion is an insufficient reason to grant an appeal. 

Examples of specific reasons to grant an appeal include:

     a. The instructor was unjust in evaluating performance.

     b. The instructor was prejudiced in evaluating performance. 

3.  Upon receipt of the appeal, the Director will confer with the student and the instructor; these meetings may be held individually or jointly

4.  An appeal can be granted if the Director determines that evaluation of performance or projects were unjust or prejudiced.

5.  The Director’s decision can be appealed to the Dean of the College of the Arts.