The grading policy of SJSU provides that A, B, C, D, F, shall be the basic grading system and shall apply to all course work acceptable toward a degree program except for those courses in which it is mandatory or permissible that Credit/No Credit grades be used. To determine a student’s standing, whether “good,” probationary or disqualified, quality of performance and progress toward degree completion are considered based on units attempted, grade points earned and grade point average (GPA).

Grade   Points Per Unit

A+, A 4.0

A-     3.7

B+    3.3

B      3.0

B-     2.7

C+    2.3

C      2.0

C-     1.7

D+    1.3

D      1.0

D-     0.7

F      0.0

WU, NC, CR, I, IC, AU, W, WB , RP       0.0

The scholarship average is based on courses in which letter grades are earned (the total number of grade points divided by the number of units in letter graded courses). Grade points are assigned as follows.

The grades of “CR,” “NC,” “AU” (audit), “I,” “W,” “WB,” and “RP” (report in progress) receive no grade points and the units are not considered in computing grade point average. A plus or minus sign following a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D” will affect the grade points allowed as indicated in the table. A grade of “A+” cannot exceed 4.0 grade points per California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Division 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 2, Article 2, 40104.

An auditor must be officially enrolled in the course. Enrollment as an auditor is subject to permission of the instructor provided there is space available in the course. Auditors are subject to the same fee structure as credit students and regular class attendance is expected. Once enrolled as an auditor, a student may not change to credit status unless such a change is requested no later than the last day to add classes in that term. A student who is enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the last day to add classes in that term.

“CR/NC” grades are mandatory for thesis work and also normally used in projects, field work, internships, individual studies, or directed reading. As recommended by departments and approved by the college dean, credit/no credit grades may be used in activity and laboratory courses, workshops, and selected seminars (colloquia). A maximum of 40 percent of the units required in a graduate degree can be credit/no credit (e.g., 12 units in a 30 unit program). In accordance with University Policy F18-5:

For graduate courses: Credit = A, A-, B+, B, B-; No Credit = C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, IC, WU

Incomplete - “I/IC”

The symbol “I” (Incomplete Authorized) indicates that a portion of required course work has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen, but fully justified, reasons and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. The student cannot re-enroll in the course. It is the responsibility of the student to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor (regarding the unforeseen reason(s) for requesting an Incomplete) and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements that must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated. Clearing an incomplete grade does not permit retaking previously completed portions of the course, nor does it permit assignment of additional graded work (e.g., extra credit) that was not available to other students in the class.

An “I” must normally be made up within one calendar year immediately following the end of the term during which it was assigned.

This limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment. Failure to complete the assigned work will result in an “I” being converted to an “IC” symbol, or an “NC” for non-traditionally graded courses, unless the faculty member assigns a specific letter grade at the time the Incomplete is assigned, which would replace the “I” in the student’s record after the calendar year deadline.

Failure to complete the assigned work within the established calendar year period for an “I” grade will result in an automatic grade change to an “IC” grade which calculates as a failing grade for grade point average and progress point computation.

Report Delayed - “RD”

The “RD” symbol may be used where a delay in the reporting of a grade is due to circumstances beyond the control of the student. The symbol may be assigned by the registrar only and, if assigned, shall be replaced by a substantive grading symbol as soon as possible.

Report in Progress - “RP”

The “RP” symbol is used in connection with courses that typically extend beyond one academic term. It indicates that work is in progress but that assignment of a final grade must await completion of additional work. Work is to be completed within one year except for graduate degree projects and theses (supervised courses, e.g., 298 & 299 courses), which have a two-year time limit. Failure to complete the assigned work for an “RP” grade will result in an automatic grade change to an “NC” grade unless a request for an extension has been made and approved.

A final grade will be assigned to all segments of the course on the basis of overall quality. Any extension of this time period must receive prior authorization by the instructor and department chair or school director.

Withdrawal - “W”

The symbol “W” on the official transcript indicates that the student was permitted to withdraw from the course after the drop deadline for the term with the approval of the appropriate campus administrator. It carries no connotation of quality of student performance and is not used in calculating grade point average or progress points. However, there are limits on the number of allowable units of “W” on the official transcript. Graduate students may withdraw from no more than 9 units. Exceptions to these unit limits are granted when the cause of withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond the student’s control and the assignment of an Incomplete is not practicable.

Withdrawal Unauthorized - “WU”

The symbol “WU” indicates that an enrolled student did not officially withdraw from the course and also failed to complete course requirements. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible. For purposes of grade point average and progress point computation this symbol is equivalent to an “F.”

Traditional letter grades are used for all courses taken by graduate students except for field work, thesis, project, individual study and internship courses, which are usually graded Credit/No Credit or Credit/No Credit/Report in Progress. Incomplete grades are not permitted for thesis or project courses, and Credit may not be given for a thesis or project course before completion of the coursework. Graduate students do not have the option of choice between the traditional or non-traditional grading system. A grade of Credit in a graduate-level course indicates performance by the student equal to a letter grade of “B-” or above.

The cumulative GPA for the master’s degree (3.0 minimum) includes all letter-graded work in coursework numbered  100-level or higher completed within the preceding seven years and for which the student received graduate credit, excluding transfer courses taken at another institution and those taken as an undergraduate at SJSU. Both the cumulative GPA and GPA of all of the course grades on the student’s candidacy form, with the exception of non-Open University transfer courses, must be at least at the 3.0 level. Both the cumulative GPA and the GPA of all courses on the candidacy form must be a minimum of 3.0.

The cumulative GPA of the graduate student is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of graded units attempted at SJSU, excluding Open University courses that are not counted as degree requirements, subsequent to enrollment in the graduate school.

Graduate students may repeat a maximum of 9 units of upper division or graduate coursework for graduation credit if the grade is lower than a B. Note that grades from all graduate courses attempted will be included in the GPA calculation.