Chapter 3
Matriculation to Graduation

3.18 Grades and Graduate Courses

See also PRR regulation(s): REG 02.45.2

1. General Information
2. Types of Grading Systems
3. Regular Grading Scale and Grade Points
4. Grade Point Average
5. Requirements for Graduate Credit
6. Incompletes
7. Grades from Transfer Credit
8. Repeating Courses
9. Grade Changes
10. Graduate Courses
11. Catalog Descriptions for Research, Teaching, and Examination Courses
12. Elapsed Time per Credit Hour for Intensive Courses for Graduate Credit

A. General Information

1. Evaluation of a student's performance in a particular course or section is the prerogative of the faculty member responsible for that course or section. No grade assigned to a student in a particular course or section may be changed without the consent of the faculty member responsible for that course or section.
   
   
2. Each faculty member who assigns grades has the responsibility to implement grading procedures that are fair and equitable, and to provide a reasonable evaluation of the student's performance in the course.
   
   
3. At the beginning of the semester, faculty should inform their students of the means to be used to determine grades in each course.

B. Types of Grading Systems

Performance in lecture courses is evaluated as "A+" through "F", with a plus/minus designation if elected by the instructor. Performance in research, seminar and independent study types of courses is evaluated as either "S" (Satisfactory) or "U" (Unsatisfactory), and these grades are not used in computing the grade point average. However, a student who receives a "U" on any course will not receive credit and may be required to repeat it.

The "Master Listing of Approved Graduate Courses" identifies the approved grading for each 500- through 800- level course. Courses numbered in the 500 series and the 700 series will receive "letter" grades, i.e., "A+" through "F," grades, while courses in the 600 series and the 800 series will receive "S" or "U" grades. Students are not allowed to take 500- and 700-level courses for "credit only".

C. Regular Grading Scale and Grade Points

The following grade points are used to calculate of grade point averages:

A grade of C- satisfies all "grade of C or better" prerequisites and other "C-wall" requirements. A+ grades will contribute to the Grade Point Average up to a maximum of 4.00. (See Grade Point Average.)

D. Grade Point Average

In order to determine a student's Grade Point Average (GPA), the number of credit hours at the 400 level or higher that are attempted in a semester or summer session (for which regular grades are received) is divided into the total number of grade points earned. The cumulative and semester GPAs will include the effect of any A+ grades awarded (at 4 1/3 grade points) up to a grade point average of 4.00. The grade point average will be calculated to three decimal points. (See GPA Calculator.)

Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS). Credits earned in PBS classification that become part of the Plan of Graduate Work are also included in the GPA calculations and the determination of academic standing.

E. Requirements for Graduate Credit

To receive graduate degree credit, a grade of "C-" or higher is required in the courses taken after admission. Grades on courses taken for graduate credit as an undergraduate at NC State, in PBS classification, or transferred from other universities must have a grade of "B" or better to be transferred. All grades on courses numbered 400 and above taken in a graduate classification or for graduate credit as an undergraduate are included in the graduate GPA. Courses at the 300 level and below are not eligible for graduate credit and subsequently do not affect the graduate GPA.

Graduate students who take 400-level courses that are letter graded do not have the option of taking the courses for "credit only" if they intend for the course to be part of their Plan of Graduate Work. Four-hundred level letter-graded courses that are required by the program but will not be included in the Plan of Graduate Work may be taken for S/U credit (i.e. 400-level courses in the student's major and FLE courses).

To graduate, a student must have a minimum 3.00 average on all graduate course work as well as all courses on his or her Plan of Graduate Work. This policy is strictly enforced.

F. Incompletes

The grade of Incomplete ("IN") may be given in any course at the discretion of the instructor for work not completed because of a serious interruption in the student's work not caused by their own negligence. An "IN" must not be used, however, as a substitute for an "F" when the student's performance in the course is not passing. An "IN" is only appropriate when the student's record in the course is such that the successful completion of particular assignments, projects, or tests missed as a result of a documented serious event would enable that student to pass the course. Only work missed may be averaged into the grades already recorded for that student.

A student who receives an "IN" must complete the unfinished work to have the "IN" converted to a final grade by the end of the next semester in which the student is enrolled, provided that this period is not longer than 12 months from the end of the semester or summer session in which the "IN" was received. Otherwise, the "IN" will be automatically converted to "F" or "U," in accord with the grading approved for the particular course. All grades of "IN" must be cleared prior to graduation. Students must not register again for any courses in which they have "IN" grades. Such registration does not remove "IN" grades, and the completion of the course on the second occasion will automatically result in an "F" for the incomplete course.

In special cases the Graduate School grants an extension of a student's incomplete grade. An Extension of Incomplete Grade form, generated by Registration and Records, is included in Appendix. The Graduate School will respond to a request for an extension of an incomplete grade within five working days of the receipt of the request in the Graduate School.

To discourage excessive and unwarranted use of incomplete grades and extensions for an individual student, an extension of an incomplete grade will not be granted by the Graduate School in the future if the student holds incomplete (or late) grades in other courses at the time of the request. [Recommended by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School on 9/7/89.]

G. Grades from Transfer Credit

Except in the case of interinstitutional registration, grades on courses transferred from another institution will not be included in computing the GPA. See Section 3.1 for more information about transferring graduate credits.

H. Repeating Courses

Students who repeat a course, regardless of the grade previously made, will have both grades counted in their cumulative GPA. The semester hours will be counted only once toward the number of hours required for graduation even though the student has passed the course twice. A graduate student may repeat a course in which a grade of "C-" or higher has been earned only upon the specific recommendation of the advisory committee and with the approval of the Graduate Dean.

I. Grade Changes

When submitted to the Department of Registration and Records, end-of-course grades are final and not subject to change by reason of a revision of the instructor's judgment; nor are submitted grades to be revised on the basis of a second trial (e.g., a new examination or additional work undertaken or completed). Changes may only be made within one calendar year after the date final grades were submitted in order to correct an error of computation or transcribing or where part of the student's work has been unintentionally overlooked.

The Grade Change Report, which can be obtained from Registration and Records, requires the instructor's signed statement as to the reason for the change, the approval of the Department Head in which the course is taught, and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. Approval of the Dean is not necessary when changing from IN or late ("LA").

J. Graduate Courses

NOTE: Courses at the 500 and 700 level are letter graded. Students cannot enroll in these courses for "credit only".

500-level Letter Graded Master's Courses

600-level S-U Graded Master's Courses

700-level Letter Graded Doctoral Courses

800-level S-U Graded Doctoral Courses

K. Catalog Descriptions for Research, Teaching, and Examination Courses

XXX 685 Master's Supervised Teaching. Preq. Master's student. 1-3. Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment. As noted in the prerequisite above, the course inventory system restricts enrollment in courses with this number to Masters students only (class MR).

XXX 688 Non-Thesis Masters Continuous Registration - Half-Time Registration. Preq. Master's students. 1. For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hours requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. As noted in the prerequisite above, the course inventory system restricts enrollment in this course to Masters students only (class MR).

XXX 689 Non-Thesis Master Continuous Registration - Full-Time Registration. Preq. Master's students. 3. For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hours requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. As noted in the prerequisite above, the course inventory system restricts enrollment in this course to Masters students only (class MR). Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester. Registration restricted to 3 credits only.

XXX 690 Master's Examination. Preq. Master's student. 1-6. For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam. As noted in the prerequisite above, the course inventory system restricts enrollment in courses with this number to Masters students only (class MR). XXX 690 cannot be used to fulfill course requirements, cannot be listed on the Plan of Work for credit, and cannot be transferred to another program.

XXX 693 Master's Supervised Research. Preq. Master's student. 1-9. Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty. In spite of the noted prerequisite the course inventory system actually restricts enrollment in courses with this number to student class MR or DR.

XXX 695 Master's Thesis Research. Preq. Master's student. 1-9. Thesis research. In spite of the noted prerequisite the course inventory system actually restricts enrollment in courses with this number to student class MR or DR.

XXX 696 Summer Thesis Research. Preq. Master's student. 1 credit hour. Thesis research. Ten-week course beginning the first day of Summer Session I. In spite of the noted prerequisite the course inventory system actually restricts enrollment in courses with this number to student class MR or DR. XXX 696 cannot be used to fulfill course requirements, cannot be listed on the Plan of Work for credit, and cannot be transferred to another program.

XXX 699 Master's Thesis Preparation. Preq. Master's student. 1-3. For students who have completed all credit hours requirements for their degree (including research credits) but need to maintain continuous registration to complete their research and/or write and defend their theses.

XXX 885 Doctoral Supervised Teaching. Preq. Doctoral student. 1-3. Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment. 885 Doctoral Supervised Teaching courses are restricted to Doctoral students only (class DR) by the course inventory system as indicated by the prerequisite noted above.

XXX 890 Doctoral Preliminary Examination. Preq. Doctoral student. 1-9. For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams. 890 Doctoral Preliminary Examination courses are restricted by the course inventory system to Doctoral students only (class DR) as indicated by the prerequisite noted above. XXX 890 cannot be used to fulfill course requirements, cannot be listed on the Plan of Work for credit, and cannot be transferred to another program.

XXX 893 Doctoral Supervised Research. Preq. Doctoral student. 1-9. Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty. 893 Doctoral Supervised Research courses are restricted to Doctoral students only (class DR) as indicated by the prerequisite noted above.

XXX 895 Doctoral Dissertation Research. Preq. Doctoral student. 1-9. Dissertation research. 895 Doctoral Dissertation Research courses are restricted to Doctoral students only (class DR) as indicated by the prerequisite noted above.

XXX 896 Summer Dissertation Research. Preq. Doctoral student. 1 credit hour. Dissertation research. Ten-week course beginning the first day of Summer Session I. 895 Doctoral Dissertation Research courses are restricted to Doctoral students only (class DR) as indicated by the prerequisite noted above. XXX 896 cannot be used to fulfill course requirements, cannot be listed on the Plan of Work for credit, and cannot be transferred to another program.

XXX 899 Doctoral Dissertation Preparation. Preq. Doctoral student. 1-3. For students who have completed all credit hours requirements for their degree (including research credits and the oral preliminary examination) but need to maintain continuous registration to complete their research and/or write and defend their dissertation.

Students going on to a Ph.D. can register for 9 credits of Ph.D. coursework during their last semester of the Masters degree instead of 3 hours of 689 or 699.

The courses are all variable credit, but none are zero credit courses.

1. The number of credits students register for in the courses should not exceed the upper limits stated in the descriptions.
2. When students register for 699 and 899, they cannot register for anything else. Graduate School rules prohibit registration in 699 or 899 if currently registered for any other course and vice versa.
3. The catalog descriptions of 699 and 899 state the conditions for admission into the courses. Students should not register for them unless all the conditions are satisfied.
4. As a general rule, master's students should not register for 8XX-level courses and doctoral students should not register for 6XX-level courses. The course inventory allows scheduling of students in the classes FR, JR, SO, SR. in courses numbered 800 where the course prefix is II.
5. Since 699 and 899 courses should be taken only after students have completed all requirements for the degree except completion of the thesis or dissertation, they will not contribute to the minimum credit hour requirements for the degree. They should never be on the student's graduate plan of work.

L. Elapsed Time per Credit Hour for Intensive Courses for Graduate Credit

A maximum of one credit hour will be awarded per week of full-time study for graduate courses offered by NC State University. Exceptions may be made if the course has pre-class reading assignments and other preparation and/or follow-up activities such as a paper or research project which will be evaluated before the grade is assigned.

When pre-class or follow-up assignments are required, they should be clearly described in the syllabus of the course that should include the time expected to complete the requirements and how the work will be graded. The syllabus should be made available to the students prior to the beginning of the course with enough lead time to schedule the work. The syllabus should also be submitted to the Graduate School with the request to offer the course, at least 60 days before the course is to begin and before commitments are made to prospective students in the course. In no case will more than two graduate credit hours be awarded for a course that meets full-time for one week. Credit hours for intensive classes that meet less than full-time will be adjusted accordingly. [Recommended by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School on 3/25/99.]