Pass/No Pass Grading Policy

Pass/No Pass Grading

Students may choose the Pass/No Pass grading option in certain elective courses. The minimum level of performance required to receive a grade of P varies from course to course and is determined by each instructor or department. Students should not assume that performance equal to a grade of D or higher will result in a passing mark. Often performance at the level of C or higher is required. Regulations pertaining to Pass/No Pass grading are as follows:

• Courses graded Pass/No Pass may not be applied to the major and minor, supporting courses, professional education requirements, upper-division writing proficiency requirement and General University Requirements
• Graduate courses taken for the graduate degree cannot be taken Pass/No Pass
• Courses graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory cannot be taken Pass/No Pass
• To designate a course as Pass/No Pass students must submit a request to the Registrar’s Office after registering for the course; they may change this designation by submitting the Grading Mode Change Request form to the Registrar’s Office at any time through the fourth week of a quarter. For extension program courses, Pass/No Pass grading designation may be elected up to the end of the fourth week for regular quarter-long courses, or prior to the second class meeting for shorter courses
• Prerequisites, work required and credit allowed may be affected by election of the Pass/No Pass option
• In computing grade averages, neither the P nor NP grade in Pass/No Pass courses is counted
• Should a student change their major or minor, the academic departments involved are the sole judges of the acceptability of any Pass/No Pass courses already completed in the newly chosen major or minor
• Once a student has earned NP grades in courses totaling 10 credits, they may no longer register for courses under the Pass/No Pass option

NOTE: Excessive use of the Pass/No Pass grading system may negatively influence admission to some graduate or professional schools.