Pass/Fail Privilege

What does "pass/fail" mean?
Can I take a course pass/fail this semester?
Which courses can I take on a pass/fail basis?
Will pass/fail courses count toward any of my degree requirements?
How are pass/fail courses graded?
How do I register to take a course pass/fail?
What is the deadline for pass/fail registration (or cancellation)?

What does "Pass/fail" mean?

A course taken pass/fail earns credit if passed and no credit if failed; no letter grade or grade points are given.
Pass/fail allows eligible students to take some elective courses outside their usual area of study without concern for their grade point average (GPA).

Can I take a course Pass/Fail this semester?

You are eligible for pass/fail if:

  • You have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA OR
  • You are a first-semester freshman or transfer student

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors may carry one pass/fail course per term.
Seniors may carry two pass/fail courses per term.

No changes to pass/fail registration are permitted after the registration deadline.
Take very few pass/fail courses if you're planning graduate or professional school; take only graded courses if you're pre-med

Warning: If a student or course is ineligible for pass/fail, the Dean's Office will cancel the pass/fail registration, and the course grade will count. Notification of this change may arrive too late for you to drop the course. Be sure that you qualify before registering for a course pass/fail.

Which courses can I take on a pass/fail basis?
  • Only elective work may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
  • You may not carry any course in your major department on a pass/fail basis, whether required for the major or not, even if you have already completed your major.
  • Courses required for a major but offered by another department (e.g., chemistry for the zoology major) may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
  • Courses cross-listed with your major department may not be carried on a pass/fail basis.
  • You may not take a foreign language course pass/fail until you have completed the BA or BS foreign language requirement.
Will pass/fail courses count toward any of my degree requirements?

Pass/fail courses count toward four requirements:

  • 120 total degree credits needed for graduation,
  • 80 credits outside any one department,
  • 60 credits of intermediate or advanced work (if the course is designated as I, A, or D level),
  • Residence requirement (if the course is taken within the last 30 credits before graduation).

Pass/fail courses do not count toward the following requirements:

  • Major
  • Breadth (humanities, literature, social science, science)
  • Foreign language
  • Math
  • Ethnic studies
  • General education
  • A maximum of ten (10) pass/fail courses may count toward graduation

How are pass/fail courses graded?
  • Instructors are not informed which students have registered for pass/fail and assign a regular letter grade to all students in the class. The Registrar's Office converts the letter grade to a pass/fail grade of S or U.
  • If you earn a grade of C or better, the letter grade S (Satisfactory) will be posted on your transcript. Your GPA is not affected.
  • If you receive a grade of D or F, the letter grade U (Unsatisfactory) will be posted on your transcript. You will receive no degree credit for the class, but your GPA is not affected.
  • Pass/fail courses have no effect on probation status.
  • Pass/fail courses may affect Dean's List eligibility. You must earn a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in a semester to be eligible for the Dean's List.
How do I register to take a course pass/fail?
  • Register for the course via web enrollment; then submit a completed pass/fail registration form in Room 70, Bascom Hall.
  • Pass/fail forms are available on the Registrar's website or in Room 70, Bascom Hall.
  • Keep your copy of the pass/fail registration form.
  • You may not submit a pass/fail form before the first day of class or after the official deadline.
What is the deadline for pass/fail registration (or cancellation)?
  • The fall/spring semester deadline is Friday of the 4th week of class.
  • The summer session and Modular Course deadline is Friday of the week completing one-fourth of the session (e.g., for a four-week course, the deadline is Friday of the first week). See the Timetable for specific dates.
  • Prior to the pass/fail deadline, you may cancel pass/fail registration and take the course on a regular graded basis.