Pass-Fail Option
The Pass-Fail Option permits a student, with the advisor’s approval, to take certain courses and earn a grade of P (Passing) or F (Failing), rather than a traditional letter grade (A,B,C,D). Quality points will not be used for pass-fail courses when the student receives a passing grade. However, a failing grade will carry the usual penalty for failure in a course.
The following courses may NOT be taken Pass-Fail:
- Courses at the 100-level
- Courses that are part of the professional semester
- Courses required for a major, a minor or the General Education Program
Departments may designate other courses as not applicable to the pass-fail option; such courses are identified in the online Course Schedule each semester.
Within the limitations given, students may enroll for courses as free electives on the pass-fail basis:
- Completion of a minimum of 39 semester hours toward the bachelor’s degree is required before enrollment in pass-fail courses.
- No more than 16 semester hours may be taken on a pass-fail basis; no more than two such courses may be taken in any one semester. All courses taken as pass-fail are counted towards the 16 hour maximum whether the student receives a P or an F.
- In the event a student transfers to a department in which he or she has taken a pass-fail course, the student may petition the Registrar to rescind the pass/fail option for the course.
Pass-fail applications are available in the Office of the Registrar. A student who decides to enroll on a pass-fail basis is required to obtain his or her advisor’s signature on the application within the three-week period following the beginning of the semester. He or she may not thereafter change status in the course(s).