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Grading Policies - Graduate
(The Flexible Grading Policy will not be an option in Winter 2021 or subsequent semesters.)
The graduate student's CUNY SPS grade (A, B, C, or F) reflects assessment by the instructor of key course components. The following grades are assigned:
| Letter Grade | Ranges % | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93 - 100 | 4 |
| A- | 90 - <93 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87 - <90 | 3.3 |
| B | 83 - <87 | 3 |
| B- | 80 - <83 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77 - <80 | 2.3 |
| C | 70 - <77 | 2 |
| F | <70 | 0 |
AUD - Auditor, listener.
INC - Incomplete. This is a temporary grade. The outstanding work must be completed by end of the following fall or spring semester. If the work is not completed by the end of the following semester, the INC is converted to a permanent grade of F on the record. The course instructor may grant the INC at the request of the student if participation requirements have been met and the only outstanding work is a paper, project, or examination. The instructor has the right to refuse a request, and can set a time limit for completion that is shorter than the end of the following semester. When the course work is completed and the final grade received, the INC grade will be replaced; a notation will be made on the student's transcript of the date of change.
W - Withdrawal. A permanent grade requested by the student after the Add/Drop period, and before the deadline in the academic calendar. This grade is assigned by the Assistant Dean of Registrar and Student Services at the written request of the student. It does not affect the grade point average.
WA - Administrative Withdrawal. This grade, which does not affect the grade point average, is administratively assigned.
WN - Never attended. Calculated as the equivalent of an "W" in the GPA.
WU - Unofficial Withdrawal. Used when class participation has been established at least once in a term, the student has completely stopped attending at any time before the culminating academic experience of the course, i.e., final exam, final paper, etc., and did not officially withdraw. Effective Fall 2021, a WU is calculated as the equivalent of a "W" in the GPA.
Satisfactory Academic Progress & Appeals
- The minimum passing grade in a graduate course is a C. Students need a B or better average In order to graduate with a master's degree at CUNY, and must maintain a B or better average every semester attending. If the GPA in any semester falls below a B, the student will be placed on probation until such time as the average is raised above a B. Conditions for students on probation that will enable them to raise their GPA will be determined by the graduate degree program they are seeking.
- Students who receive a failing grade (F or an INC that reverts to an FIN if not completed) can repeat the same course at CUNY SPS. If the grade obtained is a B or better, the student may petition the Registrar to drop the grade of F from the computation of the GPA. The failing grade remains on the transcript. The F-Replacement option can be used for only one graduate course at CUNY SPS. This F-Replacement option cannot be used for an F resulting from an academic integrity violation. WU grades earned prior to Fall 2021 are included in the repeat policy.