Grading Policy



General

The courses are designed to measure the students’ progress by written and practical examinations. Specified objectives have been defined for each course to help the students and faculty members evaluate the degree of progress.

Evaluation Methods
 
  • Written examinations based on analytical or logic based inference questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions.
  • Practical or laboratory examinations including: classroom observation of laboratory projects, independent hands-on design projects, and presentation/discussion of projects.
  • Written reports or research papers on assigned topics.
Review of Examinations

Examinations are graded by the faculty and are usually returned to students within seven days. Questions of the examinations are kept on file for review for one year.

Grade Reports

In cases when final grades are not available at grade reporting time, a grade of “I” is submitted to the Registrar in lieu of the course grade. “I” grades entered on the grade reports must be converted to student- achieved grades by the student completing the necessary requirements within two trimesters or it will be converted to an F. An up-to-date summary of student performance is maintained in the Student Office and is available to students for review.

Final course grades are given based on the four-point letter system, as follows:

Letter Grade Grade Points
A+ 4.3
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
F 0.0
U 0.0

Explanation of Grading Marks:

  A Highest level, showing excellence
  B Performance is good, but not the highest level
  C Performance is adequate
  D Performance is less than adequate
  F Course requirements have not been met
  WF Withdrawal with Fail
  I Incomplete – Performance has been beyond the student’s control. Work was passing at the time.
  W Withdrawal – Student was permitted to drop the course.
  AU Audit – Student was enrolled on a non-credit basis
  CR Credit by examination – Credit = grade “C” or better
  TR Transfer credit
  NC No Credit – Below passing on challenge examination
  P Pass – Student passed the course which was offered on a pass/no-pass basis
  NP No pass – Performance is unsatisfactory of the course which was offered on a Pass/No pass basis.
  IP In progress – Performance is satisfactory, but a final grade is not yet assigned. This applies to work normally exceeding beyond one trimester
  U Unauthorized incomplete – The student did not withdraw from the course but failed to complete course requirements. For purposes of a grade point average, this symbol is equivalent to an “F”
  RD Report delayed – Indicates a grade has not yet been turned in by the instructor.
  RP Course is repeated
Dean’s Honors

Excellence in scholastic achievement is recognized each trimester by the compilation of a Dean’s List. An MSCS student successfully completing at least 9 credit hours with grade points, with a minimum term grade point average of 3.85 or better, qualify for the Dean’s Honor List. “Dean’s Honor List” will also appear on the transcripts of students obtaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Incomplete Grades

In circumstances where a student is unable to complete the coursework required prior to the end of the trimester, the student may, with the instructor’s approval, file a petition to receive a grade of Incomplete. Incomplete grades will be indicated by a mark of “I” on the student’s grade report and transcript until the student either successfully completes the course requirements (at which time the “I” will be changed to a letter grade) or fails to complete the course requirements (at which time the “I” will be changed to an “F”).

Students have two trimesters, following the trimester for which an incomplete is given, to successfully complete any deficient coursework. The trimester extends to the last day of scheduled final examinations. Failure to complete all work within this time period will result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course.

Auditing Courses

Students who wish to take courses without formally enrolling in a degree program may do so on an audit basis. Students who wish to audit courses must:

 
  • File an Application for Admission and pay the admission fee (if not currently enrolled);
  • Demonstrate proficiency in English;
  • Pay applicable tuition; and
  • Meet attendance and other requirements as specified by the instructor.

A course which is audited will be indicated by an “AU” on the student’s transcript.

Standards of Satisfactory Progress

All students must maintain satisfactory progress. A student is making satisfactory progress if:

 
  • Every trimester, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above for graduate students.
  • After each academic year, the student’s percentage of course completion must be at or above 70%, and cumulative GPA is above 3.0 for graduate students.
  • After attempting 50% of the normal program length, the student’s percentage of completion must be at or above 70%, and cumulative GPA must be above 3.0 for graduate students.

Maximum program length is determined for each student at admission. Maximum program length is equal to the number of credit hours required for the student to complete the program times 1.5.