Grades and the Grading System

NOTE:  W grade unit maximum policy updated to reset the maximum for students pursuing a second Bachelor's degree, 5/28/20.
 

 

Grade:	In GPA:	Description:
A	yes	excellent (regular grade)
B	yes	good (regular grade)
C	yes	satisfactory (regular grade)
D	yes	poor (regular grade)
E	yes	failure (regular grade)
S	no	superior (alternative grade)
P	no	passing (alternative grade)
P	no	passing (pass/fail option)
F	no	failure (pass/fail option)
I	no	incomplete
W	no	approved withdrawal from a course (drop)
WC	no	approved complete withdrawal from the U
WC	no	approved retroactive withdrawal from the U
O	no	audit
WO	no	audit, withdrawal
XO	no	audit, administrative withdrawal
CR	no	credit for Special Exam for Credit and the final term of 930 courses
(Blank)	no	no grade submitted by instructor

Regular Grades:

3/21/17 Note: Departments may require a C-grade course prerequisite when this is necessary for success in a subsequent course, beginning in Spring 2018.

4/3/20 Note: During the Spring 2020 term only, and at the discretion of the individual student, any course that is offered for Regular Grades may be graded on a pass/fail basis. More information can be found on the announcement of the temporary policy and an FAQ from the Office of the Registrar. 

A, B, C, D, and E constitute the regular grades used at the University of Arizona.  Regular grades are included in the calculation of the grade-point-average (GPA).

A minimum grade of C may be required to register for some courses when a higher level of mastery than a D is necessary for the student's success in the subsequent course. Students should check the requisites (recommended course work) and enrollment requirements (required course work) when planning their class schedules and registering for the next term. Recommended and required course work is noted in the UAccess Class Search and in the Course Catalog.

The majority of courses at the University are graded with regular grades.  Exceptions include:  most house-numbered courses (independent study, colloquium, etc), and some law, medicine, pharmacy and public health courses. Courses using alternative grades are designated as such in the course descriptions.

Alternative Grading:

5/9/17 Note: The K grade for "course in progress" is discontinued as of Fall 2017; the alternative grade system, S/P/C/D/E, is replaced with the S/P/F system beginning in Spring 2018.

S, P, F grading:  For the majority of individual studies courses, one of the grade systems available is the special grades of S, P, F.  Grades of S (superior), P (pass), and F (fail) are not included in the calculation of the GPA, nor do they count toward meeting the criteria for dean's list, honorable mention, or academic distinctions.

Graduate courses: Grades for 900 through 925 house numbered courses and other graduate level project courses that continue for longer than one term will be awarded S, P, or F on the basis of the work completed during the semester of enrollment. As with all courses, the option of awarding an I remains available when warranted. If the course is passed, the units of credit may be applied toward the degree at the discretion of the student's major advisor.

Medical grades:  all 800-level courses offered by the College of Medicine are graded on an honors/ high pass/ pass/ fail system (H, HP, P, F).  See the College of Medicine Grading System for more information.

Law grades:  law students please consult the College of Law Grading System.

* NOTE: For house numbered courses with a choice of grading systems (senior capstone, colloquium, etc.), departments have the option of awarding regular grades only (A,B,C,D,E) or alternative grades S/P/F, as departmental policy dictates.  All students enrolled in that course must be graded by the same system.

Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduates:

4/3/20 Note: During the Spring 2020 term only, and at the discretion of the individual student, any course that is offered for Regular Grades may be graded on a pass/fail basis. More information can be found on the announcement of the temporary policy and an FAQ from the Office of the Registrar. 

For certain courses, a qualified student may elect to register under the pass/fail option. Under such registration, the only final grades available to the student are P (pass) or F (fail).  To receive the grade of P, the student must be doing work comparable to a D or better.  If a course is taken under the pass/fail option, the grade of P or F will be permanently recorded.  If the course is passed, the units of credit will be applied toward graduation.  Pass/fail grades are NOT included in the GPA.

Undergraduate students may elect to take courses under the pass/fail option only after they have attained sophomore standing and only if they have earned grade-point-averages (GPAs) of 2.000 or better.  

Courses taken under the pass/fail option must be electives only, and may not be used to fulfill general education, major, minor, or other specified curriculum requirements.

Students registering for a course under the pass/fail option must meet the prerequisites or otherwise satisfy the instructor of their ability to take the course.

Undergraduate students may register under the pass/fail option for not more than 2 courses per semester up to a maximum of 12 courses.  Further, they must carry a minimum of 12 course units graded with regular grades during each term in which they take courses under the pass/fail option.  Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the student's academic dean.

Students may change from pass/fail enrollment to enrollment for a regular grade, or vice versa, only during the time period prior to the last day of the fourth calendar week (Fall and Spring) during which classes are held, except with special permission of the student's college dean.

Each department decides which of its courses will be available under the pass/fail option.  Further, the instructor of the course must approve when it is offered for pass/fail. The instructor's class roster will serve as notification of any students enrolled in the class under the pass/fail option.

Courses that are available for pass/fail are designated as such in the Schedule of Classes as "Available: Pass/Fail."

Student Teaching:  pass/fail grades are the only grades available for FSHD 489, TTE 493A, and TTE 493B. Enrollment in these courses will not reduce the amount for which a student can otherwise enroll under the pass/fail option.

Pass/Fail Option for Graduate Students: 

4/3/20 Note: During the Spring 2020 term only, and at the discretion of the individual student, any course that is offered for Regular Grades may be graded on a pass/fail basis. More information can be found on the announcement of the temporary policy and an FAQ from the Office of the Registrar. 

For certain courses, a graduate student may elect to register under the Pass/Fail option. Under such registration, the only final grades available to the student are P (pass) or F (fail). To receive the grade of P, the student must be doing work comparable to a C or better. If a course is taken under the Pass/Fail option, the grade of P or F will be permanently recorded. If the course is passed, the units of credit may be applied toward the degree at the discretion of the student'smajor advisor. Pass/Fail grades are NOT included in the GPA.

Students registering for a course under the Pass/Fail option must meet the prerequisites or otherwise satisfy the instructor of their ability to take the course.

Students may register under the Pass/Fail option for not more than 2 courses per semester. Students may change from Pass/Fail enrollment to enrollment for a regular grade, or vice versa, only during the time period prior to the last day of the fourth calendar week (Fall and Spring) during which classes are held, except with special permission of the Dean, Graduate College.

The department determines which of its courses will be available under the Pass/Fail option, but this is subject to approval by the instructor teaching the course. Graduate students may take courses offered by the College of Law for Pass/Fail for graduate credit. Graduate students who need to complete admission deficiencies or who wish to take undergraduate courses for Pass/Fail may do so, but they will not earn graduate credit for those courses. The instructor shall be informed by the Office of the Registrar which students are enrolled under the Pass/Fail option.

Courses that are available for Pass/Fail are designated as such in the Schedule of Classes as "Available: Pass/Fail."

I Incomplete Grade:

The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a term, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded in place of a failing grade or when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case, a grade other than I must be assigned.  Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end of the term.

Instructors are encouraged to use the Report of Incomplete Grade form as a contract with the student as to what course work must be completed by the student for the I grade to be removed and replaced with a grade. On the form, the instructor states:  (1) which assignments or exams should be completed and when; (2) how this work will be graded; and (3) how the student's course grade will be calculated. Both the instructor and student sign this agreement and both should retain copies.

After the course work is completed, the instructor should assign the appropriate grade on the UAccess Grade Roster.  After posting, the new grade will be included in the calculation of the student's GPA.

If the incomplete grade is not removed by the instructor within one year (the last day of finals one year later), the I grade will convert to a failing grade. For undergraduate courses, the one-year limit may be extended for one additional year if, prior to converting to an E, the extension is approved by the instructor and the dean of the college in which the student is registered. For graduate courses, the one-year extension must be approved by the instructor and Graduate College dean. This extension requires the instructor and dean's signature on a Petition for Extension of Course Work. Notification of the dean's approval or denial is to be provided to the student by the dean's office. A copy of the approved or denied Petition must then be forwarded from the dean's office to the Office of the Registrar, Administration 210, for appropriate processing. Once the I has converted to an E, a one-year extension will only be considered for an undergraduate course if the student submits an appeal to the University General Petition Committee.  Additionally, a request for an extension of time beyond 2 academic years of the original course enrollment requires approval by the General Petition Committee. For courses taken for graduate credit, an extension beyond 2 academic years may be considered only by the Graduate College.

W Withdrawal, Dropping a Course:

11/10/20 Note: Grades of W taken in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 will be excluded from the 18-unit limit for Undergraduate students. Students who have already reached the 18 unit limit from other terms will be able to withdraw from individual classes until the applicable deadline. More information can be found on the announcements of the temporary policies from Spring 2020 and Fall 2020, and on the Information and Updates pages for Spring 2020 and Fall 2020. 

Early in the semester or term, (see Dates & Deadlines) official withdrawal (drop) of a course cancels the registration for the course.No approval is needed. No grade for the course will appear on the student's permanent record. Note that the first withdrawal deadline differs for undergraduate and graduate courses. 

Until the second withdrawal deadline, (see Dates & Deadlines), students may use UAccess Student Self-Service to withdraw from a course. No approval is needed. The grade of W is awarded regardless of whether the student is passing at the time of withdrawal.  The W will appear on the student's permanent record but does not affect the student's grade-point-average (GPA).

After the second withdrawal deadline, the grade of W can be awarded only with the approval of the student's instructor and academic dean, and only under exceptional circumstances. Students with extenuating circumstances must petition with their college dean for permission to drop a course. The student's final course-withdrawal (drop) deadline differs for undergraduate and graduate courses. 

W Grade Unit Maximum:  The number of undergraduate course withdrawals (drops) cannot exceed 18 units during the student's undergraduate career; the 18-unit limit will be reset once a student completes a bachelor's degree at the University and begins a Second Bachelor's Degree (does not apply to concurrent degrees).  The 18-unit maximum applies to all courses dropped with a W grade.  The W grade is awarded for all withdrawals between the first and final withdrawal deadlines--from the third week through the thirteenth week of a regular semester (including those awarded for administrative drops or for approved Late Change Petitions).

11/10/20 Note: Grades of W taken in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 will be excluded from the 18-unit limit for Undergraduate students. Students who have already reached the 18 unit limit from other terms will be able to withdraw from individual classes until the applicable deadline. More information can be found on the announcements of the temporary policies from Spring 2020 and Fall 2020, and on the Information and Updates pages for Spring 2020 and Fall 2020.

WC Withdrawal, Complete Withdrawal and Retroactive Withdrawal from the University:

In the case of complete Withdrawal from the University, if a student withdraws before the end of the second week of classes in a regular semester (before the end of the fourth week for graduate and  professional students), no classes show on the student's permanent record.  If a student withdraws from the University after the second week of classes during a regular semester (after the fourth week for graduate and professional students) and before the final exam period, the grade of WC (withdrawal-complete) is awarded for all classes processed in the complete withdrawal.  WC grades are NOT included in the GPA and are not included in the 18-unit W maximum. The refund schedule is listed for each term in the Registration Dates and Deadlines calendar.

O Audit Grade:

The grade of O is awarded for courses taken for audit.  Audit grades are not awarded unless the student is registered for audit.  (In the case of COOP 100, students are automatically registered for audit.)   Audit grades are NOT included in the GPA.  See the audit policy for details and the use of WO and XO grades.

CR Credit:

The grade of CR is a passing grade awarded for courses taken by Special Examination for Credit. Failing grades are not recorded.  The CR grade is NOT included in the GPA.

CR grade for 930 house numbered courses:  the grade of CR is awarded upon completion of degree requirements.

(Blank) No Grade Submitted:

No grade indicator is entered when an instructor fails to submit grades for all students in a course by the grade reporting deadline at the end of the term.  Prior to Spring 2003, students were awarded a temporary grade of 'Y' after the grade reporting deadline and prior to receiving the final grade from the instructor.

Consistent with current practice, if grades are issued for some but not all students in a class, those students who were not awarded a grade by the instructor will be awarded an administrative grade of 'E' by the Registrar's Office.