Coursework, Grading and Academic Standing

Course Numbering System at the University of Massachusetts

001-099		Noncredit
100-199		Lower division undergraduate; freshman level.
200-299		Lower division undergraduate; sophomore level.
300-399		Upper division undergraduate; junior level.
400-499		Upper division undergraduate; senior level. Graduate credit may be awarded only to candidates outside the department's own graduate program when taught by a member of the Graduate Faculty.
500-599		Combined graduate/undergraduate; suitable for graduate and upper division undergraduate students.
600-699		Master's or first-year graduate courses
700-899		Doctoral or advanced graduate courses
900-999		Post-terminal degree

Fixed Numbers (Graduate/Undergraduate)

590		Experimental courses
591-595		Seminars, variable titles
596		Independent study/Special Problems courses
597		Special topics seminars, variable titles

Fixed Numbers (Graduate)

690, 790, 890		Experimental courses
691-695, 791-795, 891-895		Seminars, variable titles
696, 796, 896		Independent study/Special Problems courses
697, 797, 897		Special topics seminars, variable titles
698		Practicum/Field Experience
699		Master's thesis
899		Doctoral dissertation

Retaking Courses

Unless otherwise noted a course may be taken more than once but may be offered only once toward degree requirements. All enrollments and all grades will appear on the transcript and will count in the cumulative grade point average.

Grading Policy

The following letter grades can be given to graduate students in graduate-level courses: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, F. These grades carry the following numerical equivalents for purposes of computing cumulative averages: A = 4.000, A- = 3.700, B+ = 3.300, B = 3.000, B- = 2.700, C+ = 2.300, C = 2.000, and F = 0. Graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses may receive grades of C-, D+ and D (C- = 1.700, D+ = 1.300, D = 1.000).

Satisfactory

The grade of Satisfactory (SAT) may be assigned as an alternative to a letter grade. The grade of 'SAT' is equivalent to 'Passing for Graduate Credit', which requires an underlying letter grade of C or higher.  Students should check with their instructor at the beginning of the semester regarding the instructor's policy about pass/fail grades. A minimum of one-half of the total required credits for a master's degree must be on a letter-graded basis. Any portion of the remaining credits may be graded Satisfactory subject to prior approval by the student's department/program. The decision as to which courses may be taken on a pass/fail basis (graded SAT) rests with the department rather than with the individual student.

Incompletes

Students who are unable to complete course requirements within the allotted time may request a grade of Incomplete from the instructor of the course. Normally, incomplete grades are warranted only if a student is passing the course at the time of the request. Instructors who turn in a grade of "INC" are required to leave a written record of the following information with the departmental office of the academic department under which the course is offered: (1) the percentage of work completed, (2) the grade earned by the student on the completed work, (3) a description of the work that remains to be completed, (4) a description of the method by which the student is to complete the unfinished work, and (5) the date by which the work is to be completed. In the case of an independent study where the entire grade is determined by one paper or project, the instructor should leave with the department information pertaining to the paper or project, which will complete the course.

When the grade of Incomplete (INC) is assigned, the student must contact the instructor to determine what must be done to complete the course and the date by which the work is to be completed. A student can obtain credit for an "incomplete" only by finishing the work of the course before the end of one calendar year from the time of enrollment in that course. At the end of that period, if a grade is not submitted an IF (Incomplete Failure) will be recorded. The initiative in arranging for the removal of an "incomplete" rests with the student. This regulation does not apply to thesis and dissertation credits but does apply to terminal project credits.

Academic Average for Graduate Degrees

In the courses which a student is offering to satisfy degree requirements, a minimum standard for satisfactory work is a 3.000 average.

Academic Dismissal

A student who in any two semesters, consecutive or otherwise, has semester averages of below 2.800 is subject to academic dismissal upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Director and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Satisfactory or Reasonable Academic Progress

A student must make satisfactory and reasonable progress toward completion of a degree program within the Statute of Limitations for that degree. A student who is not making satisfactory or reasonable progress is subject to academic dismissal.

Thesis and Dissertation Credits

(Thesis 699 and Dissertation 899) The required number of thesis and dissertation credits varies by program. They range up to a maximum of 10 for master's theses and from a minimum of 10 to 18 for doctoral dissertations. No student is exempt from this requirement; normal tuition rates will apply. These credits will be graded IP (In Progress) until the thesis or dissertation has been accepted by the Graduate School at which time these credits will be converted to SAT (Satisfactory).

Transfer of Courses and Credits Taken Over and Above Credits Earned For a Bachelor's Degree

An undergraduate student in the senior year at any of the Five College institutions, including the University, who will earn during that year more credits than are needed for the bachelor's degree may register concurrently for graduate credits at the University of Massachusetts after securing the permission of the graduate course instructor. The student registers for these credits in the normal registration process. The Graduate School will accept a maximum of six credits earned via this method, provided that (1) the student is accepted into a Master's program, (2) the student's graduate program director recommends the transfer, and (3) the undergraduate registrar certifies that the courses were over and above those needed by the student for the Bachelor's degree. Acceptance of such courses follows transfer guidelines in force at the time of petition.  Approved Accelerated Master's Programs allow transfer of a larger number of credits.