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Out-of-Class Courses
In order for students with irreconcilable conflicts to be able to
complete graduation requirements on schedule, it is sometimes
necessary to allow instruction in an out-of-class setting. To take a
course out of class:
1. The course must be 2000-, 3000-, or 4000-level.
2. Students must obtain approval from the associate/assistant
dean of the school or the department chair, the faculty
member teaching the course, and the advisor.
Out-of-class course approval forms are available in the Office
of the Registrar. Exceptions to the course level requirement listed
above must be approved by the respective faculty member,
advisor, and and the associate/assistant dean of the school or
department chair.
Course Numbers and Designations
The course numbers are designed to help students select
courses at the appropriate level. The University uses the following
system:
1. The first number indicates the year in which the course
is usually taken. Freshmen and College Now students
normally take 1000-level courses; sophomores,
1000-level or 2000-level courses; juniors, 2000-level or
3000-level courses; and seniors, 3000-level or 4000-level
courses. College Now Students are limited to 1000-level
or 2000-level courses unless approved by dean of
undergraduate students. Courses beyond the degree
student’s classification should be taken with the consent of
the instructor and academic advisor.
2. The alphabetical prefixes in the course designations
indicate content divisions within academic departments.
For example, the prefix “BTHT” indicates that the course is
a theology course in the School of Biblical and Theological
Studies.
The semester that the course is offered is shown in the
University catalog following the course title as follows: Fa – fall;
Sp – spring; and Su – summer. The number to the right of the
course title indicates credit given in semester hours. The University
reserves the right to offer or withhold any of the courses listed.
Alternate Year Courses
Some departments offer courses on alternate years. These are
designated as “even years” or “odd years” based on the first school
year number. Example: 2015–16 is an odd year.
Grading System
A
Recognizes excellent achievement. It is indicative of superior
quality work and reveals a thorough mastery of the subject
matter. The student receiving this grade should demonstrate
enough interest to do some independent investigation beyond
the actual course requirements.
B
Indicates work and achievement that are well above average.
The student receiving this grade should be capable of doing
advanced work in this field. The quality of the work should be
considered better than that achieved by the average student.
C
Indicates average achievement and a satisfactory meeting of
requirements.
D
Reveals inferior accomplishment and is generally
unsatisfactory from the standpoint of course requirements.
This is the lowest grade for which credit can be earned.
F
Failing grade. It indicates very unsatisfactory work. No course
credit is earned.
AU
Given when a course is audited. To receive this notation, the
student must attend and participate in the course. No credit is
earned.
CR
Given when credit has been granted. It also applies to
the credit/no credit program in which credit is received for
satisfactory (“C” average or higher) performance in the
course. A course in which a CR has been earned counts
toward the total graduation requirements but is not used in the
computation of GPAs.
CE
Credit for the course has been earned by an examination
administered by the University or another recognized testing
agency or program.
I
Signifies an incomplete and is a temporary grade given when
a student is unable to complete the course work on time
because of extraordinary circumstances, such as illness,
emergency, or other reasonable cause. This temporary grade
does not influence the student’s GPA. To be considered for an
incomplete, the student must be passing the course and have
completed the majority of the course work. The instructor
giving the incomplete will establish an appropriate completion
date with the student. This date may extend to the end of the
semester following the one in which the course was taken. If
the work is not completed by the designated date, the “I” will
be changed to an “F” and will be calculated as such in the
student’s GPA.
INC
Indicates a permanent incomplete, a grade assigned in
special situations by the faculty member with the approval
of the Vice President for Academics. This permanent grade
does not influence the student’s GPA. To receive a permanent
incomplete, the faculty member should submit the appropriate
form to the Registrar identifying the circumstances warranting
this special grade. If a permanent incomplete is awarded, the
grade may not be changed at a future date. To receive credit
for the course, the student must again register for the course
and complete the course requirements.
K
Signifies credit and accompanies courses transferred from
other colleges or universities. It has no effect upon cumulative
GPA.
NC
Indicates no credit has been earned. Credit hours for which
an “NC” has been earned are not used in the computation of
GPAs.
NP
Indicates that the student did not pass a course where the
credits do not count toward the graduation requirements.
Basic English and Intermediate Algebra are examples of such
courses.
NR
Indicates that the faculty member did not submit the grade in
time for it to appear on the grade card.
P
Indicates that the student performed satisfactory work (“C-”
average or better) in a course where the credits do not count
toward graduation, such as Basic English or Intermediate
Algebra.
W
Indicates that the student withdrew from the course between
the second and ninth weeks of the semester.
WP
Indicates that the student is passing when a course is
dropped during the 10th and 11th weeks of the semester.
WF
Used during the 10th and 11th weeks of the semester if the
student is failing at the time of withdrawal.
Z
Indicates that the student did not complete the course but did
not officially withdraw. A “Z” is treated in the same manner as
an “F” grade when figuring the GPA.
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2015–16 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Academic Information
Grading System