Understanding Grades and Grading
Your one-stop shop for understanding grades, how grading works, calculating your GPA and university policies regarding grading. For more detailed information on grading policies and academic regulations, visit the University Catalog.
Grades are available approximately 3 weeks after the end of each semester. You may check your grades online through the MyCSULB Student Center. To do so you will need your campus identification number. For assistance with setting up your password and/or navigating MyCSULB Student Center, contact the Technology Help Desk.
If you suspect an error with your grades, please contact your instructor to discuss the discrepancy. A request for a grade change must be requested within one term from the date your grade was assigned.
Instructors are required to assign a final grade for each student registered for a course. The following grades are used to report the quality of a student's work at CSULB.
| Grade | Calculated In GPA?* | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | Yes | Performance of the student has been at the highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting an unusual degree of intellectual initiative. |
| B | Yes | Performance of the student has been at a high level, showing consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements. |
| C | Yes | Performance of the student has been at an adequate level, meeting the basic requirements of the course. |
| D | Yes | Performance of the student has been less than adequate, meeting only the minimum course requirements. |
| F | Yes | Performance of the student has been such that minimal course requirements have not been met. |
| I | No | Incomplete Per CSULB Policy Statement 22-02, an Incomplete ("I") grade may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when the student has successfully completed a substantial majority (approximately two thirds or more) of the course requirements. The Incomplete grade provides students an extended period of time to complete course requirements. |
| WU/U | Yes | Unauthorized Withdrawal Per CSULB Policy Statement 22-01, the symbol “WU” indicates that an enrolled student did not complete course requirements but did not withdraw from the course. It is used when, according to the instructor, completion of assignments and/or course activities was insufficient to evaluate academic performance in the course as a whole (letter grades “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “F”, or an “I”). If a student is assigned a letter grade for partial work instead of a “WU,” it will be assumed that the student earned that grade, and the student will not be able to request a retroactive “WE” at a later time. |
| AU | No | Audit Enrollment as an auditor is subject to permission of the instructor, provided that enrollment in a course as auditor only after credit students have had an opportunity to enroll. Once enrolled as an auditor, a student may not change to credit status unless such a change is requested prior to the last day to add classes. |
| CR | No | Credit: Usually equivalent to an A, B, or C See “Credit/No Credit Options” for detailed information. |
| NC | No | No Credit: Usually equivalent to a D, F or WU. See “Credit/No Credit Options” for detailed information. |
| RD | No | Report Delayed This grading symbol is used by administrative staff when a department does not submit a course grade sheet. |
| RP | No | Report In Progress This grading symbol is used in connection with courses requiring multiple enrollment, i.e. that extend beyond one academic term. |
| W | No | Withdrawal This grading symbol is used when the student was permitted to withdraw from a course after the second week of instruction with the approval of the instructor and appropriate campus official. (See Dropping and Withdrawing.) |
| WE | No | Withdrawal for Extenuating Circumstances This grading symbol is used when the student was permitted to withdraw from a course for extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. (See Dropping and Withdrawing.) |
* For graduate students taking 100 and 200 level courses, grades assigned will not be factored into overall GPA.
Instructors may provide mid-term progress reports to students at the midpoint of the term. These grades do not appear on students' transcripts or affect their GPAs. It can be beneficial for students to review their progress and develop plans to maintain or improve their performance in class.
Since mid-term progress reports are voluntary, you may not receive mid-term progress reports for your classes. Instructors can submit mid-term progress reports in the fall and spring semesters.
Students are able to view this information for the current term in MyCSULB Student Center.
If you are unable to complete all of the assigned work for a class and there is still a possibility for earning credit, you must contact your instructor to review the possibility of receiving an Incomplete (“I”) grade. Per CSULB Policy Statement 22-02, an Incomplete (“I”) grade may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when the student has successfully completed a substantial majority (approximately two thirds or more) of the course requirements. The Incomplete grade provides students an extended period of time to complete course requirements.
To receive an Incomplete grade:
- The student must contact their instructor to review the possibility of receiving an Incomplete grade.
- If the instructor approves, the instructor must create an Incomplete Grade Agreement in MyCSULB Faculty Center. The agreement will include the conditions for the removal of the Incomplete grade. (Refer to the Faculty Center Teaching Schedule guide for instructions.)
- The student must accept the Incomplete Grade Agreement through MyCSULB Student Center no later than 30 days after the end of the term. (Refer to the MyCSULB Student Center guide for instructions.)
- The student must submit their remaining assignments to the instructor, who will assign the final grade for the class.
- The deadline for the student to complete the remaining assignments outlined in the agreement is one calendar year from the last day of the term in which the Incomplete grade was assigned or by the “Deadline for Completion” indicated in the agreement, whichever is earlier.
The Incomplete Grade Agreement will also include the “Grade Without Further Work,” which will be assigned if the student fails to complete the remaining assignments by the deadline or if the student does not accept the agreement within 30 days of the end of the term.
After the student submits the remaining assignments to the instructor, the instructor will assign the final grade.
You cannot re-enroll for a class for which you have an Incomplete (“I”) grade.
Each letter grade has a specific numeric value assigned to it EXCEPT for:
- Withdrawal for Extenuating Circumstances (WE)
- Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)
- Audit (AU)
- Post Baccalaureate students enrolled in courses numbered 299 or lower.
These have no numeric value and are not calculated in a student's GPA.
A student's total grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of units by the number of grade points associated with each grade assigned.
Consider the following example for a 3-unit course:
| Grade | Numeric Value | Units | Total Grade Points (Multiply Units by Grade Points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| B | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| C | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| D | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| F/U | 0 | 3 | 0 |
- GPA is determined by dividing the total number of units attempted into the total number of grade points awarded.
Example: If a student takes four 3-unit courses and received 3 B's and 1 C, then the student's GPA is as follows;
- Total Units = 12
- Total Grade Points = 33
- Total Units (12) divided into Total Grade Points (33) = 2.75 GPA
Prior to Census, a student can request "Credit/No Credit" (CR/NC) grading for a class. A CR/NC grade will not affect the student's GPA. To enroll in a class on a CR/NC basis, the student must register for the class and then submit a request to change their grading option to CR/NC (refer to Grade Option Change Requests for instructions). Approval of the student's major advisor is required.
CR/NC Restrictions
- In certain majors, a student may not take required courses for CR/NC. Check with your program department for college and departmental restrictions on grading options.
- Certain courses are not eligible to be taken on a CR/NC basis, regardless of the student's major.
Undergraduate students have the following CR/NC limits:
- 24 total units
- 12 upper-division units
- 8 units per semester
These limits include classes taken under the previous pass/fail option. The student may exceed the limits only with the following CR/NC classes:
- Classes taken outside CSULB
- Classes offering CR/NC grading only
- Credit earned by examination only
Students may not reverse their decision and request a letter grade after the deadline for adding classes unless they declare a new major after that deadline and the new major requires a letter grade for the class in question. Under this option, the change must be requested no later than the last day of instruction. The grading option may not be changed retroactively after the end of the semester.
A CR/NC grade will not affect the student’s GPA. The student will receive "Credit" or "No Credit" according to the tables below:
Undergraduates:
| Earned Grade | Issued |
|---|---|
| A, B, or C | Credit |
| D, F, or WU | No Credit |
Graduate Students Only (100- and 200-Level Courses):
| Earned Grade | Issued |
|---|---|
| A, B, or C | No Credit |
| D, F, or WU | No Credit |
Graduate Students Only (300-, 400-, 500- and 600-Level Courses):
| Earned Grade | Issued |
|---|---|
| A or B | Credit |
| C, D, F, or WU | No Credit |
Dean's List (Undergraduate Students Only)
An undergraduate student will be placed on the Dean's list each Fall and Spring term in which the student completes 12 or more graded course units with a semester GPA equal to or greater than 3.500 but less than 3.750. The student will be given a certificate for each term in which this honor is received and a notation will be made on the student's transcript. Students earning less than 12 graded course units per Fall or Spring term will be placed on the Dean's List in the Spring term of the academic year in which they accumulate 12 or more graded course units with an academic year GPA of 3.5 to 3.74.
President's List (Undergraduate Students Only)
An undergraduate student will be placed on the President's list each Fall and Spring term in which the student completes 12 or more graded course units with a semester GPA equal to or greater than 3.750. The student will be given a certificate for each term in which this honor is received and a notation will be made on the student's transcript. Students earning less than 12 graded course units per Fall or Spring term will be placed on the President's List in the Spring term of the academic year in which they accumulate 12 or more graded course units with an academic year GPA of 3.75 to 4.0.
Prior to Census, a student can request to enroll in a class on an Audit (AU) basis. A student who audits a class can attend the class without receiving a recorded grade or academic credit. To enroll in a class on an Audit (AU) basis, submit a request to change their grading option to CR/NC (refer to Grade Option Change Requests for instructions). Approval of the class instructor is required.
Audit Requirements
- Classes taken on an Audit basis are included in the total number of units when paying registration fees.
- Audit requests must be submitted before the deadline to file for an Audit grade option.
- Students must attend class regularly.
- Students may not reverse their decision and request a letter grade after the deadline for adding classes.
