Graduate FAQ

Graduate Grading Pattern FAQs for Spring 2020 Semester (in response to COVID-19)

In light of COVID-19, CSUEB has extended the deadline to give students the opportunity to change their grade type if desired. Please read below for more information about grading patterns. 

This page is intended for courses numbered 500-799, regardless of prefix. There is general advice at the bottom of this web page, but we encourage you to read this page thoroughly.

FAQs

Credit/No Credit.

More information about grading options can be found here.

ABC/NC means that any grade of D+ or lower will result in a NC grade, but grades of C- or higher are entered normally.

More information about grading options can be found here.

Credit/No Credit grades are not calculated in any of your GPAs (CSUEB, Cumulative, Spring Semester 2020, or major).

More information about grading options can be found here.

You can select a different grade type for the Spring Semester, 2020 in MyCSUEB until May 8th. You will select a pattern for each class separately. Instructions are given on p. 5, “Edit a Class” in the online registration instructions. You will have two options to choose from: 
  • ABC/No Credit (NC)
  • Credit(CR)/No Credit (NC)

There is also a video that shows you how to change your grade type. 

  • There could be consequences of changing from a letter grade (ABC/NC) to a CR/NC grade. If you choose CR/NC and would have received an A, you will get CR, which will not positively affect your GPA.  Such a change cannot be undone after May 8. However, if you choose CR/NC and would have received a B-, you will get CR, which will not negatively affect your GPA. That is to say, CR represents any grade between A and B-, but will not affect your grade either positively or negatively.  You will not be able to request a letter grade after May 8.
  • Credit (CR) in graduate courses is assigned when you earn a grade of A to B- and it is a passing grade.  You will earn credit for the course, but it will not affect or change your GPA.
  • In the CR/NC format, No Credit (NC) is reserved for C+ and lower grades and is not considered a passing grade.  If you choose CR/NC and receive “NC,” you will need to retake the course to earn credit, but it will not affect your GPA.

Yes, earning CR for a major course will count for Spring 2020 only towards your graduation requirements. For all other semesters, you will require a letter grade for your major courses.  For majors that require licensure, students should check with their major department to ensure that “CR” will be allowed towards those external requirements.  If you are receiving funding from an external source, such as an employer, you should check with them whether “CR” is an acceptable grade.

No.  Credit/No Credit grades are not calculated in your GPA.

If you select the CR/NC grade type, those grades will not be calculated in your CSUEB GPA, Cumulative GPA, or Spring Semester, 2020 GPA.  Many campuses across the nation are allowing CR/NC as an option and this lessens the likelihood of the grade choice affecting future plans.  It is highly recommended that you speak with your academic advisor to determine possible repercussions with your grade option choices.

Students who would have received a C+ or lower, but chose CR/NC will receive NC.  While this does not change your GPA, it does not count for credit, even if your major program would have accepted “C+” for credit, and it also counts against your “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP) for financial aid purposes which is determined by the state and federal government.

  • If you get an A, A-, B+, B, B-, you will get that grade denoted on your transcript and they will count towards your GPA.
  • If you get a D+, D, or F, this will show as “NC” and will not adversely affect your GPA.

  • If you receive a C+ or C in your course, it will count against your GPA and typically will not give you credit towards your degree.
  • If you receive a C- in your course, it will count against your GPA and it will not count towards your degree.
  • The “NC” will count against “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP) for financial aid, just as is the case with CR/NC.

See your graduate program advisor.

  • To qualify for Financial Aid, students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  Graduate students are required to earn 67% of their attempted units, maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and complete their degree within 150% of their program's published timeframe.  For many master’s programs, the time frame is 30 units. So, the 150% of time frame for such programs would be 45 units attempted.
  • Failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards will result in Financial Aid disqualification. For more information about our Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, please click on the following link: https://www.csueastbay.edu/financialaid/current-students1/get-and-keep-your-aid.html

Failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards will result in Financial Aid disqualification. Students are required to earn 67% of their attempted units (Pace of Progression), maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and complete their degree within 150% of their program's published timeframe. While earning a CR will not have a negative effect on your SAP,  earning an NC may impact the calculation of your Pace of Progression and Maximum Time Frame.   For example, if you take 12 units and receive a NC on 4 units of coursework, you will have attempted 12 units but only earned 8 units for the semester. For more information about our Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, please click on the following link: https://www.csueastbay.edu/financialaid/current-students1/get-and-keep-your-aid.html . For questions, please email the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@csueastbay.edu.

 

Possible implications of selecting CR/NC or ABC/NC as your grade type

  • If you believe you will get an A in the course, you should stay with ABC/NC.
  • If you believe you will get a A- or B+ in the course, you probably will use ABC/NC.  The exceptions might be if the grade will lower your GPA, in which case you might use CR/NC.
  • If you believe you will get a B or B- in the course, you probably will use CR/NC.  However, you should check with your major advisor to see if professional licensure or other external standards require a letter grade.
  • If you believe you will get a C+ or C in the course, you probably should use CR/NC, unless the grade would give you credit towards your degree and will not drop your GPA below 3.0.  However, you will not get credit for the course and will have to repeat it.
  • For grades of C- or below, you should choose CR/NC. 

Summary

  • In summary, the decision will be based upon:
    • The grade you think you will get in the class.  Please ask your instructor about your grade in the class, if it is not clear on Blackboard.  This can be done during office hours or by email.
    • How it will affect your GPA.  For example, if it will raise your GPA, we recommend that you stay with ABC/NC.
    • Whether or not you need the earned credit for either graduation requirements or financial aid purposes.  
    • Whether or not you want the letter grade for applying for professional schools, doctoral study, licensure, or tuition reimbursement from an employer.
    • Keep in mind that grades of “D+” or lower will be recorded as “NC,” regardless of your choice of grade type.