Grading Policy

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Grading System

(SCU Policy 5.5.6.1)

At the end of the academic period, each student shall receive a course letter grade that may be based upon written, oral and practical examinations, fulfillment of reading assignments, attendance and/or conduct. Consideration of attendance and conduct shall not constitute more than 10 percent of the final grade. The official Southern California University of Health Sciences grading system uses whole letter grades without pluses or minuses. Passing grades in graduate programs include A, B, C and P; undergraduate programs also include the D grade as passing. A grade of F shall be given when a student has failed a course or has not satisfied all of the course requirements. A grade of Incomplete (“I”) shall indicate that the student’s work is incomplete and that completion is pending with approval of the Dean, Chair, and/or Instructor as appropriate. In trimester-model programs, incomplete grades automatically become F grades when the work is not satisfactorily completed within 2 academic calendar weeks of the end of the term (typically Friday of week 2 of the next academic term). Programs on other academic calendars may have other published timelines. The following grades and transcript designations indicate the quality of work:

The following grades and transcript designations indicate the quality of work:

Grade Points

(SCU Policy 5.5.6.2)

Grade points determine the student’s general average and are a measure of the quality of work done, as trimester units are a measure of quantity. These points are assigned as follows:

4 grade points for each unit of grade A
3 grade points for each unit of grade B
2 grade points for each unit of grade C
1 grade point for each unit of grade D
0 grade points for each unit of grade F or I
0 grade points for each unit of grade W or WF
0 grade points for each unit of grade P

A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 is placed on academic probation. Any student placed on academic probation will be evaluated by the Academic Review and Support Committee to determine an appropriate action. (Please see Academic Probation Policy  for additional information.)

Grade Changes

(SCU Policy 5.5.6.3)

Grade points determine the student’s general average and are a measure of the quality of work done, as units are a measure of quantity. These points are assigned as follows:

4 grade points for each unit of grade A
3 grade points for each unit of grade B
2 grade points for each unit of grade C
1 grade point for each unit of grade D (undergraduate)
0 grade points for each unit of grade F or I
0 grade points for each unit of grade W or WF
0 grade points for each unit of grade P (>70% in all graduate programs, >60% in all undergraduate programs)

A student whose term and/or cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 is placed on academic probation. Any student placed on academic probation will be evaluated by the Academic Review and Support Committee to determine an appropriate action. (Please see Academic Probation Policy  for additional information.)