Each letter
grade has a specific numeric value assigned to it [EXCEPT for Withdrawal
(W), Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) or Audit (AU), which have no numeric value
and are not calculated in a student's GPA]. CSUSM courses numbered below
100 are also not included in the GPA calculation.
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/WU |
0 |
3 |
0 |
The student's GPA is
determined by dividing the total number of units attempted into the
total number of grade points awarded. Thus, if a student
takes four 3-unit courses and receives 3 B's and 1 C, then the student's
GPA is as follows:
|
Grade |
Units |
Total Grade Points
(Multiply Units by
Grade Points) |
|
B |
3 |
9 |
|
B |
3 |
9 |
|
B |
3 |
9 |
|
C |
3 |
6 |
Total Units = 12
Total Grade Points = 33
Total Units (12) divided into Total Grade Points (33) = 2.75 GPA
Plus
and Minus Grade Points:
While the GPA
gives a student a ranking on the traditional 4.0 scale, plus and minus
grade points tell students exactly how far they are above or below a 2.0
GPA.
|
A = 4.0 |
C = 2.0 |
|
A-
= 3.7 |
C-
= 1.7 |
|
B+ = 3.3 |
D+ = 1.3 |
|
B
= 3.0 |
D
= 1.0 |
|
B-
= 2.7 |
D-
= 0.7 |
|
C+ = 2.3 |
F/WU
= 0 |
The number of
points below a 2.0 GPA is termed a grade point deficiency. Students must
keep track of their grade point deficiencies especially if they are on
academic probation.
For each A,
students receive +2 times the number of units for the course. For each
B, students receive +1 times the number of units for the course. For
each C earned, students do not earn plus or minus grade points. For each
D, F or WU, students accumulate minus grade points for not meeting
expectations.
Consider the
following example, using the following chart:
|
|
1 Unit |
2 Units |
3 Units |
4 Units |
5 Units |
|
A |
+2 |
+4 |
+6 |
+8 |
+10 |
|
B |
+1 |
+2 |
+3 |
+4 |
+5 |
|
C |
+0 |
+0 |
+0 |
+0 |
+0 |
|
D |
-1 |
-2 |
-3 |
-4 |
-5 |
|
F/U |
-2 |
-4 |
-6 |
-8 |
-10 |
Example
A student
earns the following grades in a semester
-
"A" - 3 units = +6
-
"C" - 3 units = +0
-
"D" - 2 units = -2
-
"F" - 4 units = -8
This student has
earned a total of -4 grade points for the semester. It will be necessary
for this student to earn at least 4 units of "B" (and no grade less than
"C") to bring the GPA to the 2.0.
Probation and subsequent disqualification occurs whenever students do
not earn enough plus grade points to offset the number of minus grade
points accumulated. Once on probation, C grades do not help to reduce
minus grade points.
Students must earn
grades higher than a “C” to improve their standing and reduce or
eliminate grade point deficiencies.
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