Minimum Grade Requirements
The University considers the following to be the minimum passing grade by course-level:
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Undergraduate
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D = 1.00
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Graduate
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C = 2.00
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Doctoral Sequence
(CMP9000 to CMP9599 and DIS9000 to DIS9599)
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S = N/A
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Doctoral Sequence
(CMP9600+ and DIS9901A+)
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B = 3.00
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NOTE: Doctoral students are required to have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA before entering into CMP courses (comprehensive exam, assessment, portfolio, or prospectus).
Students earning a grade below the minimum must repeat the course or take an alternate course as described below (refer to Repeating Grades, Repeating Doctoral Sequence Courses, and Unsatisfactory Grades for Doctoral Students).
Assignment Deadlines & Final Course Grades
Course policies and procedures regarding the submission of assignments and late submissions are published in all course syllabi. Assignments submitted after the course end date will not be graded and calculated in the final grade for the course.
Incomplete Grades
Students may request an incomplete grade extension if they meet the following requirements:
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An unforeseen circumstance threatens a student’s ability to complete a course by the scheduled course end date.
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The student has completed 75% of the course assignments at the time of request
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The student has a course grade of a “C” average for the assignments submitted at the time of the incomplete grade request
NOTE: The following Doctoral courses are not eligible for an incomplete grade:
Incomplete grade extension requests are submitted to faculty for review. Faculty may approve a request at their discretion if students meet the eligibility criteria listed above. Incomplete grade request decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Repeating Undergraduate & Graduate Content Courses
When an undergraduate or graduate content course has been repeated, the credit used in computing the grade point average is the grade and credit hours earned the last time the repeated course was taken. When a course is repeated, the original course grade will be changed to an “R” (retaken). Some courses may not be eligible for an “R” grade; students should work with their Academic and Finance Advisor to determine course repeat eligibility.
If an alternate course is taken to meet degree requirements for a non-passing course, the grade for both the alternate course and the non-passing course will appear on the student’s transcript and both grades will be used in computing the cumulative GPA.
Students will be required to pay tuition for repeated or alternate courses.
NOTE: Content courses may only be repeated once without prior approval from the Dean or the Program Chair. A denial of a third attempt of a required course or a third failed grade in any course listed on a student’s degree plan as required for graduation will lead to dismissal.
Exception: Passing grades earned in graduate-level courses that are completed as part of a conferred NCU undergraduate degree will not change to an “R” grade if they need to be retaken to satisfy the minimum grade requirements in an NCU Master’s degree program.
Maximum “R” Grade Policy
A student may utilize the “R” grade a maximum of five times in their current program (as defined by the Readmission Policy). If a student retakes a course after they have earned five “R” grades, the original grade and the grade earned during the retake will both appear on the transcript and be used to calculate GPA.
Unsatisfactory Grades for Doctoral Sequence Courses
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CMP9000-CMP9599
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Students who receive a “U” grade in a CMP9000-CMP9599 course must repeat the course. Students who receive a second “U” in the CMP9000-CMP9599 course will be subject to dismissal from the University.
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CMP9600-CMP9799
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Students who earn a non-passing grade in a CMP9600-CMP9799 course must repeat the course. Student who receive a second non-passing grade in the CMP9600-CMP9799 course will be subject to dismissal from the University.
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Exception: Students may request approval from the School Dean for a third attempt at CMP courses. Students who are unable to earn a passing grade in the third CMP attempt will be subject to dismissal from the University
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DIS9000-DIS9599
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Students who receive a third “U” grade in a DIS9000-DIS9599 course is subject to dismissal from the University. This applies to any combination of three “U” grades in the DIS9000-DIS9599 course sequence, whether the three grades are received in the same course or a different course.
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DIS9901A-DIS9904C
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Students who are unable to earn a minimum passing grade of “B” or better by the third course within a dissertation block (DIS990XA, DIS990XB, and DIS990XC) are subject to dismissal from the University.
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Repeating Doctoral Sequence Courses
Students enrolled in course codes CMP9600 through CMP9799 and DIS9901A through DIS9904C may be eligible to earn a Repeated Doctoral Sequence (“RD”) grade for courses that were originally completed with a non-passing grade if subsequent attempts are completed with a “B” or better. Courses awarded an “RD” grade will not be used in GPA calculations. Some courses may not be eligible for an “RD” grade; students should work with their Academic and Finance Advisor to determine Doctoral Sequence course repeat eligibility.
NOTE: A dissertation block consists of a 12-week dissertation course (DIS990XA) and two, 8-week supplemental courses (DIS990XB and DIS990XC). For non-passing grade(s) to be replaced, students must successfully complete the dissertation block with a grade of “B” or better by the end of the second supplemental dissertation course (DIS990XC). Students who earn a non-passing grade in a dissertation block will be automatically scheduled and accepted into the appropriate supplemental course without a break in scheduling to ensure that students remain in continuous enrollment throughout the doctoral sequence.
Maximum “RD” Grade Policy for Doctoral Sequence Courses
A student may utilize the “RD” grade a maximum of ten times during the Doctoral Sequence (CMP9600+ and DIS9901A+). Dean permission is needed prior to attempting the CMP course for a third and final time. During the dissertation block, a student will be allowed a maximum of two “RD” grades per dissertation block.
Administrative Course Codes
Administrative course codes do not contribute to GPA calculation.
| Code |
Explanation |
| DR (Dropped) |
This course code is assigned when a student cancels his/her participation in a course during the first 7 days of a course session. Dropped courses do not appear on the student’s transcript. Students dropping a course are eligible for a full or partial refund in accordance with the University’s refund policy. |
| EXT (Extension) |
An EXT may be granted in rare extenuating circumstances. If a grade has been posted, once an extension is approved, the EXT code can replace that grade until a final grade is determined. An EXT is used for administrative purposes only and will be replaced by the final grade. |
| I (Incomplete) Grade |
An “I” grade is assigned when a faculty member grants a student an incomplete grade extension. “I” grades are used for administrative purposes only and will be replaced with a final academic letter grade once the incomplete extension period ends. |
| NG (No Grade) |
The Offices of the Provost or Registrar authorize use of this code to indicate a student has been allowed to drop a course without academic penalty after the official 7-day drop period. An NG remains permanently on Northcentral records but does not appear on the student’s transcript. An NG may be granted in rare extenuating circumstances.
Reasons for granting an NG code and the name of the approving party must be fully documented in the student journal and on the NG Grade Form, which is retained in student records.
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| R (Retaken) |
An “R” grade is indicated on the transcript when the student repeats an undergraduate or graduate content course and the original grade awarded has been superseded by the later grade (see exceptions listed under Repeating Courses). |
| RD (Repeated Doctoral Sequence) |
An “RD” grade is indicated on the transcript when the student earns a non-passing grade in CMP9600+ or a dissertation block course (DIS990XA, DIS990XB) and repeats the CMP course or completes the subsequent course within the same dissertation block with a grade of “B” or better (see Repeating Doctoral Sequence Courses). |
| W (Withdrawal) |
The student has canceled participation in the course after the 7-day drop period but prior to completing 71% of the course duration. The last date to cancel and receive a “W” rather than a letter grade appears in Course Registration Information for each course.
A withdrawal may only be granted after the first 71% of the course duration if the student has a passing status in the course and the School Dean has given approval. A student may not withdraw from a course after the faculty member has submitted a grade or after the course end date.
Students must send requests to withdraw from a course to his/her Academic and Finance Advisor. No refunds are given when students withdraw on or after the 8th days of a course. If the student elects to repeat the course, full tuition for the retaken course will be charged.
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| WL (Withdrawal Military Leave) |
“WL” indicates that a student has taken a Leave of Absence due to Military Deployment before the course end date. Students returning from a Military Leave of Absence may continue in the course where left off without paying course tuition again. When completed, the “WL” will be replaced by the final academic performance grade. |
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