What does Pass/No Pass mean?

Colleges & Universities University of Southern California
1

<p>I’ve heard USC has this pass/no pass policy for classes, but I didn’t quite fully grasp the entire concept when I read it on the website. Does P/NP affect GPA? It says that you can’t use it towards a minor or major (unless with permission); and you can use it for one gen. ed requirement. But then I don’t understand why it says a max of 24 credits. Any help? Thanks :)</p>

<p>From USC website:</p>

<p>Credit/No Credit and Pass/No Pass Grades</p>

<p>USC uses the following grading system:</p>

<pre><code>* CR = credit (passing grade for a non–letter graded course equivalent to “B” or 3.0 quality or better for graduate credit and “C–” or 1.7 for undergraduate credit)

  • NC = no credit (for a non–letter–graded course equivalent to a “B” or less for graduate and less than “C–” for undergraduate)
  • P = pass (passing grade equivalent to a “B” or 3.0 quality or better for graduate and “C–” or 1.7 for an undergraduate credit course taken on a Pass/No Pass basis)
  • NP = no pass (less than the equivalent of a “B” for a graduate or “C–” for an undergraduate for a letter–graded course taken on a Pass/No Pass basis).
    </code></pre>

<p>Credit/No Credit Policies
Certain courses have been authorized by the University Curriculum Committee to be graded Credit/No Credit. The Registration page in the USC Catalogue specifies whether or not a course is designated as Credit/No Credit. Students may not enroll in a course on a Credit/No Credit basis unless the course is listed as being offered as Credit/No Credit.</p>

<p>Pass/No Pass Policies</p>

<p>Graduate Students
Graduate students must receive departmental approval to enroll in a graduate course on a Pass/No pass basis. To enroll, students must complete the Pass/No Pass Request for Change of Program; enrollment is not available by Touch–Tone telephone. SPPD will not allow graduate students to apply courses taken on a pass/no pass basis towards an SPPD degree.</p>

<p>Undergraduate Students
Undergraduates may take one General Education Course Pass/No pass. Otherwise, no coursework taken Pass/No pass may be applied to the degree or the minor. No coursework may be taken Pass/No pass for minor programs.</p>

<p>A maximum of 24 units of undergraduate course work taken on a pass/no pass basis may be used toward an undergraduate degree and a maximum of 4 of these 24 units may be applied to the general education requirements. Use of pass/no pass course work to fulfill major requirements must be approved in writing by the academic department. Individual academic departments may have placed further restrictions on whether a course taken on a pass/no pass basis can be used to fulfill specific requirements. For additional information, please go to the Undergraduate Students page in the Requirements for Graduation section of the USC Catalogue.</p>

<p>For additional information, go to the Academic Standards page in the USC Catalogue.</p>

2

<p>bumpppp :)</p>

3

<p>I am not sure what your question is - the whole policy is right there. I’ll try to clarify.</p>

<p>-CR/NC and P/NP are not calculated in your GPA
-Max of 24 units. They want you to take the majority of your classes for a grade.
-What would you use it for? For the extra 2 units you have - you can take a PE class or sailing class or music class/lessons or Freshman Seminar and not have to stress about it impacting your GPA. If you have one GE class you think might be most challenging for you to do well in, you can take it P/NP to keep a “C” from lowering your GPA.</p>

4

<p>OHHH. Okay! I see. We don’t have this in my high school - everything counts towards gpa :frowning: Thanks! I get it now :)</p>