SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

SIPA Grading System

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GRADING SCALE

SIPA uses a standard A-F grading scale:

Grade	GPA Equivalent
A+	4.33
A (Excellent)	4.00
A-	3.67
B+	3.33
B (Good)	3.00 (*A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing and to graduate)
B-	2.67
C+	2.33
C (Fair)	2.00
C-	1.67
D+	1.33
D (Poor)	1.00
F (Failure)	0.00 (*A final grade that is not subject to reexamination)
P (Pass)	N/A

 

P Pass

The grade of P (pass): Core, concentration, and specialization courses cannot be taken pass/fail.  Students can opt to take only elective courses on a pass/fail basis. There is no limit to the number of elective courses that can be taken pass/fail.*  Please note the regulations below regarding taking a course pass/fail:

• Instructor's permission is not required to change the grading option to P/F (pass/fail). However instructors can opt to have a course blocked from pass/fail registration.
•  Students can change the grading option to P/F (pass/fail) online during the Add/Drop period (first two weeks of classes) and at any time via a Registration Add/Drop Form until the "last day to change grading option" on the Academic Calendar (the ninth week of classes every semester).
• Once a grading option of Pass/fail is selected, it cannot be changed back to letter grade.
• A grade of Pass is not figured into a student's grade point average. Certain courses, such as one-point mini-courses, Professional Development, and Computer Skills are offered only on a Pass/Fail basis.

* For students in the MPA-DP program, courses taken pass/fail will not count toward the 54 credits required to graduate, with the exception of short courses that are only offered on a pass/fail basis.

GRADING NOTATIONS

The mark of R (registered for the course; no qualitative grade assigned):

• Courses taken for R credit do not count toward the 54 points required for the MIA or MPA degree.  Students enrolled for R credit receive no academic credit
• Students who wish to be given R credit for a course must request permission from the instructor no later than the "last day to change grading option" on the Academic Calendar (the fifth week of classes every semester).  
• Instructors are not obligated to grant a student’s request for “R” credit.
• Taking a course for “R” credit exempts a student only from the final exam unless otherwise agreed upon by the instructor.  Students can fail an “R” credit course if they do not meet the agreed upon course requirements.
• Once awarded, the grade is not subject to change, nor may a course that has been taken for R credit be repeated for a qualitative grade (A-F).
• The grade of R will be posted at the END of the semester to ensure that the student continues to attend the course.
• R credit courses appear on a student’s transcript and the University charges full tuition for R credit registration.

The mark of W (Withdrawal): Given to a student who drops a course after the end of the add/drop period but by the date noted on the SIPA Academic Calendar as the “Last day to drop a course (W posted)” (fifth week of the semester).  Students cannot drop/withdraw from a course after this deadline. 

 The mark of UW (Unofficial Withdrawal): 

• Given to a student who discontinues attendance in a course, without submitting an official request to withdraw prior to the stated deadline on the SIPA Academic Calendar (fifth week of classes).
• A “UW” is a permanent grade and will remain on the transcript even if the student repeats the course.

  The mark of IN (Incomplete):

• Incompletes are only granted in cases of incapacitating illness, serious family emergencies, or in circumstances of comparable gravity.   Incompletes are granted and/or denied at the discretion of the course instructors.
• A student requesting an “IN” must have satisfactorily met the requirements of a course except for the completion of certain assignments or the final examination.  
• To receive an Incomplete, a student must submit a request form to the Dean's Office, having first obtained approval from the Instructor.  If requesting an “IN” in more than one course, you must first speak with one of the Deans in the Office for Student Affairs.
• In the School of International and Public Affairs the “IN” must be completed by the end of the following semester unless a shorter time period is otherwise stipulated by the instructor. If not removed within the stated time, the “IN” will be converted to a UW. Students are advised to avoid incompletes as they are a counterindication of satisfactory progress toward the MIA and MPA degrees.
• Students with two or more grades of IN will have a registration hold placed on their account.

The mark of AB (Absent from the Final Examination): Granted by the instructor, not later than the day of the examination, to a student whose attendance and progress have been satisfactory and who cannot be present because of sickness or some other extreme emergency, which must be substantiated. The student must make arrangements with the instructor to remove the AB.

The mark of YC (Year Course):A temporary mark given at the end of the first term of a course in which the full year's work must be completed before a qualitative grade is assigned. The grade given at the end of the second term is the grade for the entire course.

The mark of CP (Credit Pending):Given in graduate research courses in which student research projects regularly extend beyond the end of the term. Upon completion, a final qualitative grade is assigned and credit allowed. The mark of CP implies satisfactory progress.

 

Academic Progress: Students must maintain a 3.0 minimum cumulative grade point average for all courses applicable to the MIA or MPA degree.  A student whose performance does not meet these standards may not be permitted to continue to enroll in the degree program and appropriate action will be taken by the School. If at the end of a semester a graduate student fails to meet the GPA requirement, or accumulates 2 or more INC grades, or in other ways fails to meet the standards for progress, the student will receive a written warning concerning the lack of academic progress. The student must remedy the problem within one semester. Failure to re-establish satisfactory academic standing may result in dismissal from SIPA, subject to review by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. A student who is dismissed must wait a minimum of one calendar year from the date of dismissal before applying for readmission to the graduate program.

Satisfactory academic progress for a full-time student is defined as a minimum GPA of 3.00 and completing a minimum of 9 credits per term toward the degree. Full-time students who do not earn this minimum number of credits will have a Dean's Hold placed on their registration.

A Dean's Hold prevents a student from registering for classes and from receiving the degree. Students with two or more IN or UW or one or more grades of F will have their registration placed on Dean's Hold. In serious cases of unsatisfactory performance, a Dean's Hold may lead to dismissal from the School upon recommendation by the Committee of Deans. Students who are placed on Dean's Hold must be granted permission to register by the Associate Dean.

Effective Fall 2011: Students are required to complete all of the MIA or MPA degree requirements within five years of the first semester of matriculation at SIPA. 

Revised 2011