Grading System, Pass/No Pass, Incomplete and No Grades Reported

Grading in the School of Public Health is based on a 4.0 scale.  The grade of A is used to indicate superior performance; B, for adequate performance; C, for minimally adequate performance.  Performance below C is recorded as an F and negatively affects the students total quality point rating.  Some classes are designated as pass/no pass courses, for which a grade of P (passing) signifies satisfactory work and the grade of NP (not passing) indicates unsatisfactory work.  Temporary notations used by the school are N for no grade reported, I for incomplete.  The letter N denotes late or no submission of a grade by the instructor. An I may be requested by a student and submitted at the instructor's discretion, to indicate that a student has performed satisfactorily in the course but due to unforeseen circumstances has been unable to complete requirements.  Students requesting consideration of an I grade must discuss with the instructor and agree upon a plan and a schedule for completing course requirements and complete a "Request for Incomplete Grade Form".  If no permanent grade is reported by the end of the following term, an F will be automatically assigned to replace the I or N.  Extension of I grades may be granted only upon written request of the instructor to the Academic Dean.

Cumulative Credits and Grade Point Average

Semester Hours Earned: The student's "semester hours earned" are increased by:
1. earning a grade of C or better in a course for which the student was registered on a regular (letter grade) basis, or
2. obtaining the P grade in a course taken on a pass/no pass basis

Semester Hours Attempted: The student's "semester hours attempted" are increased by:
1. receiving an A, B, C or F in a course for which the student was registered on a regular basis, or
2. receiving an NP grade in a course taken on a pass/no pass basis.

Quality Points: Four quality points are awarded for each semester hour for which the student receives a grade of A, three quality points are awarded for each semester hour in which a B is earned, and two quality points are awarded for each semester hour in which a C is earned.  No quality points are earned for P grades.

Grade Point Average: The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total quality points awarded by the semester hours attempted. The transcript will show cumulative GPA's for students who have completed previous graduate work at UAB and those students who are enrolled in dual programs; however, to determine the students current academic status the GPA for each program will be calculated separately by each program.

Course Repeat Policy

Public Health courses may be repeated using the following guidelines:

• Only a course with a grade of C or F is eligible for repeat
• A course can be repeated only once at UAB
• A course taken at UAB earning a grade of C or F that is

      repeated at UAB, will have the credit and GPA of the first course

removed and will have the credit and GPA of the second course retained.

The UAB transcript will show both courses.

• A course taken at another university, that a student requests be transferred to

replace the credit of a C or F graded course at UAB, must have a B or better

grade and follow all transfer of credit guidelines.  In addition, the GPA will

be retained but the credit of the first course dropped and both the credit and

GPA retained for the second course. 

The UAB transcript will show both courses.