Course Information

Out-of-Class Work.  No more than 30 degree credits are awarded for out-of-class work, such as independent study, research, cooperative education courses, and approved School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) internship courses. In those uncommon cases where credit may have been awarded for life experiences, these credits are viewed as out-of-class work. Students wishing to register for more than 8 credits of independent study/research/internship in any one semester must have the approval of the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

Pass/No Credit Courses.  Students who have completed 90 or more credits may take up to two courses (8 credits maximum, one course per semester) on a Pass/No Credit basis. Grades of A, B, and C correspond to Pass; grades of D and F to No Credit. Courses taken in fulfillment of major, minor, and the SAS core curriculum may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis. The Pass/No Credit option may not be exercised if the course potentially will satisfy an outstanding degree requirement. Courses through Rutgers Study Abroad may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis. Students pursuing a second degree through SAS may not use the Pass/No Credit option. Forms to request the Pass/No Credit option are available in the Office of Academic Services or online at sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/forms and must be submitted by the end of the fourth week of the semester. Students who wish to exercise the Pass/No Credit option for a six-week summer course must complete the application within 10 calendar days of the beginning of the course. Once the Pass/No Credit option is in place, it may not be reversed.

The above restrictions do not apply to courses that are only offered on a pass/no credit basis.

Repeating Courses.  A Rutgers University transcript records all courses taken at Rutgers University and the outcome (grade or withdrawal). Students may not repeat, for degree credit, courses bearing the same or equivalent course numbers, with the exception of courses designated as repeatable for credit.

Grades of F.  In general, when a course is repeated in which the student previously earned a grade of F, both the original grade of F and the new grade remain on the transcript and in the cumulative grade-point average. However, for up to 16 credits in no more than four courses, the grade of F will be removed from the cumulative grade-point average if the student repeats a failed course. The original grade of F will remain on the transcript with an E prefix attached; the repeated grade will have an R prefix. For further explanation of these and other grade prefixes, see the section on grading under University Policies and Procedures.

This policy may be applied anytime during the undergraduate years, but only once for a given course. The course must be repeated at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. If the student fails the course a second time, only the second F will enter the cumulative grade-point average. This policy may not be applied to punitive grades of F given for reasons such as academic dishonesty. Use of this policy to remove a grade of F from the cumulative grade-point average does not qualify a student for retroactive nomination to the Dean's List nor does it rescind unsatisfactory scholastic standing status.

For Expository Writing (01:355:101), the Writing Program assigns a grade of NC to students who complete all work but who have not earned a passing grade. The grade NC, which does not calculate into the GPA, essentially allows the student to have the advantage of the repeated course option without using one of the four instances allowed within the policy. If a student subsequently earns a grade of F in Expository Writing after earning a grade of NC, the repeated course option cannot be applied.

Grades of C and above.  When students earn a grade of C or better and choose to repeat the course, it must be repeated for E credit. Courses with E prefixes do not lead to graduation credit and the grades are not computed in the cumulative grade-point average.

Change of Grades.  Students are responsible for obtaining prompt information about their grades each semester, the requirements for a change of grade, and the requirements for the removal of a temporary grade. Under normal circumstances, the original grade cannot be changed after the end of the next full semester or after a student has graduated. In special situations, such as continued illness, this requirement may be waived with the consent of the faculty member.

Summer Session and Winter Session Courses.  Students in good academic standing may register for the Rutgers University Summer Session via WebReg or in person at the Summer Session office. Students may register for Winter Session courses online at the Winter Session registration website or in person at the Winter Session office. Students may take no more than 12 credits during the summer. We strongly recommend no more than 6 credits in any single Summer Session interval. During Rutgers Winter Session, students may take no more than two courses for a maximum of 3 credits, unless it is a single course of more credits.

Students wishing to take short-session courses at other institutions must obtain prior approval from departments offering similar courses at Rutgers and from an academic dean. Transfer preapproval forms are available online at sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/forms and from the Office of Academic Services.

Achieving the full benefit of instruction typically requires some time for reflection about the course content. For this reason, students should always consult an adviser before enrolling in Summer or Winter Session courses. Some academic departments may not apply these credits toward the major or minor.

Students on probation must obtain prior approval from the Committee on Academic Standing before registering for courses during the summer and winter sessions.

First-year students are not permitted to register for Winter Session courses.

Attendance and Cancellation of Classes.  In accordance with Rutgers University regulations, attendance is expected at all regularly scheduled meetings of a course and individual courses may set policies for maximum absences.

Students missing an occasional class for unverifiable illness or personal circumstances do not require written documentation or verification from the dean. In these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the student to submit the absence through the Rutgers Self-Reporting Absence website, sims.rutgers.edu/ssra, which automatically generates email notification to faculty teaching the student. It is up to the instructor to determine if accommodations are warranted to allow students to make up work that counts toward their semester grade.