UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Grading System for Graduate Students

CSUN uses the traditional A-F grading system and a non-traditional system of Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) as explained in the Policies and Procedures section of this Catalog. Note the following provisions:

  1. Incomplete (I): The symbol “I” indicates that a portion of required coursework has not been completed. A substantial portion of the course requirement has been completed with a passing grade and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. An incomplete shall not be assigned when a student would be required to attend a major portion of the class when it is next offered. An incomplete (I) must be changed to a grade within one calendar year immediately following the end of the semester in which it was assigned. If the assigned work that is required to remove the incomplete is not completed by this time, the incomplete will be computed as an “F” grade in all subsequent GPA determinations. This limitation exists whether or not students maintain continuous enrollment in the University. All incompletes must be completed before a degree can be awarded.
  2. Incomplete Charged (IC): The “IC” symbol may be used when a student who received an authorized incomplete “I” has not completed the required coursework within the allowed time limit. The “IC” replaces the “I” and is counted as a failing grade for GPA and progress point computation.
  3. Report in Progress (RP): A grade of Report in Progress (“RP”) is assigned for Thesis/Graduate Project and similar courses where assigned work frequently remains to be completed at the end of the semester in which the grade is given. The “RP” grade must be converted to a traditional letter grade within two years. Any extension of the time limit must receive prior authorization by submitting a Graduate Petition form to the Associate Vice President of Graduate Studies.
  4. Graduate program courses that are normally a letter grade (A-F scale) may not be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis. Exceptions to this rule are Dissertation/Thesis/Graduate Project or Comprehensive Examination and certain courses in which the evaluation responsibility is shared by agencies in conjunction with faculty (e.g., field study, internship).