There are two types of grading methods for courses at the UW. Most courses are graded on a numeric scale, with 4.0 being the highest grade. Other courses are graded on a credit/no credit (CR/NC) basis, which is a method of grading determined by the academic department offering the course and is not a student option.
All requests for grading options must be submitted in writing to UW Professional & Continuing Education Registration Services, 4311 - 11th Ave. NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105-4608. A $20 change fee will be assessed after the first week of the quarter. Students may select one of the following grading methods for credit courses:
1) Numeric:
The University of Washington uses a numerical grading system. Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments and the grade 0.0.
For graduate and GNM students, grades reported in the range 1.6 to 0.0 will be converted to 0.0. A grade of at least 2.7 is required for courses used to meet graduate school requirements. To see the letter grades equivalent to these numeric grades, view the table below.
An undergraduate student whose grade-point average falls below 2.0 will be warned about low scholarship. Failure to maintain a 2.0 will result in probation. If 2.0 is not maintained after 25 credits, the student will not be permitted to take additional credit classes.
2) Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory (S/NS):
Students may elect to take numerically graded courses on a satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS) basis.
S/NS is a grading option intended primarily for elective credits. Credits earned as S/NS may not be used to satisfy university, college or departmental requirements. Matriculated students must earn at least 45 credits before choosing this option and not take more than six credits as S/NS in a given quarter. No more than 25 S/NS credits may be applied to the minimum of 180 credits required for graduation. Advisers should be consulted to determine restrictions and eligibility because colleges and departments vary in their rules concerning this grading option. Students may change to S/NS through Sunday of the seventh week of the quarter.
Undergraduate students must earn a grade of at least 2.0 to receive a grade of S. Course grades of 1.9 and below will be recorded as NS when the S/NS option is selected by an undergraduate student. Graduate students must earn a grade of at least 2.7 to receive a grade of S. Course grades of 2.6 and below will be recorded as NS when the S/NS option is selected by a graduate student.
3) Audit:
Persons who do not require credit and a grade in a course may wish to audit. Permission to audit is ordinarily granted for lecture classes only, and an auditor may not participate in class discussion or laboratory work. No entry is made on the permanent record for courses audited. However, courses changed to audit after the second week of the quarter will be recorded on undergraduate academic transcripts with a W and a number designating the week of the quarter in which the change occurred. You may change from audit to credit or from credit to audit through the second week of the quarter. The cost to audit a class is the same as taking a class for credit.