2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Academic Credit

Grades

Grades are awarded directly by an individual faculty member to an individual student for work done in an individual course. Therefore, the grade will be entered directly into the student's record precisely as it is awarded by the instructor of record.

Final grades are typically available within two weeks following the end of an academic term via the student portal. Students wishing to appeal grades may only do so in accordance with existing policies established within their school, college, program, or department.

Additional information on the University of Colorado's Uniform Grading Policy is available through referencing APS 1025.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

All University of Colorado coursework will factor into the cumulative GPA regardless of the campus at which the course was taken. Enrollment in a second/additional undergraduate or graduate program will not generate a new/separate GPA. The undergraduate GPA, the graduate degree GPA, and the graduate non-degree GPA are all calculated separately as academic careers. Grades received at another institution are not included in the University of Colorado GPA.

The University of Colorado GPA is computed for all courses multiplying the credit points per hour (for example, B = 3) by the number of semester hours for each course. Total the hours, total the credit points and divide the total points by the total hours. Grades of 'P', 'NC', '***', 'W', 'IP', and 'I' are not included in the GPA. 'I' grades that are not completed within one year are calculated as 'F' in the GPA.

If a course is repeated, all grades earned are used in determining the GPA. 

Students should refer to their academic dean’s office for individual GPA calculations as they relate to academic progress and graduation from their college or school.

Sample GPA Calculation

Grade Earned: Credit Points per Hour: x Credit Hours: = Credit Points in Course
A 4.000 4.000 16.000
A- 3.700 4.000 14.800
B+ 3.300 4.000 13.200
P - 3.000 (excluded)
F 0 3.000 0

Grading System

The instructor is responsible for the grade symbol (e.g., A, B, C, D, F, I or IP, etc.) to be assigned. Special symbols (NC, W, and ***) are indications of registration or grade status and are not assigned by the instructor, but are automatically converted by the grade application system.

Standard Grades Quality Points
A = superior/excellent 4.000
A(-) = 3.700
B(+) = 3.300
B = good/better than average 3.000
B(-) = 2.700
C(+) = 2.300
C = competent/average 2.000
C(-) = 1.700
D(+) - 1.300
D = 1.000
D(-) = minimum passing 0.700
F = failing 0

Note: Instructors may, at their discretion, use the plus/minus system but are not required to do so.

Grade Explanation
*** Student is currently enrolled in the course or a final grade has not been submitted
H Honors/Highest Achievement (Honors Department courses. Excluded from GPA)
I Incomplete (Converted to an F if not completed within one year)
IP In Progress (Thesis/dissertation at the graduate level or other specified courses)
NC No Credit or Audit (Excluded from GPA and credit totals)
P Pass (Under Pass/Fail option, grades of D- and above convert to a P. P is equivalent to D+, D or D- beginning Spring 2020. See P+ below. Specified courses may also be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Excluded from GPA)
P+ Pass (Under Pass/Fail option, grades of C- and above converted to P+ beginning Spring 2020 to address non-standard grading during a global pandemic. Excluded from GPA)
PR Pass with Remediation (Anschutz Medical Campus. Excluded from GPA)
S Satisfactory (Course requirements are satisfied or expectations are met. Excluded from GPA.)
U Unsatisfactory (Course requirements are not satisfied or expectations are not met. Excluded from GPA.)
W Withdrew
H/HP/P Honors, High Pass, Pass. (For specified courses at the Anschutz Medical Campus within the CU School of Medicine. Honors indicates highest acheivement, Pass indicates C- or better. Excluded from GPA.)
  • 'P+' and 'P' are not included in the grade point average, but credit is earned. 'F' is included in grade point average with no credit earned.
  • Credit is earned for an 'S'. No credit is earned for a 'U'. Neither 'S' nor 'U' is included in grade point average calculations.

No Credit (NC)

Students may register for a course on a no-credit basis with the consent of their instructor and the dean of their school or college. No grade or credit is awarded, and tuition assessed is equivalent to the for-credit rate. The transcript reflects the name of the course taken and an N/C notation.

Incomplete Grades

An 'I' is an incomplete grade. Policies with respect to 'I' grades are available in the individual School, College, or Program offices.

An 'I' is given only when students, for reasons beyond their control, have been unable to complete course requirements. A substantial amount of work must have been satisfactorily completed before approval for such a grade is given.

The instructor who assigns an 'I' sets the conditions under which the course work can be completed and the time limit for its completion. The student is expected to complete the requirements by the established deadline and not retake the entire course.

It is the instructor’s and/or the student’s decision whether a course should be retaken. The student must re-register for the course and pay the appropriate tuition.

The final grade (earned by completing the course requirements or by retaking the course) does not result in deletion of the 'I' from the transcript. A second entry is posted on the transcript to show the final grade for the course, with a notation that the course was ‘originally graded as incomplete.’

At the end of one year, 'I' grades for courses that are not completed or repeated are changed to an 'F'.

Course Numbering

The information below provides the general guidelines by which course numbers are assigned for the CU Anschutz Medical Campus; some variances to the structure below may exist. Please contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions about course numbering.

Courses are comprised of a 4-digit number, preceded by the alpha department/subject code.

  • The first digit of a course are indicative of the academic level:
    • 0: lower level or remedial, not applicable toward graduation
    • 1: Undergraduate freshman level
    • 2: Undergraduate sophomore level
    • 3: Undergraduate junior level
    • 4: Undergraduate senior level
    • 5: 1st year professional
    • 6: Masters level or 2nd year professional
    • 7: Doctoral level or 3rd year professional
    • 8: Doctoral level or 4th year professional; must be used for doctoral level thesis
  • Second and third digits:
    • 00-83: To be used for all courses with the exception of the following:
      • 84-90: Independent Study
      • 91: Practicum
      • 92: Readings
      • 93: Internships
      • 94: Master's candidate
      • 95: Master's report
      • 99: Doctoral thesis
  • Fourth digit:
    • Each school, college, or department should determine its own structure for use of this numeric position.

Enrollment Status

A student's enrollment status (Full-Time, Half-Time, Less than Half-Time) at CU Anschutz is determined by the number of credits in which they are enrolled, and may vary by School, College, Program, or Department. Such statuses are defined below. For questions regarding Financial Aid eligibility, relative to enrollment status, please contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.

NOTE: Enrollment in required Dissertation coursework renders a student as Full-Time, regardless of credits or academic term.

Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology Assistant (MS)

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

CHA/PA

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

College of Nursing

Graduate-Level College of Nursing

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

Undergraduate-Level College of Nursing

  • All terms:
    • 0.001-5.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 6.000-11.999: Half-Time
    • 12.000+: Full-Time

Colorado School of Public Health

Masters of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS), Doctoral Programs (DrPH and PhD), and Certificates

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

Graduate

Graduate-Level College of Nursing, Colorado School of Public Health, Graduate School, Office of Research Education, Graduate-level Pharmacy

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

Graduate Non-Degree

Graduate-Level Non-Degree Certificate, Graduate-Level Non-Degree

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-2.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 3.000-4.999: Half-Time
    • 5.000+:Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-1.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 2.000-2.999: Half-Time
    • 3.000+: Full-Time

Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

All terms:

  • 0.001-4.999: Less than Half-Time
  • 5.000-9.999: Half-Time
  • 10.000+: Full-Time

School of Dental Medicine

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Advanced Standing International Student Program (ISP), Orthodontics, Periodontics

  • All terms:
    • 0.001-4.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 5.000-9.999: Half-Time
    • 10.000+: Full-Time

School of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.100-0.999: Half-Time
    • 1.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-0.099: Less than Half-Time
    • 0.100-0.499: Half-Time
    • 0.500+: Full-Time

Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

  • Fall and Spring terms:
    • 0.001-4.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 5.000-9.999: Half-Time
    • 10.000+: Full-Time
  • Summer terms:
    • 0.001-4.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 5.000-5.999: Half-Time
    • 6.000+: Full-Time

North American-Trained Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), International-Trained Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

  • All terms:
    • 0.001-4.999: Less than Half-Time
    • 5.000-9.999: Half-Time
    • 10.000+:Full-Time