Deciphering Grade-Related Issues
How do I find my overall and in-major gpas?
The fastest way to find your current overall gpa is to go to Hokie SPA and check out your online unofficial transcript. Although the grades for the current semester won't be there, if you look under the GPA column for the previous semester, you'll find two gpas listed: current and cumulative. The current gpa is for that single semester; the cumulative one is your overall gpa for all the time you've been at Tech.
You can also find that information on your DARS report (either your "real" one or a "What-If" one). Run an updated DARS report (for info on this, see the page onReading Transcripts and DARS reports). You'll find your current overall gpa on page 1 of the DARS under the "UHOURSAS" section; your current in-major gpa over in the report, in the "ENGLGPA" section.
I took X course last spring and didn't do very well in it. I'd really like to have another crack at it. Can I repeat it?
If you repeat it, you need to be aware of special circumstances governing repeated courses:
- If you actually dropped or withdrew from that course and you enroll in it another semester, you will get the second grade.
- If you received a C- or lower in the course the first time you took it, both grades will be calculated in your GPA but only one of them will count in your overall hours toward graduation. (In other words, the grades will be averaged, and instead of 6 hours -- for taking the course twice -- you'll get only 3 hours, because it's "duplicated credit").
- If you received a C or better in the course the first time you took it, your second grade for it will be P/F only. Again, the course will count only once toward your overall hours.
How many classes can I take P/F?
You can receive Pass/Fail credit for 10% of the overall hours you take at Virginia Tech. Based on the fact that for a CLAHS major, the minimum number of hours you need to graduate is 120, if you take all of your coursework here at Tech, then you have available 12 hours of P/F credit.
If you are a transfer student, however, or you bring in any "outside" credit (even AP credit), the number of Pass/Fail credits you can take decreases: you must subtract your transfer hours from the hours you need to graduate. For example, if you transfer in 60 hours, then that means to reach the magical 120, you'd be accumulating 60 hours at Tech, which would translate to 6 available hours of P/F credit (120-60=60; 10% of 60=6).
Do P/F courses count toward my major?
The only way that Pass/Fail courses will count toward your major is if that is the ONLY WAY they're offered--in other words, they're not offered for a traditional A-F grade, but only as P/F. See the next question for the only circumstance that would cover an ENGL major.
I'd really like to do an internship, but the university doesn't recognize P/F classes in fulfillment of a major, does it?
Actually, you can use ENGL 4964: Field Study as one of your 4000-level courses, but if you choose to do so, you must remember that because the course if P/F, the DARS system will not automatically put it in your electives slot. It has to be put there by hand. I will do this the semester you graduate.
Internships offer you valuable work-place experience, so you should definitely consider taking one! For some additional information about internships offered by our department, visit the department's Internship Program pages. The English Department's Internship Coordinator is Steve Kark.
Can I take a University Liberal Education course P/F?
If you want Core credit for it, no.
Wow--I'm doing much better in this P/F course than I thought I would! Can I change the grading option to A-F?
You can change the grading option from P/F to A-F until the deadline for resigning without penalty. For this semester's deadline, check the Calendar. After that date, you'll need to plead your case with Dr. Mary Ann Lewis, your Academic Dean.
I'm taking a course outside my major, and I'm not doing as well in it as I thought I would. I need to stay in it, because I need the hours, but I'm afraid it's going to ruin my gpa. What can I do?
If it's before the drop deadline, you can change grading options from A-F to P/F. For this semester's deadline, check the Calendar. After that date, you'll need to plead your case with Dr. Mary Ann Lewis, your Academic Dean.
You also need to know that once you take a course P/F, you cannot take it later for an A-F grade.
I am having "issues" with a professor. I'd really like to talk to someone about it. Is there anyone I can speak with who won't reveal my identity--who can keep the conversation private? I'm afraid anything I say will get back to the teacher.
If you are having what you call "issues" with a professor, don't suffer silently! You can be assured that Nancy Metz, the Associate Head of the English Department, will listen to what you have to say and keep the conversation between the two of you. To set up an appointment to see her, just email nancy.metz@vt.edu.