PASS/FAIL OPTION

Date: _________________

I, _________________________ (Name), ____________ (ID Number), wish to enroll in the following course on a pass/fail basis:

COURSE PREFIX & NUMBER:  _________________ (EXAMPLE: SPCM 101)

SECTION: _______  SEMESTER:  _________  YEAR: ________
COURSE TITLE: _____________________________________

FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

  1. A student with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at SDSM&T is eligible to elect one free elective course per semester on a pass/fail basis.
     

  2. This course CANNOT be used to satisfy the 16 credit hours of humanities/social science requirement for the Bachelor of Science Degree.
     

    3.

  3. The pass/fail option shall apply only to the student’s first registration in a course.
     

  4. If a grade of “D” or better is achieved, a grade of “P” will be recorded in the student’s grade record. This grade will NOT be used in the calculation of the student’s GPA. However, the credit hours earned may be used to reduce the student’s graduation requirements, if appropriate and applicable.
     

  5. If a grade of “F” is earned under this option, it will be treated as a course failure, and the “F” grade will be used in the calculation of the student’s GPA.
     

  6. A course taken on a pass/fail basis will not be converted, after a grade has been recorded, to a traditional grade for the purpose of improving a GPA.
     

  7. A student will have the option during the first four weeks of each semester to change from pass/fail to traditional grading, or vice versa.

FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

  1. 100 and 200 numbered courses which cannot be applied for credit toward a graduate degree may be taken on a pass/fail basis under the same rules which apply to undergraduate students.
     

  2. 300 through 800 numbered courses outside of the student’s department/program may be taken on a pass/fail basis. A “C” grade shall be considered the lowest passing grade. The maximum number of hours of pass/fail work for which a master’s degree candidate may receive credit will be six for the thesis option and nine for the non-thesis option.
     

  3. The consent of the student’s graduate advisor or advisory committee is needed to exercise the pass/fail option.
     

  4. No 300 through 800 numbered courses offered by the student’s major department/program may be taken for credit under the pass/fail option.
     

  5. Beyond the master’s level, the pass/fail option may be exercised at the discretion of the candidate’s advisory committee.

Signature approval required for graduate students:

______________________________________ ________________
Signature of Advisor or Advisory Committee Date
 
Return this form to Registrar & Academic Services, 0'Harra 216 or mail to:

Registrar & Academic Services
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
501 E. Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City SD 57701