All Credit Transcript Key - Undergraduate, Graduate, Law, and Medical
Undergraduate Career
Graduate Career
Law Career
Medical Career
Release of Information
In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, this information is released on the condition that the recipient "will not permit any other party to have access to such information without the written consent of the student."
Official Paper Document
"Penn State" appears in small print on a blue background across the entire face of the official transcript which is printed with security ink. The official transcript bears the seal of Penn State and the signature of the University Registrar. The raised University seal is not required.
Official Electronic Document
An electronic signature and certification appears before you open the PDF transcript, and also on the front page of the transcript. The Statement of Authenticity bears the name of the University Registrar.
Accreditation
The Pennsylvania State University, whose prime purpose has always been to serve the people and the interests of the Commonwealth and the Nation, is accredited by the Middle States Association and is a member of the Association of American Universities.
Each of the Penn State Dickinson Schools of Law is on the approved list of the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Institutional Code
The institutional code for The Pennsylvania State University is 003329.
Language of Instruction
Penn State courses are taught in English with the exception of some global language courses.
Undergraduate Career
Credits and Hours
Credits are awarded on the semester-hour basis. According to Senate Policy 42-23, a total of at least forty hours of work planned and arranged by the University faculty is required for the average student to gain one credit. While the distribution of time varies from course to course, generally one-third of the time is devoted to formal instruction, such as lecture, recitation, laboratory, field trips, etc., and two-thirds of the time to outside preparation.
Course-Numbering System
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES (1 to 399); General courses accepted in fulfillment of requirements for the baccalaureate or associate degree.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE COURSES (800 to 899 and 800 level); Prior to spring semester 2003, these were general courses accepted in fulfillment of requirements for the associate degree. Credits received for 800-series associate courses may be applicable to a particular baccalaureate degree program at the discretion of the appropriate college and major department.
Course Suffixes
Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, and K appear after certain courses where the course content or title differs from the basic course description. They are frequently used for identifying unique titles for special topics courses (i.e., 297, 497, and 597).
H | Honors courses or sections |
J | Individualized instruction courses |
M | Honors and writing intensive courses |
S | First-Year Seminar courses |
T | First-Year Seminar with honors |
U | United States Cultures and International Cultures, and honors |
V | United States Cultures and International Cultures |
W | Writing intensive courses |
X | First-Year Seminar courses and writing intensive |
Y | United States Cultures and International Cultures, and writing intensive courses |
L, P, R | Lecture, Practicum (or laboratory), and Recitation sections |
Basis for Grades
Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.
Grading System
For undergraduate students, the grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, and F indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure and are assigned the following grade-point equivalents:
Grade | Grade-Point Equivalent |
A | 4.00 |
A- | 3.67 |
B+ | 3.33 |
B | 3.00 |
B- | 2.67 |
C+ | 2.33 |
C | 2.00 |
D | 1.00 |
F | 0 |
Incomplete Grade Symbols | |
NG | No Grade Reported |
DF | Deferred |
Other Symbols | |||||
P | Pass | FL | Fail | NCP | Pass, Course Carries No Credit |
PS | Pass | XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty | NCF | Fail, Course Carries No Credit |
AU | Audit | LD | Late Drop, No Grade | NDC | Not Degree Credit |
AUS | Audit, Attended Regularly | WP | Late Drop Passing | CRX | Credit by Examination |
AUU | Audit, Did Not Attend Regularly | WF | Late Drop Failing | ||
R | Research | WN | Late Drop No Grade | ||
SA | Satisfactory | UN | Unsatisfactory | ||
W | Withdrawal | INCP & I | Incomplete Average | ||
S | Proficiency Exam Passed |
Method of Calculation of Grade Points
The number of grade points obtained by a student in any course shall be computed by multiplying the number of credits in the course by the grade-point equivalent of the grade in the course. Courses taken under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading system are not used in computing grade points.
Example: History 020, three credits, grade B, produces nine grade points; and Mathematics 021, three credits, grade F, produces zero grade points.
Graduate Career
Credits and Hours
Credits are awarded on the semester-hour basis. According to Senate Policy 42-23, a total of at least forty hours of work planned and arranged by the University faculty is required for the average student to gain one credit. While the distribution of time varies from course to course, generally one-third of the time is devoted to formal instruction, such as lecture, recitation, laboratory, field trips, etc., and two-thirds of the time to outside preparation.
Course-Numbering System
GRADUATE COURSES (500 to 699 and 800 level); Courses restricted to students registered in The Graduate School, seniors with an average of at least 3.50, and other students who have been granted permission to enroll by the dean of The Graduate School. The numbers 600 (on campus) and 610 (off campus) are available for credit in thesis research in all graduate major programs. The numbers 601 and 611 do not denote conventional courses but are used for non-credit special registration for thesis preparation by a Ph.D. candidate. Beginning fall semester 2006, 800 level courses on a graduate transcript are professional graduate level courses.
ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATE COURSES (400 to 499); Courses open to graduate students, juniors, seniors, and with the special written permission of the head of the department or chairperson of the program sponsoring the course, to qualified sophomores and first-year students. 400 level course work appearing on a graduate student transcript is applied toward the graduate degree.
Course Suffixes
Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, and K appear after certain courses where the course content or title differs from the basic course description. They are frequently used for identifying unique titles for special topics courses (i.e., 297, 497, and 597).
H | Honors courses or sections |
J | Individualized instruction courses |
M | Honors and writing intensive courses |
S | First-Year Seminar courses |
T | First-Year Seminar with honors |
U | United States Cultures and International Cultures, and honors |
V | United States Cultures and International Cultures |
W | Writing intensive courses |
X | First-Year Seminar courses and writing intensive |
Y | United States Cultures and International Cultures, and writing intensive courses |
L, P, R | Lecture, Practicum (or laboratory), and Recitation sections |
Basis for Grades
Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.
Grading System
For graduate students, the grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, and F indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure and are assigned the following grade-point equivalents:
Grade | Grade-Point Equivalent |
A | 4.00 |
A- | 3.67 |
B+ | 3.33 |
B | 3.00 |
B- | 2.67 |
C+ | 2.33 |
C | 2.00 |
D | 1.00 |
F | 0 |
Graduate average computed on the basis of earned grades in 400-, 500-, 600-, and 800- level courses.
D, F - failing grades for graduate students
Plus and minus values were added to the undergraduate grading system fall semester 1987, to The Graduate School system in fall semester 1995. Student is in good standing unless stated otherwise.
Incomplete Grade Symbols | |
NG | No Grade Reported |
DF | Deferred |
Other Symbols | |||||
P | Pass | FL | Fail | NDC | Not Degree Credit |
PS | Pass | XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty | CRX | Credit by Examination |
AU | Audit | LD | Late Drop, No Grade | ||
AUS | Audit, Attended Regularly | WP | Late Drop Passing | ||
AUU | Audit, Did Not Attend Regularly | WF | Late Drop Failing | ||
R | Research | WN | Late Drop No Grade | ||
SA | Satisfactory | UN | Unsatisfactory | ||
W | Withdrawal | INCP & I | Incomplete Average | ||
S | Proficiency Exam Passed |
Method of Calculation of Grade Points
The number of grade points obtained by a student in any course shall be computed by multiplying the number of credits in the course by the grade-point equivalent of the grade in the course. Courses taken under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading system are not used in computing grade points.
Example: History 020, three credits, grade B, produces nine grade points; and Mathematics 021, three credits, grade F, produces zero grade points.
Law Career - Students admitted prior to Fall 2015
Unit of Credit
The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour of credit represents course work involving one 50-minute classroom hour per week over a period of 14 weeks.
Course-Numbering System
Courses in the 900 to 999 series are restricted to students enrolled in the J.D. and LL.M. programs and others receiving special permission.
Non-900 level courses appearing on the transcript are not calculated into the semester or cumulative grade-point average or class rank.
Class Ranking
Semester and cumulative ranking information appears on the transcript. Details regarding the ranking process are found on each of the law school's websites.
Course Suffixes
Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, M, N, Q, S, T, X, and Z appear after certain courses for which a basic course description encompasses multiple course titles.
Basis for Grades
For the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, the grades A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure. Effective fall semester 2012, the Master of Laws grading scale eliminated grades A+, C-, and D+ and follows the Juris Doctor grade scale below.
Grades are assigned to Juris Doctor candidates on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.
Before fall semester 2000 | Effective fall semester 2000 | Effective summer semester 2005 | |||
90 and above | Distinguished | 90 and above | Distinguished | A | Distinguished |
85-89 | Excellent | 85-89 | Excellent | A- | Excellent |
75-84 | Good | 80-84 | Good | B+ | Superior |
70-74 | Qualified | 75-79 | Satisfactory | B | Very Good |
65-69 | Poor | 70-74 | Passing | B- | Good |
Below 65 | Fail (No credit) | 65-69 | Conditional Failure | C+ | Satisfactory |
Below 65 | Failure (No credit) | C | Passing | ||
D | Poor | ||||
F | Failure (No credit) |
Incomplete Grade Symbols | |
NG | No Grade Reported |
DF | Deferred |
Other Symbols | |||
P | Pass | LD | Late Drop |
AU |
Audit | WP | Late Drop Passing |
R |
Research | WF | Late Drop Failing |
W | Withdrawal | WN | Late Drop No Grade |
XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty | NC | Non-Credit |
INCP & I | Incomplete Average | CR | Credit |
LawD Career - Dickinson Law
Unit of Credit
The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour of credit represents course work involving one 50-minute classroom hour per week over a period of 14 weeks.
Course-Numbering System
Courses in the 900 to 999 series are restricted to students enrolled in the J.D. and LL.M. programs and others receiving special permission.
Non-900 level courses appearing on the transcript are not calculated into the semester or cumulative grade-point average or class rank.
Class Ranking
Semester and cumulative ranking information appears on the transcript. Details regarding the ranking process are found on each of the law school’s websites.
Course Suffixes
Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, M, N, Q, S, T, X, and Z appear after certain courses for which a basic course description encompasses multiple course titles.
Basis for Grades
Grades are assigned to Juris Doctor candidates on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below. Effective fall semester 2012, the Master of Laws grading scale eliminated grades A+, C-, and D+ and follows the Juris Doctor grade scale below.
Before fall semester 2000 | Effective fall semester 2000 | Effective summer semester 2005 | |||
90 and above | Distinguished | 90 and above | Distinguished | A | Distinguished |
85-89 | Excellent | 85-89 | Excellent | A- | Excellent |
75-84 | Good | 80-84 | Good | B+ | Superior |
70-74 | Qualified | 75-79 | Satisfactory | B | Very Good |
65-69 | Poor | 70-74 | Passing | B- | Good |
Below 65 | Fail (No credit) | 65-69 | Conditional Failure | C+ | Satisfactory |
Below 65 | Failure (No credit) | C | Passing | ||
D | Conditional Failure | ||||
F | Failure (No credit) |
Incomplete Grade Symbols | |
NG | No Grade Reported |
DF | Deferred |
Other Symbols | |||||
P | Pass | LD | Late Drop | H | Honors |
AU |
Audit | WP | Late Drop Passing |
HP | High Pass |
R |
Research | WF | Late Drop Failing |
LP | Low Pass |
W | Withdrawal | WN | Late Drop No Grade |
||
XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty | NC | Non-Credit |
||
INCP & I | Incomplete Average | CR | Credit |
Dickinson Law LL.M. students are evaluated separately from J.D. students, according to the following grading standards and scale:
Effective Fall semester 2015 | |
A | Excellent |
A- | Superior |
B+ | Very Good |
B | Good |
B- | Satisfactory |
C+ | Passing |
C | Poor |
D | Conditional Failure |
F | Failure |
LawP Career - Penn State Law
Unit of Credit
The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour of credit represents course work involving one 50-minute classroom hour per week over a period of 14 weeks.
Course-Numbering System
Courses in the 900 to 999 series are restricted to students enrolled in the J.D. and LL.M. programs and others receiving special permission.
Non-900 level courses appearing on the transcript are not calculated into the semester or cumulative grade-point average or class rank.
Class Ranking
Semester and cumulative ranking information appears on the transcript. Details regarding the ranking process are found on each of the law school’s websites.
Course Suffixes
Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.
The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, M, N, Q, S, T, X, and Z appear after certain courses for which a basic course description encompasses multiple course titles.
Basis for Grades
For the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, the grades A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure. Effective fall semester 2012, the Master of Laws grading scale eliminated grades A+, C-, and D+ and follows the Juris Doctor grade scale below.
Grades are assigned to Juris Doctor candidates on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.
Before fall semester 2000 | Effective fall semester 2000 | Effective summer semester 2005 | |||
90 and above | Distinguished | 90 and above | Distinguished | A | Distinguished |
85-89 | Excellent | 85-89 | Excellent | A- | Excellent |
75-84 | Good | 80-84 | Good | B+ | Superior |
70-74 | Qualified | 75-79 | Satisfactory | B | Very Good |
65-69 | Poor | 70-74 | Passing | B- | Good |
Below 65 | Fail (No credit) | 65-69 | Conditional Failure | C+ | Satisfactory |
Below 65 | Failure (No credit) | C | Passing | ||
D | Poor | ||||
F | Failure (No credit) |
Incomplete Grade Symbols | |
NG | No Grade Reported |
DF | Deferred |
Other Symbols | |||
P | Pass | LD | Late Drop |
AU |
Audit | WP | Late Drop Passing |
R |
Research | WF | Late Drop Failing |
W | Withdrawal | WN | Late Drop No Grade |
XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty | NC | Non-Credit |
INCP & I | Incomplete Average | CR | Credit |
Medical Career
Credits and Hours
Credits are awarded on the semester-hour basis. According to Senate Policy 42-23, a total of at least forty hours of work planned and arranged by the University faculty is required for the average student to gain one credit. While the distribution of time varies from course to course, generally one-third of the time is devoted to formal instruction, such as lecture, recitation, laboratory, field trips, etc., and two-thirds of the time to outside preparation.
MEDICAL COLLEGE COURSES (700 to 799); Courses in the 700 to 799 series are restricted to students working in the M.D. program.
Basis for Grades
Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.
Grading System
Grade | |
H | Honors |
HP | High Pass |
P | Pass |
LP | Low Pass |
F | Fail |
Other Symbols | |||
P | Pass | FL | Fail |
PS | Pass | XF | Fail, Academic Dishonesty |
AU |
Audit | WP | Late Drop Passing |
R | Research | WF | Late Drop Failing |
W | Withdrawal | WN | Late Drop No Grade |
SA | Satisfactory | UN | Unsatisfactory |
NDC | Not Degree Credit | INCP & I | Incomplete Average |
S | Proficiency Exam Passed | CRX | Credit by Examination |