Credit/No-Credit Policy
The Credit/No Credit Grading Option (CR/NC) offers Gies College of Business students the opportunity to complete an Elective course for ungraded credit. This option cannot be used with courses taken to fulfill General Education, Business Core, or Major or Minor requirements. This option also cannot be used with courses grades as "satisfactory/unsatisfactory."
Please note that the Credit/No-Credit policy has reverted to the policy that was in place prior to the modifications in place for the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 semester. There is no longer a Pass/No-Pass Covid option available for students to select.
How do I request an elective course be changed to Credit/No-Credit?
Students must petition the College to be permitted to change a graded Elective course to CR/NC. There are restrictions to consider when selecting this option that are listed below. If a course is eligible to be taken CR/NC, and the student meets the restrictions noted below, the student can complete the necessary form.
Once a Credit/No-Credit request has been processed, students can confirm the grading has been changed to CR/NC through the Self-Service portal. After logging in to Self-Service, students can use the following steps to check the grading status for the course: Registration and Records > Classic Registration > Spring 2020 > Student Schedule - Detail > Grade Mode.
What are the deadlines for a Credit/No Credit request and to change Credit/No Credit back to a letter grade?
If a course is a full-semester (16 weeks) course, the deadline to submit the CR/NC request form is the 8th week of the semester. For a half-semester (8 week) course, the deadline to submit the CR/NC request form is the 4th week of the course.
You can review the Academic Calendar to confirm the last date to request CR/NC or to change back to a letter grade for courses.
If you were unable to submit your request before the deadline due to extenuating circumstances, you must complete appropriate Late Appeal Petition.
What are the restrictions for the Credit/No-Credit option?
- Only Elective Courses can be taken CR/NC. (BUS Core and major requirements cannot be taken CR/NC)
- Students on Academic Probation may not elect to take courses CR/NC.
- A maximum of 18 credit hours of CR/NC coursework may be applied towards total degree hours.
- A maximum of 2 eligible courses per semester are allowed to be taken CR/NC for Full-Time Students.
- Students enrolled in Summer Session may elect one eligible course to be taken CR/NC
- As of Fall 2022, a letter grade of "D-" or higher is needed to earn Credit (CR) for the course. A letter grade of "F" is converted to No-Credit (NC) and does not earn any credit hours. Instructors are not informed of those students in their courses who are taking coursework under the CR/NC option, and they will report the usual letter grades at the end of the course. The final grades are then automatically converted to the appropriate CR/NC notation.
- Instructors are not informed of those students in their courses who are taking coursework under the CR/NC option, and they will report the usual letter grades at the end of the course. The final grades are then automatically converted to the appropriate CR/NC notation.
- CR/NC courses are not counted in the cumulative and semester GPA, but if "CR" is earned, the credits will be included as part of the total credit hours.
Important points to consider in electing the Credit/No-Credit option:
- Future employers may prefer business coursework, even electives, to be completed as graded credit, rather than Credit/No-Credit.
- Many Graduate & Professional Schools will calculate Admission GPA based on the last sixty hours of undergraduate work and assign a low-grade value to "CR" courses. They also may convert a "NC" notation to a failing grade.
- Student Athletes electing the CR/NC option should consult with their Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Academic Counselor and Coaches before electing this option to make sure they are satisfying all Big Ten and NCAA academic regulations.
- Any course taken for CR/NC that is awarded an "NC" (F grade) will NOT be counted towards the total number of credits to graduate and could delay graduation.