Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog.
Counting Courses and Credits
COURSE
For numerical purposes, the term “course”
means a full (1.00) course credit, as distinguished from fractional
course credits.
St. Olaf courses are not denominated in semester
or quarter credits. Each St. Olaf course is equivalent to 4.00 semester
credits or 5.00 quarter credits.
Course descriptions are printed in this catalog or
in the Catalog Supplement. Course offerings during a given semester
are listed in the Class and Lab Schedules, which are published three
times a year.
Thirty-five full course credits are required for the Baccalaureate
degree. Unless reduced as the result of transfer credits, 24 of
the 35 courses must be taken on a graded basis.
HALF-SEMESTER COURSES
Half-semester courses have drop/add and S/U deadlines
that are different from full-semester courses. Consult the registrar’s
calendar on the registrar’s website. If a student is taking
a full load of 4.50 courses with the .50 being a first-half semester
course, he/she cannot register for a second-half semester course
unless he/she meets the criteria for an overload stated under “Course
Loads” in this catalog.
Note that “1” designates a first-half
semester course and “2” a second-half course in the
Class and Lab Schedule. If there is a “1” next to the
Lab/Disc column, the course is offered during the first half of
the semester. If there is a “2” next to the Lab/Disc
column, the course is offered in the second half of
the semester.
COURSE CREDITS
Often credit earned from specific courses varies
with different Baccalaureate degrees, core requirements and majors.
Rely on the Class and Lab Schedules for information about which
courses fulfill General Education requirements.
- Performance studies courses are always Level
I when counted toward the Bachelor of Arts degree. Credit for
performance studies courses is counted as upper level (numbered
200 and above) in the principal performing medium for Bachelor
of Music degree students only during the junior and senior years.
- Dance activity courses count toward the physical
activity requirement (PHA).
- A course may be repeated only once, only at St.
Olaf and only when the grade is C- or below, U or N. A course
cannot be repeated after satisfactory completion of any course
in the same department for which the course is considered a pre-requisite,
unless specifically required to graduate. A course may be repeated
S/U only if the course was originally taken S/U and a U was received.
If a course receives an S credit, it may not be repeated regardless
of the actual reported grade. A course may earn only one credit
once completed with a passing grade. Each course attempt remains
part of the permanent record, but only the second grade is computed
into the grade point average.
- After students have graduated with a degree, the
college will not accept additional courses transferred from other
colleges except two courses to complete an additional major.
- A student may not take an independent study for
a course regularly offered in a department of the college. Independent
study or research may count toward a major, but may not fulfill
a General Education requirement (except as a course with writing
[WRI]).
- Twenty-four of the 35 full courses required for
graduation must be taken on a graded basis unless that number
has been reduced by transfer or off-campus course work.
- A student must complete at least six courses with
grades of C or higher in a major in order to complete the major
requirement. A grade of C- or S does not count in fulfilling this
requirement.
COURSE LEVELS
St. Olaf courses have levels designated by course
numbers in this catalog and in the Class and Lab Schedules as Level
I, II and III.
Level I Courses, numbered 100 through 199, are for
the most part introductory to a field or discipline. They exert
a demand for only such depth of study, student responsibility and
independence commensurate with initial work at the college level.
Level II Courses, numbered 200 through 299, require
student independence in the acquisition of material and mastery
of techniques and methods above that demanded in Level I courses.
Level III Courses, numbered 300 through 399, are
usually confined to the major and demand control of methods as well
as command of basic factual and theoretical knowledge appropriate
to the discipline. A student should have at least two Level III
courses in the major.
Courses numbered at Level II and Level III are referred
to as upper level courses.
Students may be required to have at least two Level
III courses in their major.
Eighteen of the 35 full course credits required for
graduation must be at Level II or III.
A course can earn only one level. It cannot be raised
in level as the result of extra studies, assignments, or performance.
A course with a lower number cannot, as the result of extra work,
become another course of a higher number because of scheduling conflicts
or closed course status. For example, Art 119 (.50) cannot earn
credit as Art 233 (1.00), nor can Art 233 become 244. Likewise,
a .25 credit course cannot become a .50 credit course.
COURSE LOADS AND COSTS/OVERLOADS
To be considered full-time, a student must be registered
for at least 3.00 course credits. Students receiving veterans benefits
need 3.00 course credits to be considered full-time. Four full-credit
semester credits are required to maintain certain forms of State
of Minnesota financial aid.
4.5 credits is the typical, maximum course load allowed
from all sources during a semester and only one course may be taken
during Interim. Note that a student cannot add a course so as to
create a course overload; a course must be dropped first if an added
course would put the student's course load over the allowed 4.5
credits maximum.
If a student is taking a full load of 4.50 credits
with the .50 being a first-half semester course, he/she cannot register
for a second-half semester course unless he/she meets the criteria
for an overload, below.
With the permission of the registrar, a student may
exceed 4.5 credits during a semester if:
- The student is a senior, for whom the maximum
load is 5.00 full credits during one semester of the senior year.
The senior year is defined as the two semesters prior to Commencement
either as a “participator” (see “Participation
in Graduation,” page 57) or as a diploma graduate.
- The student is a junior or a sophomore and normally
has a 3.60 grade point average over the nine most recent, full
St. Olaf courses. The student may thereby take up to the maximum
of 5.00 full courses.
First-year students are not eligible for course overloads.
Note that all students will receive an extra tuition charge for
course overloads beyond 4.5 credits. See “Additional Fees
and Costs.”
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
A final exam is required for all courses and a special
time is reserved in exam week for every course’s exam. Teachers
may plan an in-class exam for that period or arrange other means
of evaluation brought to the final meeting of the class at the latest
(i.e., a take-home exam, a final paper, etc.). In any case, students
must attend the scheduled final exam meeting, whether it is a traditional
exam or a special, final meeting of the class. Absence will be reported
to the appropriate student dean by the instructor and results in
failure of the final exam or the course at the discretion of the
instructor.
Except for courses in performance studies, physical
activity and dance activity, an instructor may not use the last
day of class for either a written or oral final exam. Take-home
exams and papers substituting for final exams must be due at the
scheduled final exam period.
Students are required to take final exams at the
scheduled time unless the instructor, with the written approval
of the department chair or program director, has given the student
permission to re-schedule to another time during finals week. Student
requests for an exam change must be made in writing. The decision
rests with the chair or director. Chairs and directors will exclude
from consideration rescheduling requests involving rides home, early
family vacations, early summer employment, pre-purchased airline
tickets and the like. The Student Honor Council welcomes policy
that restricts the number of schedule exceptions during finals week.
GRADE AND MARKING SYSTEM
Final grades are designated as follows:
Excellent |
A(A+) |
4.0 grade points |
|
A- |
3.7 grade points |
|
B+ |
3.3 grade points |
Very Good |
B |
3.0 grade points |
|
B- |
2.7 grade points |
|
C+ |
2.3 grade points |
Satisfactory |
C |
2.0 grade points |
|
C- |
1.7 grade points |
Poor |
D+ |
1.3 grade points |
|
D |
1.0 grade points |
|
D- |
0.7 grade points |
Failure |
F |
0.0 grade points |
Failure |
N |
No credit (D+ to F) |
Failure |
U |
No credit (D+ to F) |
|
I |
Incomplete |
|
P |
Pass (C- or higher) |
|
S |
Satisfactory (C- or higher) |
|
WP |
Withdrawal with a passing grade |
|
WF |
Withdrawal with a failing grade |
Course credit cannot be earned with a U, N, I,
WP, WF, or F.
GRADE POINTS BY COURSE CREDIT
Grade/Credit |
1.00 |
0.75 |
0.50 |
0.25 |
A |
4.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
A- |
3.70 |
2.77 |
1.85 |
.92 |
B+ |
3.30 |
2.47 |
1.65 |
.82 |
B |
3.00 |
2.25 |
1.50 |
.75 |
B- |
2.70 |
2.02 |
1.35 |
.67 |
C+ |
2.30 |
1.72 |
1.15 |
.57 |
C |
2.00 |
1.50 |
1.00 |
.50 |
C- |
1.70 |
1.27 |
.85 |
.42 |
D+ |
1.30 |
.97 |
.65 |
.32 |
D |
1.00 |
.75 |
.50 |
.25 |
D- |
.70 |
.52 |
.35 |
.17 |
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The grade point average is based upon final grades
for all course work taken at St. Olaf.
Grades and grade points for courses transferred from other schools
are not computed in the St. Olaf grade point average. The only
exceptions are for grades earned through inter-registration at Carleton
College, and grades earned through the Minnesota Intercollegiate
Nursing Consortium Program where there is a completed major in nursing.
Graded courses from St. Olaf off-campus programs
are not computed in the grade point average except for courses taught
by St. Olaf instructors.
The grade point average is computed to two decimal
places, (3.15, 2.36, etc.) and is never rounded up or down.
An average grade of C (2.00) is required for graduation.
Grades earned S/U or P/N and grades earned through
transfer credits, Advanced Placement, or other means, are not computed
in the grade point average.
Computing the Grade Point Average
The grade point average (G.P.A.) is computed by dividing
the total number of St. Olaf, MINC, or Carleton-graded courses into
the total grade points computed from the scale found under grade
points by course credit (see chart).
Below is a “tally line” from a sample
St. Olaf transcript indicating how this is done.
95.52 grade points divided by 29.25 graded courses
equals a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.26.
Projecting a G.P.A.: Formula for Determining Grades
Needed to Reach a Specific G.P.A.
Using the "tally line"
from your St. Olaf transcript (see example), one may project a desired
G.P.A. by using the following formula:
|
Total number of graded courses to date |
|
____ |
(plus) |
Number of graded courses registered for (intending
to) |
+ |
____ |
(equals) |
Total number of graded courses |
= |
____ |
(times) |
G.P.A. attempting to reach |
x |
____ |
(equals) |
Total grade points needed to reach desired G.P.A |
= |
____ |
(minus) |
Current grade points on transcript |
- |
____ |
(equals) |
Grade points needed in current graded courses
to reach desired G.P.A |
= |
____ |
Example: The
senior whose transcript "tally line" appears above has
a 3.26 G.P.A. He/she wishes to determine the grades necessary to
reach 3.30 in order to graduate with honors. There are two steps.
Step 1 |
Total number of graded courses to date |
|
29.25 |
(plus) |
Number of graded courses registered for (intending
to) |
+ |
4.00 |
(equals) |
Total number of graded courses |
= |
33.25 |
(times) |
G.P.A. attempting to reach |
x |
3.30 |
(equals) |
Total grade points needed to reach desired G.P.A |
= |
109.72 |
(minus) |
Current grade points on transcript |
- |
95.52 |
(equals) |
Grade points needed in current graded courses
to reach desired G.P.A |
= |
14.20 |
Step II |
Possible scenarios for this student |
|
Grade = Grade Pts. |
B = 3.00 |
13.60 grade points is not sufficient
to reach the desired 3.30 G.P.A. because |
B+ = 3.30 |
95.52 |
grade points previously accumulated |
|
+ 13.60 |
grade points, current courses |
B+=3.30 |
109.12 |
total grade points |
|
+33.25 |
total graded courses |
A=4.00 |
=3.28 |
DID NOT REACH HONORS |
TOTAL=13.60 |
(did not accumulate 14.20 grade
points needed as shown above) |
Grade = Grade Pts. |
B = 3.00 |
14.30 grade points is sufficient
to reach the desired 3.30 G.P.A. because |
B+ = 3.30 |
95.52
|
grade points previously accumulated |
|
+ 14.30 |
grade points, current courses |
A-=3.70 |
109.82 |
total grade points |
|
+33.25 |
total graded courses |
A=4.00 |
=3.30 |
HONORS |
TOTAL=14.30 |
(the 14.30 grade points accumulated
exceeds the 14.20 grade points required as shown above) |
Caution: If in doubt about your calculations
when attempting to project a G.P.A., please request that the Registrar’s
Office verify your figures. Projections that involve a repeated
course vary somewhat from the procedure given. Consult with the
Registrar’s Office to compute a projected G.P.A. when repeating
a course.
GRADE REPORTING
Students have access to their academic records via
the World Wide Web.
Under no condition can grades be reported by telephone
or to third parties, including parents, without specific written
authorization by the student.
GRADE CHANGES
A student has one year to notify the Registrar’s
Office of a grade error on the transcript. A grade error is a recording
mistake made by the Registrar’s Office.
Grade changes, on the other hand, are initiated by
the instructor issuing the original grade. The intended purpose
of the grade change procedure is to correct an instructor’s
computational or other error in reporting a grade, not to represent
additional work on the part of the student. The instructor (both
instructors of a team-taught course) submits a grade change request
to the registrar for consideration. If the request is approved,
the Registrar’s Office informs both the student and the instructor.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR
A minimum of six full (1.00) courses with grades
above C-, (C or higher) must be completed in the major field. Not
more than one of the minimum full courses required for a departmental
or interdisciplinary major may be taken on an S/U basis.
GRADED AND UNGRADED COURSES
A minimum of 24 full (1.00) graded courses out of
35 full equivalent courses is required for graduation. A reduction
scale printed below is used if not all course work is taken at St.
Olaf, or if credit is earned through special programs such as Advanced
Placement. As a rule, two-thirds of the courses taken at St. Olaf
must be graded. The graded course requirement is reduced by scale
in the following instances:
- Credits transferred into St. Olaf from another
institution. However, credits taken on an off-campus program through
another institution if less than two semesters in length will
not reduce the number of graded course credits required for graduation.
This rule applies to students who matriculate at St. Olaf before
going on a non-St. Olaf off-campus program.
- Credit awarded through College Board Advanced
Placement.
- Credits earned on St. Olaf off-campus programs
that are two semesters in length.
A semester-length St. Olaf off-campus program or
combinations of several semester-length off-campus programs will
not reduce the number of graded credits required. However, a course
taught by a St. Olaf instructor on an off-campus program is considered
a graded course and counts toward the 24 required if taken for a
letter grade.
A full-year off-campus program gives a student partial
graded course credit toward the 24-graded-course requirement even
though the letter grades from a full-year program are not computed
in the grade point average unless taught by a St. Olaf instructor.
Under these conditions, the 24-graded-course requirement is reduced
as follows:
Nine courses earned — four graded courses
reduced
Eight courses earned — four graded courses reduced
Seven courses earned — three graded courses reduced
Six courses earned — three graded courses reduced
Interim Exchange courses do not reduce the number
of graded courses required for graduation.
The reduction scale by course quantity is printed
below:
St. Olaf
courses taken |
St. Olaf
graded required |
34 |
23 |
33 |
22 |
32 |
22 |
31 |
21 |
30 |
20 |
29 |
20 |
28 |
19 |
27 |
18 |
26 |
18 |
25 |
17 |
24 |
16 |
23 |
16 |
22 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
20 |
14 |
19 |
13 |
18 |
12 |
17 |
12 |
INCOMPLETES
An incomplete in a course is rarely granted and only
if there is a distinct possibility of, and a commitment to, finishing
the course in a timely manner.
A request for an incomplete is initiated by the student
and submitted to of the deans of students. Incompletes are granted
primarily for documented medical reasons and may not be issued by
an instructor without prior approval of the dean of students or
one of the associate deans of students.
An incomplete for which a grade is not recorded by
the extended deadline set at the time of approval of the incomplete
automatically becomes an F. The incompleted course cannot be dropped
from the record at a later date to avoid a failing grade. Once the
course is completed with the assignment of a letter grade and credit,
an asterisk is entered beside it on the permanent transcript indicating
that the course was once incomplete. A student may not apply for
an incomplete in a course added after the posted deadline because
of insufficient time to complete the assigned work.
A student who has been granted an incomplete in a
course cannot subsequently finish the course with similar course
credit transferred from another college. A St. Olaf incomplete that
is not completed at
St. Olaf will be converted into an F following the extended deadline
set at the time of approval of the incomplete. A student with an
incomplete on his/her academic record may participate in Commencement
if all other requirements for graduation have been met (see page
57). Only after a final grade has been recorded for the course,
however, will a degree be conferred and a diploma issued.
Only in the most extraordinary circumstances are incompletes
allowed on St. Olaf abroad programs
not led by a St. Olaf faculty member. Many non-U.S. colleges and
universities are not familiar with the
practice of giving incompletes, and constraints having to do with
distance and time make it very difficult
to follow up on incompletes. Consequently, students should not anticipate
being able to avail
themselves of this option.
MUSIC
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Music major
and the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Music are defined
only in this catalog. Students should also consult the Music Handbook.
Bachelor of Arts Music and Music Education majors should be careful
to complete 21 credits outside of the major.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Student participation in campus musical organizations
(choirs, orchestras, bands, ensembles, etc.) is not awarded course
credit.
PERFORMANCE STUDIES COURSES
Performance studies courses (music lessons) are always
Level I courses for Bachelor of Arts students.
Performance studies courses (lessons) are upper level courses for
Bachelor of Music students only in their principal performing medium
and only during the junior and senior years.
Generally, performance studies courses are fractional
(.25) courses, not full credit courses. Registration for performance
studies courses must be approved by the Music Department. Registration
instructions are published in the Class and Lab Schedule. Lessons
may be added to or dropped from a student’s registration only
with a music lesson drop/add slip available from the Music Office.
This drop/add slip must be processed by the Music Department academic
administrative assistant before it will be accepted in the Registrar’s
Office.
Registration for performance studies lessons may
result in an additional fee; see the Music Office for details. If
a student drops a performance studies course (lessons) after the
first day of class, no refund of music lesson fees is made.
P/N COURSES (PASS/NO-PASS GRADES)
P/N credits are earned in courses that are offered
only P/N. In other words, every student taking the course is doing
so on an ungraded basis. This differs from S/U grades where each
student in a course may elect to take the course graded or ungraded.
Courses offered only on the P/N basis, if so designated, may fulfill
General Education graduation requirements.
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