III. Graduate Program Grading

  1. Letter Scale

 All graduate degree and graduate certificate candidates, except joint degree candidates, will be graded on a “High Honors”, “Honors”, “Pass”, and “Fail” grading scale.

  1. S/U Option

A student may exercise the option not to receive a letter grade (HH-F scale) in one elective offering, unless the instructor has limited the evaluation to letter grades only. This option is available for a (1-3) credit course. A student may not exercise the S/U option for a course needed to fulfill a degree requirement or for a course needed to fulfill an elective requirement. For this purpose, a course which would qualify as meeting a requirement, which the student has already satisfied is an elective. In the event of successful completion of such offering, the student shall receive a grade of Satisfactory (S). In the event that such offering is not successfully completed, the final grade shall be Unsatisfactory (U). A grade of S is not calculated in the GPA, while a grade of U is equivalent to a failing grade and impacts the GPA. No student under the jurisdiction of the Committee for Academic Standing and Success shall be allowed to opt for S/U grading without permission of the committee. (Adopted by faculty 3/5/2015)

  1. Rank and Curve

​Graduate degree candidates will not be given a class rank nor will their grades be factored into any curve applicable to JD students enrolled in the same course.

  1. Assessments

​In courses in which graduate and JD program students are enrolled, a professor may administer alternative exams or assessments for non-JD students.

  1. Grade Values

     
    1. For purposes of converting graduate program grades into a grade point average, the following values will be applied:
      1. A High Honors equals 4 points;
      2. A Honors equals 3 points;
      3. A Pass equals 2 points; each
      4. A Fail grade equals zero points.

  2. Numerical Equivalents

​A “High Honors average” will include any numerical average of grades on this scale falling at or above 3.5. An “Honors average” will include any numerical average of grades on this scale falling at or above 3.0 and below 3.5. A “Pass average” will include any numerical average of grades on this scale falling at or above 2.0 and below 3.0.

  1. LL.M. Degree Candidates GPA Requirements

    1. Degree candidates who hold a JD degree must maintain an “Honors” average to be granted the LL.M. degree.
    2. Degree candidates who do not hold a JD degree must maintain a “Pass” average to be granted the LL.M. degree.

  2. Master’s Degree GPA Requirements

​Master’s candidates must maintain a “Pass” average or higher to be granted the Master’s degree.

  1. Graduate Certificate GPA Requirements

​​ Graduate Certificate candidates must maintain a “Pass” average or higher to be granted the certificate.

  1. Advanced Standing Applicants.

Sections (A) through (I) are inapplicable to graduate degree candidates who seek advanced standing admission to the J.D. program. Such candidates must notify the registrar of their intent to apply to the J.D. program no later than 6 weeks after matriculating at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law . Advanced standing applicants will be graded according to J.D. Rule IV, including taking the same assessment as J.D. students except that such applicants shall not be included in the course’s B-mean calculation, if applicable. Degree candidates who do not matriculate into the J.D. program may elect to have their Rule IV grades converted into the graduate program grading scale described above. Professors will assign advanced standing applicants grades on the J.D. and graduate grading scale. Students who are not admitted to the J.D. program may elect to receive their graduate grades. (Adopted by faculty 10/1/2015)