Grades and Course Units
University Policy
School of Public Health Grading Policy
Most unit-bearing courses at Boston University School of Public Health (SPH) are graded on an A–F scale, or notated with the special symbols described below.
| Letter Grade | Honor Points | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | |
| A– | 3.7 | |
| B+ | 3.3 | |
| B | 3.0 | |
| B– | 2.7 | |
| C+ | 2.3 | |
| C | 2.0 | |
| C– | 1.7 | |
| D | 1.0 | Fail, no units |
| F | 0.0 | Fail, no units |
| P | Not applicable | Pass |
| AU | Not applicable | Audit, no units |
| I | Not applicable | Incomplete |
| J | Not applicable | Incomplete, continuing registration into next term |
| MG | Not applicable | Missing grade, grade not assigned |
| W | Not applicable | Withdrew from course after drop deadline |
All SPH candidates must maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA each term as part of the criteria to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Students whose Term College GPA is below 3.0 will be subject to academic review. Grade minimums are listed in the Academic Standing policy—students do not receive academic units for grades below the minimum.
All SPH candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at SPH to graduate.
Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)
- To compute the total honor points for a desired time frame, multiply the units per course by the honor points associated with the grade for a course (displayed in chart above). Sum the product for all courses in the desired time frame.
- Divide the sum total by the number of units attempted during that time frame; the result is the grade point average (GPA) for the time frame.
- The grades and units of all courses are considered in the overall GPA.
- The following grade symbols are never associated with honor points and are therefore not used in the calculation of the GPA: AU, P, W, and MG.
- “I” (incomplete) grades are not computed in the GPA until all required work is completed and an appropriate letter grade assigned.
- “J” (incomplete, continuing) grades are assigned only for 0-unit courses with continuous registration and are not computed in the GPA. The grade for each registration will turn to a P after work is successfully completed.
Dispute Resolution Process
A concern or complaint from an SPH student should be directed to the persons whose actions or inactions have given rise to the concern or complaint. Whenever possible, every effort should be made to resolve the problem promptly at the level at which it occurred. The student may pursue the issue within the normal reporting structure of the academic or administrative department at SPH. If a student feels they have been unfairly treated by an instructor or teaching assistant of an SPH course, the student should contact the chair (or their designee) of the department in which course is taught. If the chair is the instructor, the student should seek assistance from the associate dean for education. Should the student need additional assistance, they may also see staff in the Boston University Ombudsman Office, located at 19 Deerfield Street, Suite 203 on the Charles River Campus and Suite 818 in the Solomon Carter Fuller Building, 85 East Newton Street, on the Medical Campus.
Grievance Process
When a student has reason to believe that their rights have been denied by reason of discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or other unlawful bias, they may file a formal written grievance with the dean of the School of Public Health, Talbot 1 Center, 715 Albany Street, or the dean of students of Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. The grievance statement should be as specific as possible regarding the action(s) that precipitated the grievance: date, place, and people involved; efforts made to settle the matter informally; and the remedy sought. Full copies of the “Grievance Procedures in Cases of Alleged Discrimination” are available at the SPH Office for Student Services, Talbot 2 East, or at the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students, Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02215.
If a student’s grievance alleges discrimination based on disability, the director of the Disability & Access Services office, who is the University’s compliance officer for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, will also be provided with a copy of the grievance and will be involved in resolution of the grievance, as appropriate.
