Attendance

Absence from class will be noted and will negatively affect your grade unless prior notice is given to the professor and the reason is legitimate. More than 3 unexcused absences from any architecture class will result in an 'F' grade. Requirements for class may include class meetings, assignments and/or performances that will be held off-campus.  Students/participants will provide his/her own method of transportation to the off-campus location.

School Grading Standards: Undergraduate

Grades for undergraduate courses may be:            A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F

A          Represents comprehensive excellence and a quality that is exemplary.  Not only does the work fulfill all requirements in an excellent and professional manner, but it goes beyond the given requirements aiming at standards higher than requested.  The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities.  Intellectual progress and development have been demonstrated by the timely preparation of thoughtful work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

B          Represents work which can be distinguished as being of truly ‘good’ quality.  This work is of a quality that has been instructive to the rest of the class.  The work is free of significant flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture.  The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities.  Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

C          Represents satisfactory and average performance.  The work is free of major design flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture.  Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.  The student and instructor can take ‘satisfaction’ in the average resolution of the design exercise 

D          Represents ‘passable’ work which fulfills requirements, is completed on time, and represents a minimal response to the design exercise.  Overall, the quality of work is inferior and undistinguished 

F           Represents substandard work that is not passable.  Work has not fulfilled requirements, or has not been completed on time, or it is not an appropriate response to the design exercise. More than 3 unexcused absences from any architecture class will result in an 'F' grade. 

I           An ‘Incomplete’ can only be given in exceptional cases where there is a serious excusable reason for not completing course requirements.  The quality of work in the course up to that point must have been C level or above. Timely completion of the course requirements must be agreed in a University mandated written contract between student and instructor.

X          Non-attendance and No Basis for Grade. The X grade is used when there is little or no attendance and no work/performance upon which to base an academic evaluation. 

Instructors are permitted to assign (+) or (-) to grades; however, there is no A+ or F+.

Each instructor will establish attendance policies for their particular class.  However, as a School policy, more than three unexcused absences will result in a grade of X (No Basis for Grade) for that class.

A grade of Incomplete (I) cannot be carried into the next immediate term of studio classes.  If the grade of (I) has not been removed by completion of work, the student will not be permitted to enroll in the next studio class in sequence since the prerequisite will not have been fulfilled.

Beginning Fall 2017, Students must obtain at least a B- grade in all 100- and 200-level required architecture classes for them to count toward the major. All other classes used to satisfy the major must be graded C- or higher.

School Grading Standards: Graduate

Grades for graduate courses may be:            A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F

All assignments issued by the professor are gradable and will be taken into account in making a final grade. Submission of any assignment past the due time and date will incur a penalty of one grade loss per day late. Grading will follow course specific grading criteria described in each course syllabus, in full accordance with the School of Architecture Graduate Grading Standards as presented below.

A       Represents comprehensive excellence and a quality that is exemplary.  Not only does the work fulfill all requirements in an excellent and professional manner, but it goes beyond the given requirements aiming at standards higher than requested.  The student is an active, engaged participant in all class activities.  Intellectual progress and development have been demonstrated by the timely preparation of thoughtful work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.

B       Represents satisfactory and average performance.  The work is free of major design flaws and is recognizable as coherent architecture.  Intellectual progress and development has been demonstrated by the timely preparation of work by the beginning of class on a regular basis.       

C     Represents substandard work; overall, the quality of work is inferior and undistinguished. Any form of C grade will NOT count towards graduation and courses will need to be retaken. Such a grade is also very likely to lead to academic probation, and potential disqualification from the graduate program.

D, F   Unacceptable grades in the graduate program. More than 3 unexcused absences from any architecture class will result in an 'F' grade. 

X    Non-attendance and No Basis for Grade. The X grade is used when there is little or no attendance and no work/performance upon which to base an academic evaluation. 

I     An ‘Incomplete’ can only given in exceptional cases where there is a serious excusable reason for not completing course requirements.  The quality of work in the course up to that point must have been B level or above. Timely completion of the course requirements must be agreed in a University mandated written contract between student and instructor.  A grade of Incomplete (I) cannot be carried into the next immediate term of studio classes.  If the grade of (I) has not been removed by completion of work, the student will not be permitted to enroll in the next studio class in sequence since the prerequisite will not have been fulfilled.

Academic Probation for Graduate Students

Grades of C+ or less do not meet acceptable standards for graduates in the Master’s program. Please see graduate studies grading criteria in the PSU Bulletin for a full explanation regarding such grades and the University’s policies regarding Academic Probation for Graduate Students.

Graduate Learning Objectives

View and download the Graduate Learning Objectives and Assessment Measures.

Procedures for Appeal of Grades