To assist in understanding the course level, refer to the following guidelines:

• 1-99(0001-0999) course is not awarded credit towards a baccalaureate degree. 
• 100-199(1000- 1999) course is primarily for freshmen, but may be taken by sophomores, juniors and/or seniors
• 200-299(2000 –2999) course is primarily for sophomores, but may be taken by juniors and/or seniors.  Can not be taken for graduate credit
• 300-399(3000- 3999) course is open to junior and senior students.
• 400-499(4000-4999) course is open to senior and/or graduate students (so long as a graduate program provides for the inclusion of a designated number of undergraduate hours.)
• 500-599(5000 –5999) course open to graduate students and undergraduate students with permission. 
• 600-699(6000-6999) course open to graduate students only.
• 700-799(7000-7999) course open to graduate students in doctoral programs.
•  800-899(8000-8999) course open to students in the school of optometry.

Credit Hours
The university credit unit is the semester hour, which represents a subject pursued one period weekly for one semester of approximately 16 weeks or for a total of approximately 16 periods for one term.  Generally, a course valued at 3 semester hours meets for three periods weekly for one semester, a 2-credit course two periods a week for a semester, and so on.  Normally, the lecture or recitation period is 50 minutes long and the laboratory period one hour and 50 minutes.

The number of credit hours is in parentheses after each course title.  If the credit is variable, to be fixed in consultation with the instructor, it is shown by (credit arranged) or by minimum and maximum credit, such as research (2-8).

Faculty have full discretion in using full-letter grades, plus/minus grades, or any combination of full-letter and plus/minus grades.  The student's grade point average is computed by dividing the total quality points (number of credit hours for a course, multiplied by the grade value received) by the number of  hours taken (excluding grade modified hours).

Three options offer students convenient ways to obtain their final grades at the end of each semester.  Unless a specific request is made through the Registrar's Office, the University of Missouri system does not distribute grade reports to students via postal mail.  Final course grades can be obtained electronically by any of the following three methods:

To access your grades through STAR or TRAIN you must know your student number  and personal identification number (PIN).  If you need assistance with your PIN, you should come to the Office of the Registrar, at 269 Millennium Student Center with photo identification.  For security reasons, you cannot obtain or change your PIN over the telephone.

Delayed Grade. A student whose work is incomplete at the end of any semester and who has, in the instructor's judgment, sufficient reasons for failing to complete the work, may, with the approval of the instructor and department chairperson, be assigned a delayed grade.  Such work must be made up no later than one semester after the incomplete grade is given, or the grade automatically becomes F.  The dean may, in unusual circumstances, extend this time limitation (summer session is not counted as a semester).  Notice of change in a delayed grade shall be given to the registrar on a special form.

Y Grade. When, in the instructor's judgment, there is no basis for evaluating the work of a student who does not officially drop a course or officially withdraw from the university, a mark of Y (unauthorized withdrawal--no basis for evaluation) is given.

Examinations.  Examinations may be given only at regular class meeting times or as designated by the Senate Committee on Curriculum and Instruction.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option. Undergraduate students may take up to 18 credit hours on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grading basis.  This includes courses taken as electives or those which satisfy the general education requirements.  Most courses required for a specific degree may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis Academic departments may designate other courses within their jurisdiction which may not be taken under the option.

A satisfactory grade "S" is recorded when an instructor assigns the grade of A, A-, B+, B-, C+, or C-, and has no numerical value in computing one's cumulative grade point average; however, it does satisfy credit-hour graduation requirements.  An unsatisfactory grade -- U -- is recorded when an instructor assigns the grades of  D+, D, D-, or F, and  has no numerical value in computing one's cumulative grade point average, nor  does it satisfy any credit-hour graduation requirements.  Grades will be recorded on transcripts as S or U.

Students register for courses in the normal manner and may exercise the satisfactory/unsatisfactory option before the end of the first four weeks of a regular semester (or the first two weeks of a summer session).  Requests for this option are made through the proper dean's office.  Instructors are not informed of students taking courses on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Repeating Courses. Students may not repeat for grade point average or credit hour purposes courses in which grades of A, A- B+, B, B-,  C+, C, or C- have been earned.  All grades earned will affect the calculation of one's cumulative grade point average; the course hours, however, will be counted only once in calculating hours towards one's degree. (See Grade Modification.)

Grade Modification. When the grade received in an initial attempt in a course at UM-St. Louis is a D+, D, D-, or F, the grade may be replaced in the calculation of the GPA by the grade received in a second or subsequent attempt of the same course at UM-St. Louis.  All grades received in second and subsequent attempts will be included in GPA calculations.  A maximum of 15 hours may be dropped from the calculation of the student's GPA.  All attempts of a given course will appear on the official transcript with the grade(s) earned.  The transcript will have an explanation which states that the GPA is calculated using all grades earned in a course except the initial attempt when a course has been repeated and grade modified.

Note: Grade modification is not automatic.  After completing the second or subsequent attempt of the course to be modified, students must process the necessary paperwork with an academic adviser in the academic unit in which the student is currently enrolled.