GRADES & STANDINGS
Reporting and Approval of Grades
A report of your grades and standings is prepared for approval or other action needed at regular meetings of the Faculty’s Assessment Committee. The Assessment Committee is responsible for all grades and standings; all of which are tentative until approved.Grades and Criteria
Grading is based on actual performance, not on anticipated or potential capacity to perform.“A” signifies truly outstanding work, with ample evidence of creative and original thinking. The work is well organized, well written and well presented. The capacities are evident both to appropriately critique extensive and recent literature and to analyze and synthesize material. The relevance to social work practice and social welfare is well established.
“B” signifies good work, which shows clear evidence of having a sound grasp of the subject matter along with evidence of critical capacity and analytic ability at a demanding graduate level. The understanding of relevant issues under examination is adequate. There is evidence of a proper search of the literature and expected familiarity with its content and perspectives.
“FZ” denotes inadequate performance considering the expectations of a graduate program. There may be a combination of superficial and/or confused understanding of the subject matter, weakly focused content, failure to direct attention to the assigned topic, and limited use of critical and analytic skills. The literature selected may be out of date for the purpose, too limited in scope, or not clearly relevant.
Credit (CR) is given if you meet expectations. This designation is used for SWK 4701 Social Work Practicum I and SWK4702 Social Work Practicum II and for the Social Work Laboratory SWK4105. No Credit (NCR) is given if you fail to meet expectations. A NCR is the equivalent of an FZ grade and is subject to the same regulations concerning “supplemental” and “repeat”.
In the event that a student in the first year of the M.S.W. Program does not succeed in two or more of the required courses, withdrawal from the program will normally be required and a supplemental will not be offered.
NOTE: Secondary distinctions are made within the grades of “A” and “B” by using “+” and “-” signify that the work is high or low within that letter grade.
The number equivalents for the letter grades are: A+ (90+); A (85-89); A- (80-84); B+ (77-79); B (73-76); B- (70-72).