Graduate Courses
A graduate course is a discrete, time-delimited unit of instructional/learning activity identified by a course code, in which a student must enroll. All graduate courses must have an instructor in charge who is appointed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Regular sessions of all graduate courses must be offered in an approved university academic space/location, normally on campus. An exception can only be granted with the approval of the Dean on the recommendation of the graduate program director.
Graduate courses must be approved in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies, relevant anchor Faculty Council and Senate policies and procedures. Initial approval of new courses by the relevant anchor Faculty Council and the Senate includes approval of the scope and feasibility for completion within the allotted time of requirements in those courses. All graduate programs shall, on an ongoing basis, and in consultation with students, ensure that requirements in courses are reasonable, and can normally be accomplished within the course period.
Graduate programs may have a variety of requirements that are normally not courses but constitute other academic events or milestones which have been approved in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies, relevant anchor Faculty Council and Senate policies and procedures. Some common non-course academic events and milestones are major research papers/projects/review essays, graduate milestone examinations, practica, internships, fieldwork, thesis, dissertations, etc.
Grading System
Grades will be awarded for every course in which a student is enrolled in accordance with the following system. The letter grade system is the fundamental system of assessment of course performance in graduate programs at York University. In courses where percentages are used as a means of reporting grades on individual pieces of work, the following conversion table is to be used in converting percentage grades to letter grades, unless alternative provisions for scaling and/or conversion are announced to students in writing within the first two weeks of classes.
The percentages indicated are not part of the official grading scheme and are meant only to be used as guidelines.
Grading System | Percentage | |
---|---|---|
A+ | Exceptional | 90 – 100% |
A | Excellent | 85 – 89% |
A- | High | 80 – 84% |
B+ | Highly Satisfactory | 75 – 79% |
B | Satisfactory | 70 – 74% |
C | Conditional | 60 – 69% |
F | Failure | 0 – 59% |
I | Incomplete | N/A |
Note: Different grading systems and grading regulations apply in the graduate programs in the Schulich School of Business and the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies. Consult the appropriate calendar or handbook for more information.
Reporting of Grades
The grades for a course are considered official following approval by the home graduate program of the course. The Faculty of Graduate Studies may change a grade if the program director concerned reports a clerical error or if an appeal to the program results in a change of grade. Graduate course grades must be reported by the graduate program director to the Registrar’s Office by the following dates:
If a course grade or approved Incomplete is not reported to the Registrar’s Office within one month of the appropriate reporting date, the course will be assigned a grade of ‘F’.
Grade Reports
In addition to letter grades, the following course performance designations may be used on grade reports.
Academic Standing
Transfer Credit (Advanced Standing)
Following initial registration in a graduate program and prior to completion of the first term of study, graduate students may request transfer credit (advanced standing) for graduate-level courses completed at York University or another institution that have not been used to fulfill the requirements of another degree program or graduate diploma. Credit for such work will be determined by the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the program concerned. Transfer credit accepted towards the fulfillment of the degree program to which the student has been admitted may count for up to 50% of the coursework requirements for the York graduate diploma or degree program.
Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
In exceptional circumstances upper-level undergraduate students can register in a graduate course for credit. This credit may not be re-used towards a York graduate degree. Students will be assessed under the grading scheme for the course.
Graduate Students Taking Undergraduate Courses
In exceptional circumstances graduate students can register in an undergraduate course for credit. This credit may not be re-used towards a York undergraduate degree. Students will be assessed under the grading scheme for the course.