Academic Regulations

Students at the College of Charleston undertake a rigorous course of study that demands a significant time commitment to the academic regimen. As a part of their academic responsibility, all students must devote adequate time to their studies. Many support services on campus are devoted to helping students achieve academic success. Information on specific support services may be found in the student support services section of this catalog.

All undergraduate students at the College of Charleston are required to be familiar with and adhere to the following academic policies.

Degree Requirements

Artium Baccalaureatus, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, and Bachelor of Science Degrees

The trustees and faculty of the College of Charleston are authorized by the charter of the College to confer the Artium Baccalaureatus, Bachelor of arts, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, and the Bachelor of Science degrees. (See individual schools for a complete list of majors and degrees offered.) Additional requirements for the Artium Baccalaureatus degree appear below.

In order to graduate with an Artium Baccalaureatus, a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Integrated Studies, or a Bachelor of Science degree, the student must:

1. Satisfy the liberal arts and sciences general education degree requirements  by earning credit in the courses specified and/or successfully passing approved placement exams offered in their stead.
2. Complete the First-Year Experience requirement. All students who have completed less than one year of college when they enter the College of Charleston must complete a First-Year Seminar (FYSE) or a Learning Community (LC) during their first year.
3. Complete all of the requirements for at least one major with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 in those major courses identified by the department or program. See specific major requirements in the Programs of Study section of the catalog for a list of major GPA courses and exclusions. Some programs require a major GPA greater than a 2.000; see specific major requirements in the “Programs of Study” section of the catalog. Note: Any course approved through exception management that will be used as a substitute for a course within a program of study’s exclusion list will not be calculated in the major GPA.
4. Satisfy the residence requirement by earning a minimum of 32 credit hours through instruction delivered by the College of Charleston.
5. Earn a minimum of 122 credit hours, with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.000 in all courses taken at the College (i.e., at least twice as many quality points as quality hours). Courses numbered 099 and EDLS 100   are not counted as part of the 122 credit hour minimum needed for the degree nor do they count toward the GPA.
6. As required by South Carolina statute (Sect. 59-29-120 and Sect. 59-29-130), all degree-seeking undergraduate students admitted or readmitted Fall 2021 forward must earn 3 credit hours from list of faculty approved courses designated to satisfy the Founding Documents requirement  as outlined in state law. Approved Founding Documents courses may also fulfill other degree requirements (e.g. general education, major, minor, or First Year Experience). This requirement must only be satisfied once at the College of Charleston.
7. Complete the College of Charleston Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Requirement  . 

Artium Baccalaureatus (A.B.)

In order to graduate with an A.B. degree, the student must: (1) complete all required courses in any major; (2) achieve in either Latin or Ancient Greek advanced proficiency, demonstrated by the completion of two courses in one of these languages at the 300 level or above (LATN 305 , LATN 321 , LATN 322 , LATN 323 , LATN 371 , LATN 372 , LATN 373 , LATN 390 , LATN 490  or two courses from GREK 321 , GREK 322 , GREK 323 , GREK 324 , GREK 325 , GREK 326 , GREK 371 , GREK 372 , GREK 390 , GREK 490 )*; (3) complete two in classical civilization (see listing below).

*Note: The Classics A.B. major requires both Greek and Latin languages.

Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.)

The trustees and faculty of the College of Charleston are authorized by the charter of the College to confer the Bachelor of Professional Studies degree.

In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree, the student must meet the degree requirements:

1. Completed a minimum of 122 credit hours while maintaining a 2.000 cumulative GPA.
2. Earned credit in concentration courses required for the degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 in those major courses identified by the department or program. See specific major requirements in the Programs of Study section of the catalog for a list of major GPA courses and exclusions. Some programs require a major GPA greater than a 2.000; see specific major requirements in the “Programs of Study” section of the catalog. Note: Any course approved through exception management that will be used as a substitute for a course within a program of study’s exclusion list will not be calculated in the major GPA.
3. Satisfy the residence requirement by earning a minimum of 35 credit hours through instruction delivered by the College of Charleston.
4. Must complete the Bachelor of Professional Studies Program Pre-Requisites requirements. Please contact your advisor.
5. Complete 30 credit hours of concentration credits as specified by the requirements to earn that concentration.
6. As required by South Carolina statute (Sect. 59-29-120 and Sect. 59-29-130), all degree-seeking undergraduate students admitted or readmitted Fall 2021 forward must earn 3 credit hours from a list of faculty approved courses designated to satisfy the Founding Documents requirement  as outlined in state law. Approved Founding Documents courses may also fulfill other degree requirements (e.g. general education, major, minor, or First Year Experience). This requirement must only be satisfied once at the College of Charleston.
7. Complete the College of Charleston Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Requirement  . 

Undergraduate Residence Requirement

At least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the undergraduate degree must be earned through instruction delivered by the institution awarding the degree. Specific degrees may require more than 25 percent of required credit hours to be completed through instruction delivered by the College of Charleston.  Students seeking to earn the A.B., B.A., B.I.S., or B.S. degree from the College of Charleston must earn a minimum of 32 credit hours through instruction delivered by the College of Charleston.  Students seeking to earn the B.P.S. degree from the College of Charleston must earn a minimum of 35 credit hours through instruction delivered by the College of Charleston.

Senior-Year Residency

The senior year of work for the degree must be completed in residence at the College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution. However, candidates who have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours at the College of Charleston may petition the Transfer Resource Center to complete up to twelve of their final credit hours at another institution or by CLEP or DSST exam during their senior year (see Courses Taken Elsewhere ). Petitions require review and approval from the Department Chair or Program Director of the student’s major, minor, or certificate, as applicable. For study abroad, the determination in advance for credit awarded during the senior year will be made by the Department Chair or Program Director for the student’s major, minor, or certificate, as applicable (see Study Abroad ).

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A College of Charleston student may earn more than one baccalaureate degree (i.e., B.A., A.B., B.S.) concurrently at the College of Charleston, if he or she meets the following requirements:

• Earns a minimum of 153 credit hours*, including a minimum of 63 credit hours in residence at College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution.
• Meets all degree requirements for both degree programs.
• Meets all prerequisite and course requirements in two different major fields.

*In the case of multiple majors in different degree programs where the student has not completed the requirements for two degrees, the degree awarded will default to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Students who do not wish to receive the default degree must send an email to graduation@cofc.edu by the Friday prior to the commencement ceremony.

A student who has previously earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and wishes to earn a second degree if it is different from the first (i.e., a B.A. if the first degree was a B.S. and vice versa) must apply for re-admission for the second degree, and then:

• Must earn a minimum of 31 additional credit hours (beyond the 122 currently required for degree) in residence at the College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution.
• Meet all degree requirements for the second degree program in the catalog under which he or she enters, or in a subsequent catalog.
• Meet all prerequisite and course requirements in the major field(s) for the second degree.

Note:  A student may not earn a B.A. and a B.S. in the same subject, even with the additional 31 credit hours for another degree. Students earning an A.B degree will earn that degree in place of the B.A. or B.S. normally earned with the major.

Pursuing an Additional Major After Earning a College of Charleston Degree

A student who has previously earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and wishes to pursue further undergraduate work may complete an additional major and have it noted on the official transcript (with date of completion). College of Charleston students completing a major in the same degree program previously awarded will not receive a second diploma. However, the official transcript will reflect the additional major. Students must:

• Meet all degree requirements for the second major in the catalog under which he or she enters, or in a subsequent catalog.
• Meet all prerequisite and course requirements in the major field(s).

Catalog Year Policy

For Students Admitted or Readmitted Fall 2013 Forward:

Students must fulfill the general education and the degree requirements, and must abide by the academic regulations in effect at the time of their matriculation at the College of Charleston. Matriculation is defined as the first term of degree seeking enrollment or first term of readmission at the College. This catalog year remains fixed during the period of time a student is continuously enrolled. Students must fulfill the major requirements in the catalog at the time of major declaration. Requirements for concentrations, cognates, or tracks associated with a major are attached to the catalog year of that major. For more than one major and for all minors, requirements are associated with the catalog year of each declaration. A change of degree (A.B., B.A., B.S.) does not warrant a catalog change except when new degrees are offered within existing majors. Continuously enrolled students have the option to update their catalog year to the current year for each major or minor. Students may not return to a prior catalog year.

Students can submit a request to update their catalog year to the current term for a major or minor through the POSM (Program of Study Management) system. Students are advised to consult with their faculty advisor prior to making a catalog year change.  Changing a catalog year can have an impact on specific graduation requirements for a major, minor, or certificate.

First-Year Experience

843.953.2153
https://fye.cofc.edu
fye@cofc.edu

The First-Year Experience is an academic course or sequence of courses designed to provide students with the skills that are necessary for success at the College of Charleston. All students who have completed less than one year of college when they enter the College of Charleston must complete a First-Year Seminar (FYSE, FYSG, FYSU), Learning Community (LC), or an Honors College First-Year Experience course during their first year. FYE course descriptions, credit hours and the requirements that each course will satisfy can be found at http://fye.cofc.edu.

A First-Year Seminar (FYSE, FYSG, FYSU) focuses on topics within or across academic disciplines of study. First-Year Seminars are small courses (generally between 20-25 students), with narrow topics of study, taught by roster faculty members. A Learning Community links two or more courses, often around an interdisciplinary theme or problem. All Learning Communities and First-Year Seminars include a weekly Synthesis Seminar. The Synthesis Seminar includes an hour of discussion and reflection led by a Peer Facilitator who is an upper-level student at the College. Most FYE courses contain social events and class trips that allow FYE students to get to know faculty and peers outside of the classroom.

Successful completion of the First-Year Experience is a degree requirement. Students required to complete a First-Year Experience must complete it within their first three consecutive academic terms. For students entering in the Fall, the consecutive terms include Fall, Spring and Summer. For students entering in the Spring, the consecutive academic terms include Spring, Summer, and Fall. Once students begin the FYE, they must be continuously enrolled until they have completed the requirement. Failure to complete the requirement in the first two academic terms will result in a registration hold until the requirement is completed in the third academic term. Students who fail to complete the requirement in their first three academic terms must satisfy the requirement by continuously enrolling in a First Year Experience Project class until they successfully pass the course.

Major Requirements

Declaring Your Major

Declaring your major is instrumental to your academic success at the College of Charleston. This will help you plan the most efficient and beneficial path to your degree. Currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate students must declare a major no later than the second semester of their sophomore year (45-60 credit hours). The deadline to declare a major for each semester is posted on the Academic Advising and Planning Center website. Students can submit their major declaration requests online through the Program of Study Management (POSM) channel located in MyPortal. Students who do not meet the deadline will have a “Missing Major Declaration” registration hold placed on their account.  In order to release this hold, the student must either declare a major in the Program of Study Management (POSM) system or meet with their academic advisor.

A.B., B.A., B.S. Degrees

At least 15 credit hours in the major at the 200-level or above must be earned in residence at the College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution. Students may complete a double major by fulfilling the requirements of two major programs. If both are completed at the time of graduation under one degree, both majors will be listed on the diploma. If the two majors are different degree categories (A.B., B.A., B.S.), the student may choose which degree he or she will earn, unless the requirements have been met for two separate degrees (i.e., 153 credit hours, including all degree requirements). Please see the Second Bachelor’s Degree policy, located in the beginning of the Academic Regulations Section, for additional information. All majors completed will be recorded on the transcript. A student may not earn a B.A. and a B.S. in the same subject, even with the additional 31 hours for another degree.

B.P.S. Degree

At least 15 credit hours in the major at the 200-level or above must be earned in residence at the College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution. Please see the Second Bachelor’s Degree policy, located in the beginning of the Academic Regulations Section, for additional information on returning to earn an additional major or second degree. A student may not earn an A.B., B.A., B.I.S., or B.S. degree concurrently with the B.P.S. degree.

Concentrations and Minors

In addition to completing a major, a degree-seeking student may elect to pursue a program of study organized around a particular theme within the major discipline (a concentration) or outside the major discipline (a minor). These courses may be selected from a single department or from several, and interdisciplinary courses may be included. Either program must include a minimum of 18 credit hours selected from a formally designated group. Courses used to satisfy the requirements of a concentration or minor may not be applied toward another concentration or minor.

Earning a Minor

The College of Charleston does not require students to complete a minor. However, a minor allows you to take advantage of the extensive offerings across the College. There are a few rules to keep in mind when pursuing a minor.

• At least nine credit hours in the minor must be earned in residence at the College of Charleston. Residency is defined as instruction delivered by the College of Charleston, the degree granting institution.
• At least nine credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 200-level or above.
• Successful completion of a minor requires a grade point average of at least 2.000 in all courses taken which comprise it.
• Courses used to satisfy the requirements of a concentration or minor may not be applied toward another concentration or minor.
• Students must formally declare a concentration or minor online through the Program of Study Management (POSM) channel located in MyPortal in order to have the degree audit and transcript reflect credit for work done in that concentration or minor. A concentration or minor must be formally declared before the degree is posted.
• A student may earn a total of two minors from the College of Charleston.

Minors in Relation to Majors or Certificates

• A student may not concurrently complete a major and a minor in the same subject.
• A student who earns a bachelor’s degree (A.B., B.A., B.I.S., B.S., B.P.S.) from the College of Charleston may return and complete the requirements for an additional major. In this case, credits from a previously earned minor may be used to complete requirements for a major in the same subject. All requirements for the additional major must be met. See applicable sections under Second Bachelor’s Degree or Pursuing an Additional Major After Earning a College of Charleston Degree in the undergraduate catalog for specific details.
• A student returning to complete an additional major may also earn a minor so long as it does not exceed a total of two from the College. At no time may a student earn a subsequent minor in the same subject as a completed major. See applicable sections under Second Bachelor’s Degree or Pursuing an Additional Major After Earning a College of Charleston Degree in the undergraduate catalog for specific details.
• Completion of a minor is designated on the official transcript, but a minor does not appear on the diploma.
• Students may not earn a certificate and minor in the same subject.

Undergraduate Certificates

An undergraduate certificate is a focused collection of undergraduate courses that, when completed, affords the student some record of academic accomplishment in a given discipline, a set of related disciplines, or an interdisciplinary area.  An undergraduate certificate is not a degree, as degrees are defined by the College of Charleston.  The purpose of a certificate program is for students to obtain specific competencies related to an area of expertise.

All admissions, academic, and student policies of the College of Charleston apply to students who are working to complete an undergraduate certificate.

In order to earn an undergraduate certificate:

1. Students must fulfill the certificate requirements in the catalog at the time of certificate declaration. Continuously enrolled students have the option to update their catalog year to the current year for each certificate.
2. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 in certificate courses is required to earn the certificate.  See specific undergraduate certificate requirements in the “Programs of Study” section of the catalog.
3. No more than six credit hours of transferable credit may be applied toward completion of an undergraduate certificate.

Certificates will be awarded and posted on a student’s transcript at the end of the fall, spring, or summer term in which they apply for recognition of an undergraduate certificate. The College of Charleston does not recognize completion of certificate programs as part of commencement ceremonies.

Degree Works Degree Audit

Degree Works is the College of Charleston’s online degree audit and academic advising tool that supports students and their advisors in successfully navigating, tracking, and planning degree completion. Degree Works provides students with access to information regarding their current program(s) of study including institutional, general education, major (with concentration, cognate or track, if applicable), minor, and/or certificate requirements. 

Degree Works is designed to enhance the academic advisement process but is not intended to take the place of an advisor. Degree Works is neither an official academic transcript nor an official confirmation of degree and/or certificate completion. 

Additional information regarding Degree Works can be found on the Office of the Registrar website. 

Curriculum Substitutions or Exceptions

Only under special circumstances will substitutions or exceptions to the curriculum published in the catalog be permitted. No exceptions or waivers may be made for:
GPA requirements. 

• Minimum credit hour requirements of a major/minor/certificate/degree.
• C-grade requirements.
• A department’s/program’s curriculum rules
• Academic Regulations published in the catalog. 

In some cases, as specified in the catalog, students retain the right to petition.

Students requesting a substitution or exception should consult with the program director and/or chair of the department(s). Program directors may submit a request for a substitution or exception consistent with the Guidelines for Evaluating Curriculum Exception Requests by initiating a “petition for exception” in Degree Works. The petition will be reviewed and approved or denied (Program Director/Department Chair or the Associate Provost for Academic & International Programs) and the student notified of the decision via Workflow. All curriculum substitutions or exceptions are recorded in the student’s permanent record along with the name of the approving authority. In cases where a petition is denied, and a student wishes to appeal or the petition is not consistent with the published operating principles, materials will be forwarded to the Office of the Provost. The Associate Provost for Academic & International Programs, acting on behalf of the Provost, will review the petition and appeal and render a final decision.

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar at the College of Charleston is approved by Academic Affairs and the Office of the President. The academic year will be based on three major terms, fall, spring and summer. Fall and spring will each have 14 weeks of class time and a final examination period. Each fall and spring term will also be divided evenly into two express sessions, Express I and Express II. The summer term is divided into four parts of term entitled Maymester, Extended Summer, Summer I, and Summer II. Each full term or part of term class will have meeting times configured and assigned for a minimum of 700 minutes per credit hour. The Academic Calendar is published on the Registrar’s Office website as soon as it is approved.

The Academic Calendar can be found online at https://registrar.cofc.edu/calendars/index.php.

In the Classroom

Course Registration Requirement

Students may attend a course only if they are officially registered in the course and appear on the instructor’s official course roster.  Faculty, Program Directors, and Department Chairs do not have the authority to permit students to attend a course for which they are not registered.  This requirement applies to students who intend to earn course credit and to students who intend to audit a course. 

Once the Drop/Add period has ended, Faculty, Program Directors, or Department Chairs seeking to add a student to a course roster must submit this request through the Addition to the Grade Roll form.  This electronic form can be found under the Faculty Tab in MyPortal.  The student may not attend the course until the Addition to Grade Roll form has been approved and processed.  All Addition to Grade Roll requests include a review by the Office of the Treasurer.  Students have to have resolved all payment issues with the Treasurer before they can be added to, or re-enrolled in, a course section.  Requests for Addition to the Grade Roll after the Attendance Verification deadline require approval from the Provost (or the Provost’s designee).

Course Cancellation Policy

The College reserves the right to cancel any course due to insufficient enrollment prior to the start of classes.  In the event a course is canceled, the relevant department or program will typically attempt to contact the student before the first day of classes.

Class Attendance

Because class attendance is crucial for any course, students are expected to attend all classes and laboratory meetings of each course in which they enroll. Instructors maintain the authority to determine how absences will be addressed, which should be detailed in their attendance policies. Participation in college-sponsored activities, where students are official representatives of the College of Charleston, may result in absence(s). Instructors will recognize absences in which students are official representatives of the College of Charleston (such as intercollegiate academic or athletic team competition, or academic program sanctioned research presentation or artistic performance) as excused.

During the first week of classes, instructors will announce and distribute their attendance policies, including criteria to be used in determining excused absences. Instructors determine whether absences are excused or unexcused for the purposes of participation grades, in-class assignments, and laboratories. Regarding formal graded work (such as exams, presentations, papers), instructors will make “reasonable accommodations” when a student misses class for an event at which s/he is an official representative of the College of Charleston. Examples of reasonable accommodations might include: rescheduling an exam, altering presentation times, or flexibility in assignment submission dates. Students are required to submit documentation of their College representation-related commitment from the appropriate College authority at least one week prior to the scheduled absence in order to be eligible for reasonable accommodations by the instructor. Regardless of any accommodation granted, students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives, requirements, and prerequisites as defined by the instructor and the College.

Attendance Verification

Only students officially registered (graded or auditing) for a course may attend class.  During the week following the drop/add deadline, faculty will verify student enrollments in every course, including individual enrollments (e.g. independent study, internship, tutorial, bachelor’s essay).  Any student appearing on the class roll but determined not to have attended the class even once will be removed.  A student attending class but not appearing on the official class roll must be added to the class no later than the close of the Attendance Verification period as listed on the Academic Calendar.  Additions to the Grade Roll forms can be found under the Faculty Tab in MyPortal.  Additions to the roll after the deadline will require permission of the Provost.

Semester Hours (Credit Hours)

The credit that a student earns by the satisfactory completion of work in any academic course is measured in units called semester credit hours. A credit hour is defined by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education as a unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 14-week period in a semester. One credit of lecture is equivalent to 50 minutes of instructional class time. One credit of lab is equivalent to 180 minutes of instructional class time. Four credit lecture/lab courses are equivalent to 330 minutes of instructional class time (150 minutes lecture/180 minutes lab).

Independent Studies and Internships

Sometimes students may work with faculty advisors in designing courses of independent study for topics or fields of particular interest. Students may also enroll in external experiential education called internships. In all cases of individual instruction, it is the student’s responsibility to plan for these as early as possible, ideally the previous semester, and to be certain that he or she is enrolled by the individual enrollment deadline of the semester in which the academic work is to be completed and evaluated.

Bachelor’s Essays

Bachelor’s essays are intensive research and writing experiences for accomplished and motivated students, under the supervision of individual faculty members. A bachelor’s essay consists of two full semesters (not express terms) of coursework and entitles the student to six hours of credit. A separate grade, and three hours of credit, are assigned for each semester of work. Students intending to write a bachelor’s essay must seek one of the faculty members in their major department to supervise and must submit in writing a proposal for the project. Individual departments may prescribe particular requirements for eligibility for the bachelor’s essay, particular procedures for the approval of proposals, and/or particular guidelines for the projects themselves.

Midterm Grades

While midterm grades are an important tool for monitoring academic progress, students and faculty should make use of a variety of metrics in continuously assessing academic performance in a course.  Students are responsible for knowing their grades and for communicating regularly with each instructor about their performance.  Faculty should assign early and varied assessments of academic performance sufficient in number to reasonably determine a midterm grade.   Midterm grades are submitted and visible to students one week prior to the deadline to withdraw from a course. Deadlines can be found on the academic calendar for each semester. Faculty must enter midterm grades for all students in all undergraduate sections enrolling more than one student. These grades are for advising purposes and not recorded on the student’s official transcript. Faculty should be aware that once the midterm grade entry deadline has passed, late submissions or changes to midterm grades are not possible.

Final Examinations

Examinations must be taken at the time scheduled except when:

1. Two or more exams are scheduled simultaneously.
2. Legitimate and documentable extenuating circumstances prevent the student from completing the examination at the scheduled time (e.g., burial services for an immediate family member).

Students are required to complete the Final Exam Change Request Form and submit it to the course Instructor.

Final Exams and Major Tests During the Last Week of Classes

No major test or final examination may be given during the last week of classes (seven days prior to the designated last day of classes). A major test is defined as an examination worth 20% or more of the final course grade. No test, exam, or other assignment of any weight may be given on or due on Reading Day. Other assignments, such as semester-long projects, quizzes, homework and papers may be due during the last week of classes or during the regularly scheduled final exam period.

This policy does not apply to final laboratory examinations, oral examinations, portfolio or exhibition critiques, individual or group in-class presentations, performance courses, activity classes, bachelor’s essays, tutorials, and/or independent study projects. In exceptional circumstances, the Provost (or Provost’s designee) may waive these restrictions.

The Grading System

Grades are available in Self-Service Banner 9 via the My Grades Tile in MyPortal beginning with the date set by the Registrar’s Office for the term specified. For a complete academic record of their grades, students may request an official academic transcript or they may view their unofficial transcript via the Transcripts tile in MyPortal.

Students receive a grade or status indicator for every course in which they enroll, regardless of the location of the course or the mode of delivery. Each letter grade has a numerical “quality point value” as shown below.

*GA-GC and XC- through XF see the Three Year Option for Readmits (Academic Forgiveness Policy)

**RA-RF see the Course Repetition Policy

***The status indicator of “XX” added to a grade of “F” indicates that a student failed a course due to academic dishonesty. 

Statute of Limitations for Grade Changes

The statute of limitations for grade changes is two calendar years from the original grade submission deadline. After this period of time has elapsed, no grade issued to a student may be changed. Requests for any change of grade should be initiated by the faculty member who assigned the grade. All requests must be adequately documented. Grades will not be changed for a student, once that student has graduated and the degree has been posted.  In cases of submitted grade dispute grievances that extend beyond the posting of the degree date, the Provost (or the Provost’s designee) may make exceptions to this policy.  The decision of the Provost is final.

An “AU” indicates that the student is auditing. Audited coursework carries attempted hours but no quality points, no quality hours, and no earned hours, and carries full fees and tuition. Please see the “Auditing Courses” section of the catalog.

A “CP” indicates that a student has completed a program such as international study or cross-registration. The grade status indicator of “CP” carries no quality points, quality hours, or earned hours.

The designation “I” indicates that only a small part of the semester’s work remains to be done, that the student is otherwise doing satisfactory work in the course, and that an extension of time is warranted to complete the course. The “I” also signifies that an agreement has been established between professor and student as to the quantity of work remaining to be done, the deadlines established for its completion, and a schedule of meeting times. It is recommended that this agreement be made in writing with both professor and student having a copy. The faculty determines the time allowable for completion of coursework, up to 60 days from the date of the last scheduled examination of the semester in which the “I” is received. If the student does not complete the work within 60 days, the “I” is automatically changed to an “F.”

A “P” carries only earned hours; does not carry quality hours or quality points.

A “PR” indicates that no grade has been reported because the student has just registered for a future semester or the coursework is actually in progress.

A “PT” may indicate that a student is enrolled in a program such as international study or cross registration with another institution for which the attempted hours may be applied toward those required for financial aid or insurance coverage. “PT” indicates Pending Transcript and serves as a status indicator until the official transcript arrives and transfer credit is applied for courses earning a grade of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale) or better. The “PT” is then changed to a “CP” or “TR.” A “PT” can also indicate a transfer credit evaluation completed from an unofficial transcript.

An “S” or “U” may be assigned in certain courses that do not count toward earned hours for graduation.

A “VP” indicates a course that a student plans to enroll in at another college/university. “VP” indicates Visiting Permission and serves as a status indicator until the official, final transcript arrives and transfer credit is evaluated for courses earning a grade of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale) or better. Courses approved for transfer credit would then be changed to the grade status of “TR” which carries no quality points or quality hours, but may be awarded earned hours.

A “W” is not a grade. A “W” indicates that a course was started but not completed.

Courses with missing grades remain in the “In Progress” section of the transcript and degree audit. They are converted to “Fs” at the end of 60 days if the instructor does not turn in a grade change form indicating the correct earned grade.

Auditing Courses

Students may audit a course after obtaining permission of the instructor on the Permission to Audit Form, which is available on the Registrar’s Office website.  Students must first register for a course and then submit the Permission to Audit Form to the Registrar’s Office no later than the last day of drop/add for the term in order to finalize their audit.  A student may only make a change to course grading status (graded or audit) prior to the last day of drop/add for the term.  A course audit will be recorded on a student’s transcript with the Status Indicator “AU”. No credit or quality points are earned.  Full tuition is charged for audited coursework.

Not all courses offered by the College may be audited.  Departments and Programs may limit the number of audits per course section and may also designate courses that do not accept any auditors.  Students should consult with the appropriate Department or Program prior to seeking permission to audit a course.  Faculty determine the course requirements for auditing students (e.g. attendance, participation, submission of assignments, exams, etc.).

Pass-Not Pass Option

The Pass-Not Pass Option is provided to encourage students to enrich their educational experience and to venture outside their major areas of concentration or competence. To earn a pass under the Pass-Not Pass Option, students must perform at the “C” (2.000) level or above. A “P” carries only earned hours; does not carry quality hours or quality points. Not passing (“NP”) will be recorded on the transcript, but will carry no grade points and will not be used in calculating the GPA.

The following restrictions apply:

1. A student electing the Pass-Not Pass Option must be in good standing (not on academic probation) and must be of sophomore standing or above.
2. A student electing the Pass-Not Pass Option must do so at registration by completing a Pass-Not Pass Option petition (available at the Office of the Registrar), and no change may be made after the drop-add period.
3. No more than 12 credit hours may be taken under the Pass-Not Pass Option, and no more than one course in any one semester, excluding EDEE 455 , EDEE 457 , EDEE 459 , EDFS 440 , and EDFS 460 .
4. Courses taken on the Pass-Not Pass Option will only be applied toward the 122 minimum credit hour degree requirement, excluding EDEE 455 , EDEE 457 , EDEE 459 , EDFS 440 , and EDFS 460 . Not Pass Option courses do not satisfy any other curriculum or degree requirements. If a student who completes a course under the Pass-Not Pass Option later changes their major and that course is required for the major, minor, or certificate, they may petition the department for the course to be accepted.
5. No course may be repeated on a Pass-Not Pass Option. A course for which the “P” has been received may not be repeated.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students may voluntarily withdraw from individual courses and/or labs until the official withdrawal deadline for the semester (see “Academic Calendar”) through MyPortal, or by submitting the required paperwork to the Registrar’s Office. A “W” will be entered on their record unless the student has been found responsible for an Honor Code violation. In that case, the professor determines the grade entered on the student’s record for that class.

After the official withdrawal deadline for the semester, students may petition for course withdrawals through the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence. This permission will be granted only if continued enrollment in the course would be detrimental to the student’s health or if documented extenuating circumstances prevent the student’s continued enrollment.

Usually a student who is withdrawn from all courses taken during a semester may re-enroll the following semester, unless the student is completely withdrawn from the institution and the matriculation is closed (see “Withdrawal from the College of Charleston”). Furthermore, if a student discontinues enrollment from the College of Charleston, whether voluntarily or not, reentry for future semesters may be contingent on satisfying conditions outlined by the Office of Student Affairs and the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

NOTE: A decision not to attend a course does not constitute a withdrawal from it. Failure to properly withdraw from or drop a course can result in financial responsibility for full tuition for the course as well as a resulting grade of “F.”

Course Repetition Policy

Students may repeat a course in which a D- or higher grade has been earned or for which credit has been awarded. Credit is awarded only once; a repeat of the same or an equivalent course does not earn additional credit. Consult catalog course descriptions for equivalent course information. All grades earned in repeated courses will be included in GPA calculations.

In deciding whether to repeat a course, students should consult with an academic advisor and also consider the potential implications for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress  and NCAA eligibility if applicable.

Permission to enroll in a course being repeated is granted at the discretion of the department.

Transfer Credit or Credit By Examination That Repeats College of Charleston Courses

Students with transfer credit or credit by examination (AP, IB, CLEP, DSST) should not register for or complete a course that is considered a repeat or a duplicate of the credited coursework. Credit will only be awarded once when a course has been repeated or duplicated.

A student may petition the Transfer Resource Center, with approval of his or her advisor, to decline transfer credit or credit by examination. Petitions must be made before the course is repeated. Scholarship students (academic and athletic), financial aid students, and veterans must check with the Departments of Financial Aid or Athletics to see how the application of this policy will affect their eligibility.

Cross-listed Courses

Cross-listed courses are designated as such in the academic catalog course description.  Cross-listing a course means that a course is offered for registration under two departments or programs.  Cross-listed courses have identical course descriptions.  Because cross-listed courses are equivalent in content, no student shall be permitted to receive credit for both cross-listed courses.

Course Overloads

Course Overload During Fall and Spring

The normal course load for degree candidates in fall and spring semesters is 14-17 credit hours. Enrollment in courses totaling more than 18 credit hours requires special permission from the student’s academic advisor and approval by the department chair or director of advising or dean of the Honors College as appropriate. This permission must be obtained before registration for the semester in which the overload is to be carried. Failure to obtain permission may result in cancellation of any course registrations not specifically authorized over 18 hours. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or less are advised against taking an overload. Students with a cumulative or major GPA of 2.000 or less are strongly advised against taking an overload.

Course Overload During Summer

Students may take only one course during Maymester. Students are advised to take no more than two courses concurrently during any of the other summer parts of term. Taking more than two courses concurrently is considered an overload. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or less are advised against taking an overload. Students with a cumulative or major GPA of 2.000 or less are strongly advised against taking an overload.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The number of quality points earned for each course is calculated by multiplying the credit-hour value of the course by the number of quality points assigned to the grade received for the course. For example, a grade of “B” received in a three-semester-hour course would earn 9.000 quality points (3.000 quality points x 3 credit hours).

At the end of each semester, the student’s GPA for the semester is calculated. To compute the semester GPA, the total number of quality points earned for the semester is divided by the total number of quality hours carried. For instance, a student who earns 36 quality points while carrying a course load of 15 credit hours would earn a GPA of 2.400 for the semester.

The student’s cumulative GPA is also computed at the end of each semester. This is the grade point average the student has earned up to that point at the College. The cumulative GPA is computed by dividing the total quality points the student has earned at the College by the total number of quality hours carried. For example, a student who has earned a total of 180 quality points over 90 credit hours would have a cumulative GPA of 2.000.

For information on the S.C. LIFE Scholarship GPA calculation, visit the Financial Aid website. The LIFE Scholarship GPA is not to be confused with the College of Charleston GPA maintained on the degree audit and on the academic transcript. Students may access the College GPA calculator online at the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence website.

Academic Honors

Dean’s List (Distinguished)

After the end of each semester, the Office of the Registrar releases the dean’s lists to the Deans of each School (for declared majors) and to the Associate Vice President for the Academic Experience (for undeclared majors). Students are named to the dean’s list when they were enrolled in and completed at least 12 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and earned a grade point average of 3.500 or above for that semester. A student may not have an “I” (Incomplete) or a grade lower than “C” to qualify. No dean’s list is released for courses taken during the summer terms. This honor will be noted on the transcript as “Distinguished.”

The Bachelor of Professional Studies has separate standards for its dean’s list.

President’s List (Highly Distinguished)

After the end of each semester, students who were enrolled in and completed at least 12 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and have earned a grade point average of 3.800 or above are named to the President’s List for that semester. A student may not have an “I” (Incomplete) or a grade lower than “C” to qualify. No president’s list is released for courses taken during the summer terms.  This honor will be noted on the transcript as ” Highly Distinguished.”

Bachelor of Professional Studies Honor Roll Policy

Any undergraduate student with a declared degree in Bachelor of Professional Studies is named to the Honor Roll during any semester in which they complete and earn 12 or more credit hours with at least a 3.500 grade point average for all coursework. The status indicator of “I” must be resolved before any student is named to the Honor Roll.

A student who completes and earns 12 or more credit hours with at least a 3.750 grade point average for all coursework will be named to the Bachelor of Professional Studies Dean’s list. The status indicator of “I” must be resolved before any student is named to the Dean’s list.

Students named to the Bachelor of Professional Studies Honor Roll/Dean’s list are notified via e-mail by the Dean of the School of Business or designated representative. 

Part-time Students with a declared degree in Bachelor of Professional Studies with at least 15 earned credit hours at the College of Charleston and have at least a cumulative 3.500 grade point average may petition the Dean of the School Business or designated representativein writing for inclusion on the Bachelor of Professional Studies Honor Roll.

Students named to the Bachelor of Professional Studies Honor Roll/Dean’s list for two consecutive terms (fall term, spring term, and summer term) of the academic year will receive certificates. 

Faculty teaching in the Bachelor of Professional Studies program capstone course (PRST 410 ) will recommend to the Dean of the School of Business a student each term who displays exemplary leadership, scholarship, and character. Students will receive a faculty award certificate.

Any questions about this policy document should be addressed to the Dean of the School of Business. This policy document is subject to change without notice.  The Dean is responsible for the interpretation and application of this policy document. Changes in this policy document may be applied retroactively at the discretion of the Dean of the School of Business.

Graduation with Honors

Students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.900 to 4.000 will graduate summa cum laude. Students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.750 to 3.899 will graduate magna cum laude. Students who earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.500 to 3.749 will graduate cum laude. To be eligible for graduation with honors, at least 62 quality hours of the coursework to be applied to the degree must have been completed at the College of Charleston. To earn Top Honors a student must have a grade point average of 4.000 with at least 62 graded quality hours earned at the College of Charleston. Note that a course graded with a “P” carries no quality hours. For the purpose of calculating the GPA for graduation with honors, all undergraduate coursework taken at the College of Charleston will be included in that calculation.

Departmental Honors

Designed for mature individuals who are capable of sustained and independent work, the program of departmental honors is designed to give advanced students of exceptional ability an opportunity to explore intensively a field of their particular interest. Students take the initiative in outlining their proposed research, experiment, or special study; in enlisting the support of a faculty advisor; and in securing the approval of the department. At the conclusion of the program, departmental honors may be awarded only with the approval of the department. To be eligible, students must have earned a grade point average in the major of at least 3.500 and completed a bachelor’s essay, or two independent studies with disciplinary expectations comparable to those of a bachelor’s essay. If a department permits two independent studies in place of a bachelor’s essay, those independent studies, like a successful bachelor’s essay, should develop the student’s proficiency in research as understood by the discipline, and the finished composition(s) should be distinguished by their organization, reasoning, and expression. The department may also prescribe additional requirements for ensuring the quality of the work.

College Graduation Awards

High scholarship and exceptional achievement in extracurricular activities are traditionally important at the College. Prizes that recognize such achievements are also a part of the College tradition. Announcements of the recipients of cups, medals, and other awards are made each year at the awards ceremonies, part of commencement week activities.

Transcripts

An official transcript is a copy of a student’s permanent academic record at the College of Charleston issued by the University Registrar. It includes dates of attendance, courses taken, major(s), minor(s), certificate(s), degree type(s), grades, and cumulative GPA for both undergraduate and/or graduate coursework while enrolled at the College.

The College of Charleston has authorized Parchment to provide online transcript ordering, printing, and delivery. Official transcripts can be ordered to be sent electronically, mailed, or picked up at the College of Charleston. Official transcripts cannot be provided to students who have not met their financial obligations to the College of Charleston. Please visit official transcripts for pricing and additional information on requesting an official transcript.

An online unofficial transcript may be viewed by students in Banner Self-Service free of charge. Unofficial transcripts do not contain the College seal or signature of the University Registrar. Visit unofficial transcripts for information on viewing your unofficial transcript.

Enrollment Status, Enrollment Verifications, Degree Verifications

The Office of the Registrar at the College of Charleston does not complete forms or generate customized letters verifying information otherwise available on an official transcript or an enrollment or degree verification with National Student Clearinghouse.  If you require additional information that is not available on your official transcript or from the National Student Clearinghouse, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Enrollment Status

Students at the College are considered full time if they are enrolled for 12 or more credit hours and are paying full tuition. However, it should be noted that an academic schedule of only 12 credit hours is not sufficient to allow a student to graduate within four calendar years without attending summer school.

Class Rank

Advancement to sophomore rank requires credit of at least 30 credit hours; to junior rank, 60 credit hours; to senior rank, 90 credit hours.

Enrollment Verifications

Students may obtain a free certification of enrollment (or proof of full-time enrollment) for insurance, scholarship and loan purposes by selecting “Enrollment Verification” from within Banner Self-Service (see http://registrar.cofc.edu/forms-verification/index.php for detailed instructions). Enrollment verifications are available immediately following the drop-add deadlines for spring and fall terms.  If the requesting agency requires the signature of the Registrar on the enrollment verification certificate from National Student Clearinghouse, please stop by the Office of the Registrar with a valid photo ID.

Enrollment verifications include an anticipated graduation date (AGD). Please note that the anticipated graduation date (AGD) is based on a formula that estimates completion from overall earned hours.  It may not be accurate if the student has changed their major, failed courses, or been readmitted.  It is not a guarantee of graduation.

Degree Verifications

The College of Charleston has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for providing Degree Verifications.  Degree Verifications can be ordered by visiting http://www.degreeverify.org.

Students should also note that awarded degree information is also reflected on an official transcript.  For information on ordering an official transcript, please visit our Official Transcripts site.

Academic Standards and Probation

Students are placed on Academic Probation when the level of their academic work is endangering their opportunity to earn a degree from the College and their continuation at the College is in jeopardy. The conditions of probation are intended to provide students the opportunity to seek academic counseling at a sufficiently early date for assistance to be effective; to give students who are experiencing difficulties further opportunity to demonstrate adequate performance; and to aid students who have had significant problems interfering with their ability to study.

Students enrolled at the College of Charleston must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) to avoid being placed on Academic Probation. These requirements are on a sliding scale based upon the total credits earned by the student. For more information, see the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence website.

Minimum Scholastic Attainment Standards

Academic Probation

If a student’s cumulative GPA at the end of any term (the entire summer is defined as a term) is less than the grade point average required as listed above, then the student is placed on Academic Probation and will be required to sign an Academic Probation Contract.

1. Once placed on Academic Probation, a student must show satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next semester of enrollment, regardless of the number of hours earned or attempted, or the student will be subject to suspension for academic deficiency.

a.    Satisfactory academic progress will be calculated for each student and included in the academic probation contract.
b.    Generally, the improvement must be great enough so that the student makes substantial progress toward achieving academic good standing.
c.    The decision regarding satisfactory academic improvement will be made by the Director of the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

2.The following items are a breach of the Academic Probation Contract: 

a.    If a student is placed on Academic Probation at the end of the spring term, they may not enroll in summer term College of Charleston classes. Students can take courses elsewhere to continue earning credit and submit official transcripts to the College for evaluation of transfer credit. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure transferability for credit. More information can be found on the Registrar’s website. 
b.    While on academic probation, students may not enroll in more than 13 credit hours during long semesters (Fall, Spring)
c.    Failure to sign the Academic Probation contract will result in being ineligible to appeal academic suspension

Students on academic probation are eligible to receive transfer credit for eligible courses taken at another institution but are not normally eligible for cross registration or leave privileges. Students who are suspended from the College for academic deficiency are not eligible for financial aid. The first suspension period is two terms, of which the entire summer may count as one. The second and any subsequent suspension period is three calendar years.

Visiting students to the College of Charleston for summer sessions must adhere to the same academic standards as College of Charleston degree-seeking students. Students who have previously earned less than a 2.000 GPA while attending the College or who are not in good standing at their home institutions will not be permitted to enroll for summer sessions. However, instances where these students have gone on to demonstrate a proven academic record at other universities or who have been granted permission to complete courses as part of their degree programs at other universities may petition the Office of Maymester/Summer Sessions along with the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence for permission to enroll. Petitions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. A student granted permission to enroll in a summer session is not guaranteed admission or readmission during a subsequent semester.
 

Withdrawal from the College

For a variety of reasons, students may decide to withdraw from the institution and end their matriculation. In order to protect the integrity of the transcript and ensure that the record on file at the College of Charleston is in order, any student who is considering an institutional withdrawal should submit a request for Complete Withdrawal from the College of Charleston to the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence rather than merely drop out. The institutional withdrawal will be reflected on the transcript. An accurate student record will be especially important if the student decides to return to the College of Charleston or transfer to another institution. Before a student officially withdraws from the institution, appropriate arrangements must be made with the Offices of the Treasurer, Financial Assistance, and Residence Life to ensure that all obligations to the College of Charleston have been satisfied.

Please note that withdrawing from the institution is a different and separate process than course withdrawals. For more information about withdrawing from courses, please see the section “Withdrawal from Courses.”

If a student discontinues enrollment from the College of Charleston, whether voluntarily or not, re-entry for future semesters may be contingent on satisfying conditions outlined by the Division of Student Affairs and the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

Leave of Absence

Degree-seeking students may request a Leave of Absence (LOA) for up to two complete major semesters through the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence. When an official leave is granted, it will be noted on the transcript; students need not apply for readmission to re-enroll in courses. Students having a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better are eligible for a leave; students having a cumulative GPA below 2.000 are not eligible for a leave and must request a Complete Withdrawal from the institution and apply for readmission in order to return to the College of Charleston if they are away for an entire major semester.

If a student discontinues enrollment from the College of Charleston, whether voluntarily or not, re-entry for future semesters may be contingent on satisfying conditions outlined by the Division of Student Affairs and the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

Students participating in exchange programs with other universities may have leave status approved through the Office of International Education and Programs.

For purposes of an approved LOA under federal Title IV financial aid regulations, the student’s LOA must not exceed a total 180 days, when added to all other LOAs in any 12-month period. If a student who has received federal Title IV loans (Perkins, PLUS, and Ford Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans) does not return from an approved LOA, some or all of the repayment deferral period may be exhausted, and loans may go into repayment. For purposes of the Title IV programs, the date of withdrawal is backdated to the first day of the approved leave of absence. This policy also includes students who do not return from an approved leave for study abroad. Federal student loan recipients who are considering a LOA are encouraged to visit with a financial aid counselor prior to applying for a LOA to review the impact of a LOA on loan repayment.

All currently-enrolled, degree-seeking students who are called to active military service are eligible for a Leave of Absence, regardless of the cumulative GPA. Such students are eligible for an official leave for the length of their military service plus up to one year after their return from active duty.

Readmission

Any student at the College of Charleston who voluntarily withdraws completely from the institution or is suspended for any reason must apply for readmission in order to re-enroll. All students who have done previous work at other colleges or universities must have their transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions. The College does not admit students who are ineligible to return to the last college or university attended. This rule applies to all students, including those applying for readmission. Readmit applicants must submit a personal statement outlining how they have used their time away from the College of Charleston and what they plan to do to be academically successful upon their return. All readmit applicants must meet transfer GPA requirements and all admission deadlines.

If a student discontinues enrollment from the College of Charleston, whether voluntarily or not, re-entry for future semesters may be contingent on satisfying conditions outlined by the Offices of Student Affairs and the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

In making decisions on those applying for readmission, the following guidelines will be used:

1. Students who voluntarily withdraw from the College while in good standing and with a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or above will be approved for readmission.
2. Conditional Re-Admission: Students who have voluntarily withdrawn from the College of Charleston with a cumulative GPA below 2.000. Those students whose records at the College of Charleston indicate that successful completion of a College of Charleston degree in a reasonable length of time is impossible or extremely improbable will not be readmitted. Those whose records indicate that they can reach graduation standards in a reasonable period of time and those that have met the conditions required for reconsideration are required to return to the College of Charleston through the Successful Transitions through Educational Planning (STEP) Program. 

• Students who have been suspended from the institution for academic deficiency and who have completed the suspension period
• Students who have been separated from the institution for disciplinary reasons and who have completed any/all disciplinary sanctions will be considered for conditional readmission.
• Students who previously attended the College as a provisional student or First Year Impact student but failed to meet the conditions of the program must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at another institution before applying for readmission. They will be considered for admission only if they meet the admission standards applied to transfer students and then will be considered (see item #2, above).

Students who are conditionally readmitted after any period of academic probation or suspension for academic deficiency and who apply for financial aid will also be evaluated under the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility (SAP)  . Students who do not meet the SAP requirements will be notified and may have the option to file a SAP Appeal with the Office of Financial Aid.

Transfer coursework completed ten or more years prior to re-enrollment at the College may be evaluated and re-validated by academic departments to be applicable for graduation credit. Also, if a long period of time has elapsed since a student’s last enrollment at the College, the chair and advisor may strongly advise the repeat of a course or enrollment in additional courses. This is due to changing graduation requirements or professional certification requirements and the need for the student to be adequately prepared for successful completion of the remaining coursework in a major.

NOTE: See Three-Year Option.

Three-Year Option for Readmits (Academic Forgiveness Policy)

Students readmitted to the College after an absence of three or more calendar years may choose to have their previous College of Charleston record treated as transfer credit if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.500 or better in the first 15 credit hours after their return. All grades earned in the semester in which the 15th credit hour is completed will be included. Previous work at the College will remain on the student’s permanent record; however, only coursework completed since readmission will be used to calculate their cumulative GPA. Students choosing this option must request it in writing to the Center for Academic Performance & Persistence (CAPP) once the 15 credit hours are completed.  Certain restrictions apply:

• Students who choose to apply the Three-Year Option to their record should be aware that any coursework completed prior to readmission in which a grade of “C-” or lower was earned will not count toward graduation.
• For the purpose of calculating GPA for graduation with honors, all coursework taken at the College of Charleston will be included in that calculation.
• Students must request the Three-Year Option prior to applying to graduate.
• The Three-Year Option is not available to students who have already earned a degree from the College of Charleston.
• Once a Three-Year Option has been approved and applied, it cannot be reversed.