Course Load

Fifteen points is the usual course load. The normal range is 12-18 points per term. Students seeking to exceed 18 points in a single term, or enroll in a part-time program of fewer than 12 points require the written permission of the Class Dean. Such exceptions are permitted only for compelling reasons. Part-time tuition is assessed on a per-credit basis, and an additional fee at the one-point rate is charged for a P.E. course. Part-time status will jeopardize housing eligibility and financial aid.

Caveats

Duplicate Credit

Students should be certain not to duplicate at Barnard any coursework completed elsewhere as Barnard credit will not be given for repeated work. Special care should be taken to avoid duplicating the level of a foreign language course even if the content of the course completed and the course contemplated should appear to differ.

Pass/D/Fail

Of the 121 points required for the degree, a maximum of 22 (for transfer students entering fall 2003 or later) may be recorded with a grade of P (Pass), whether mandated (e.g., English BC3191) or elected for P/D/F grading.

Summer Credit

Students are permitted a maximum of 16 points (no more than 8 points and no more than two courses in any one five- or six-week summer session) as part of the total of 61 transfer points allowed. A grade of C- or higher must be achieved for the credit to count. A "Pass" grade is not accepted. Please note: courses taken in the Columbia summer session do not count toward the 60 credits that all students must earn while registered at Barnard; i.e., Columbia summer session courses are counted as transfer credit.

Studio Credit

Studio credit is limited in accordance with the department involved and with the major. There is an all-college restriction on studio, performance, and professional school courses (including film) taken for the degree. See "Majors and Electives" in "The Curriculum" section of the Barnard Course Catalogue

A maximum of four studio art courses may be credited (with the exception of studio courses required for the Architecture or Visual Arts major).

A similar limitation applies to music lessons. Except for music majors and minors, a maximum of six semesters may be credited.

There is also a limit on dance technique courses. A maximum of six such courses may be credited.

Psychology

Please note that introductory courses in psychology are divided into three distinct groups. In order to fulfill the lab science requirement with courses in psychology, students must take two courses, with their accompanying labs, from two of the three different groups. See "Majors and Electives" in "The Curriculum" section of the Online Catalogue for details.) Note also that PSYC BC 1001 is a prerequisite for all lab courses in psychology.)

Single First Semester of an Elementary Language

No credit is granted for the first semester of an elementary language course unless the second semester (or a higher level) has been completed, either at Barnard or elsewhere. A one-time-only exception to this policy may be granted upon the student's written request to the Registrar.

General Honors on graduation (cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) are based primarily upon the Barnard grade-point average. If it meets the designated level for a particular honor, a combined average, including transfer grades, is also computed. If both the Barnard and combined averages are high enough, a student will then receive honors. A sliding scale requiring higher qualifying averages is used if there are fewer than 86 points of letter-graded work in the grade point average.

Pass grades, advanced placement, and foreign credit that cannot be converted to letter grades are excluded from the average.