Pass/D/Fail Option

Students may take a maximum of 23 points for a grade of P (22 points for students entering as transfers).  Students who entered Barnard prior to fall 2003 may take a maximum of 21 points for a grade of P.  Some courses record  mandatory Pass/Fail grades for all students enrolled, e.g.,  Physical Education and ENGL BC 3191.   Both mandated and elected grades of P are included in the maximum allowed.

Your instructor will not be informed that you have elected the Pass/D/Fail option. Your instructor will assign you a letter grade, which will be converted to P/D/F.

• A letter grade of A+ through C- will appear on your transcript as a P.
• A letter grade of D will appear on your transcript as a D.
• A letter grade of F will appear on your transcript as an F.

While a grade of P is not included in your grade point average, grades of F and D are included.  Information on the letter grade assigned to a course taken Pass/D/Fail will not be released.

Requesting Pass/D/Fail Status

A Pass/D/Fail request must be filed for each course taken P/D/F. A course that appears on your program in two parts (e.g. lecture and lab) requires a separate P/D/F request for each part. A two-semester course requires a separate P/D/F request for each semester.  All requests for P/D/F must be filed by the deadline and are irreversible after the deadline. You may not request P/D/F retroactively.

Restrictions for Pass/D/Fail

You may not elect the Pass/D/Fail option for:

• First Year English.
• classes going toward your minor (if any).
• classes in your major field.

You may elect the P/D/F option for a class in your major field ONLY:

• if it will NOT be used to fulfill a major requirement; and
• if it exceeds the number of points required for the major; and
• with the specific approval of the Department Chair.

Reminder:  To be eligible for Dean's List, you need 12 graded points each semester.

Electing the Pass/D/Fail Option Via eBear

See the Academic Calendar for the deadline each semester.

Instructions for Electing the P/D/F option

1. Go to your current eBear program.
2. Click on "Pass/D/Fail Option" (on the right, under the last course listed on your program).
3. In the Elect P/D/F column, check the box next to the course for which you would like to elect the P/D/F option.
4. Before you can click on Submit, you must read the Rules governing the Pass/D/Fail option (link at the upper right of the screen). If you do not see the Rules, make sure to disable any pop-up blockers.
5. Click on Submit.
6. Within 3 business days, the Registrar’s Office will review your request.

To check on the status of your P/D/F request, check the P/D/F screen again.

If your request is still pending, you will see:

Date Requested P/D/F option; Registrar's approval is pending.

If your request has been approved, you will see this message:

Green check Date Approved by Registrar. No further action required.

If you have requested P/D/F in a course in your major subject area, you will see this message:

Red check Date This course is in your major. Approval from department chair required. Check your email for instructions.


(See the Rules for information about declaring P/D/F in a course in your major.)

If you do receive approval, you will later see on-screen messages:
Blue check mark Date: Department chair has approved

Green check mark Date: Registrar has received department chair approval. No further action required

If the chair does not approve, you will later see an on-screen message that says:
Red X Date: Department chair has denied

Within 2-3 business days after the Registrar or the Department Chair has approved your request, you will see a P on your eBear program, to the right of the point value for the course. You have completed the process.

Revoking the P/D/F election

To revoke a course’s P/D/F status (this can only be done before the P/D/F deadline) click on the box next to the course in the Revoke column.

Within 3 business days, the P will be gone from your eBear program, and you will see a notation that the option has been revoked.