Michigan State University Transcript Key

This document clarifies information presented on the transcript and provides guidance for understanding and evaluating the information.

Michigan State University (MSU) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Some individual programs, schools, and colleges are recognized by the accrediting agencies in their respective fields. Information about the accreditation of individual programs, schools, and colleges is included in program descriptions in the Academic Programs Catalog.

The university is a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Association of American Universities, American Council on Education, American Council of Learned Societies, Association of Graduate Schools, Council of Graduate Schools, Big Ten Academic Alliance (formerly Committee on Institutional Cooperation) and International Association of Universities.

A transcript is official when it bears the signature of the University Registrar and the university seal, in black ink, is obtained directly from the Spartan One-Stop or the Office of the Registrar at Michigan State University and is received by the person for whom it is intended. All paper-copy transcripts will be printed with black ink on paper with a green background which repeats "MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY" over the entire page.

Grading Systems
Credit Definition
Grade Point Average
Abbreviations, Symbols, and Notations
Course Numbering System
Incompletes
Withdrawal
Academic Calendars and Enrollment Terms
Milestones
Transfer Credit
College of Law
College of Human Medicine
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Institutional ID Codes

Grading Systems

• Numeric, pass/no grade, and alpha grades are used at Michigan State University depending on the student’s level or program.
• Courses taken at external institutions are not included in the term or cumulative grade point averages (GPA).
• In response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, S-Satisfactory and NS-Not Satisfactory grades were made available to undergraduate and graduate students for spring 2020, fall 2020, and spring 2021 classes. Summer 2021 S/NS grades were available for undergraduate students only.
• Additional information can be found in the Academic Programs Catalog.

Numerical Grading System

All grades counted in GPA, unless noted with specific repeat codes

Non-Numerical Grading System

The following grades may carry credit temporarily but do not calculate into the cumulative or term credits.

Grading Systems Prior to Fall 1988

• N-No Grade indicated the student officially dropped the course after the middle of the term and was doing passing work, there was no basis for a grade, or the student did not pass a course approved for grading on a pass/no grade basis.
• Fall 1968 to winter 1972: the grades of 4.5 and 0.5 were included in the numerical system of grading. The 4.5 was awarded only for exceptionally high performance.

Grading Systems Prior to Fall 1969

• X-Condition: until removed and a grade reported, the course was a deficiency and was included in grade point averages as a grade of 0.0 under the numerical system. The X-Condition had no effect on the grade point average if enrollment was on the CR-NC system.
• Prior to fall 1968: A-excellent, B-good, C-fair, D-poor, F-failure, P-pass-given only in credit courses which were approved for grading on pass-fail basis.

Credit Definition

• Each course usually carries a specific number of credits based upon the number of instructional contact hours and study hours required each week per semester.
• The earning of a credit requires, at minimum, one instructor-student contact hour per week per semester plus two hours of study per contact hour; OR two hours of laboratory contact hours per week per semester, plus one additional hour spent in report writing and study; OR other combinations of contact and study hours which constitute an equivalent of these experiences.
• An appropriate number of contact hours for each credit earned are determined by the department offering the class and approved through the university curriculum process.
• All quarter credits were converted to semester credits from fall quarter 1968 to summer quarter 1992.
• Additional information can be found in the Academic Programs Catalog.

Grade Point Average

• To compute the GPA for a semester, multiply the numerical grade by the number of credits for the course to obtain the total grade points. Then divide the total grade points for the semester by the total credits for the semester.
• All courses, credits, and grades attempted within the same career (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, law, etc.) are included in a student’s GPA for that career.
• The minimum GPA required for graduation is 2.0 for undergraduate students and 3.0 for graduate students.

Grading Point Systems to Summer 1972

• Fall 1968 to winter 1972: grades of 4.5 were included in computing grade point averages only up to a point where the term or cumulative grade point averages reached 4.00. Thus, the term grade point average and the cumulative grade point average were limited to 4.00.
• Fall 1950 to fall 1968: four points for each credit graded A; 3 for B; 2 for C; 1 for D; 0 for F and X. No points were given for grades P, I, N, V, and DF.
• Prior to fall 1950: three points for each credit graded A; 2 for B; 1 for C; 0 for D; and -1 for F and X.

Abbreviations, Symbols, and Notations

Honors

An “H” in the honors column indicates an honors course, honors section of a course, or the student took a non-honors course as honors. The latter indicates additional work was completed beyond normal requirements.

Dean's List

A designation for the term will be displayed on a student’s transcript if they are on the Dean’s List for a given term. The designation will display as, "TERM HONOR: DEAN’S LIST."

Degree Honors

Degree Honors are awarded to the top 20% of the graduating class: the top 6% earn With High Honor and the next 14% earn With Honor. GPA cutoffs are set annually based on class performance.

Repeated Courses

• Repeated courses are indicated by I (Include) or E (Exclude) notations to the right of courses.
• Term credit and GPA totals are adjusted for repeats in the affected terms according to MSU's General Procedures and Regulations on Repeating a Course.

E&I

• Entrepreneurship & Innovation (E&I) Experiences are entrepreneurial projects that offer students hands-on learning.
• A designation for E&I (via H_EI and ENTR codes) could be displayed on a student’s transcript for a given course. The designation will display as, "DESIGNATION: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION OPTION."

General Education Requirements

• Many of the courses in the arts and humanities area and in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences area, emphasize national diversity (designated "N" at the end of the course title), or international and multicultural diversity (designated "I" at the end of the course title). Some courses emphasize both national diversity, and international and multicultural diversity (designated "D" at the end of the course title).
• Students must include at least one "N" course and one "I" course in their Integrative Studies programs. A "D" course may meet either an "N" or an "I" requirement, but not both.

Course Numbering System

001-099 – Non-Credit and Institute of Agricultural Technology Courses
100-299 – Undergraduate Courses
300-499 – Advanced Undergraduate Courses
500-599 – Graduate

Courses prior to 1960:
500-699 – Graduate – Professional Courses
800-899 – Graduate Courses
900-999 – Advanced Graduate Courses

Incompletes

• An Incomplete may be assigned when a student has completed most of the course but cannot finish due to illness or other compelling reasons. If the work is not completed by the deadline, the I converts to 0.0, NC, or N based on the grading system used for the class. If the student is not enrolled within one calendar year, the I becomes a U (Unfinished), and the course can only be completed by re-enrolling. See the full Postponement of Grading policy for details.

Withdrawal

• A withdrawal from the university occurs when a student drops all their courses within a semester. A student may voluntarily withdraw from the university through the Class Ends date.
• Withdrawals are only permitted for specific reasons involving extenuating circumstances after the Class Ends date.
• Courses dropped prior to or at the middle of the class will not appear on the official transcript.
• The courses for a student withdrawing from the university after the middle of classes will appear on the official transcript and receive "W" grades.
• See the Withdrawal from the University policy for more details.

Academic Standing

• Undergraduate transcripts may display Academic Recess or Academic Dismissal.
• Additional information can be found in the Academic Programs Catalog.

Non-Academic Suspension or Non-Academic Dismissal

• Undergraduate transcripts may display Academic Recess or Academic Dismissal.
• Additional information can be found in the Academic Programs Catalog.

Academic Calendars and Enrollment Terms

• The university offers instruction throughout the year during the fall semester, spring semester and summer sessions. Academic calendars are available at reg.msu.edu.

Milestones

• The university offers instruction throughout the year during the fall semester, spring semester and summer sessions. Academic calendars are available at reg.msu.edu.

Transfer Credit

• The university offers instruction throughout the year during the fall semester, spring semester and summer sessions. Academic calendars are available at reg.msu.edu.
• The university offers instruction throughout the year during the fall semester, spring semester and summer sessions. Academic calendars are available at reg.msu.edu.

College of Law

College of Law Grading System

The grades A, B, C, D, and F represent excellent, very good, good, inadequate but passing, and failure respectively. "I" grades represent incomplete. "W" grades indicate the student withdrew. "P" grades represent pass, and "F" grades represent fail. "CR" signifies credit earned. "NC" signifies no credit earned. The notation "AU" signifies audit.

As of fall 2017 the letter grades A+ and D- were added. Beginning in fall 2017 honor points are assigned as follows: A+ = 4.33, A = 4.00, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.00, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.00, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1.00, D- = .67, and F = 0. No credits are attached to "I", "W", "F" or "AU". A student earning the grade of "F" has failed to satisfy the requirements of the course.

College of Law Repeated Courses

A student earning a grade of "F" in any semester in any course required for graduation must repeat and successfully complete the required course with a passing grade of "C" or above within two (2) semesters. A repeated course may be counted only once toward credit for graduation. However, both grades will appear on the student's transcript and will be included in the calculation of the student's grade point average.

Jurisprudence Achievement Award (JP Award)

In recognition of student achievement in the study of law, Michigan State University College of Law will award the Jurisprudence Achievement Award (JP Award) to students who meet the criteria found in the MSU Law Student Handbook. Faculty are not required to grant a Jurisprudence Achievement Award for every course they instruct. For current and historical grading systems, please visit law.msu.edu/registrar/transcript.html.

Law Honors and Final Class Rank

In order to be eligible for class honors upon graduation, a student must have received at least 53 credits from classes taken at MSU College of Law, excluding those taken on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis, and credits taken at other schools. The calculation of final class rank upon graduation shall not include any students who have not received at least 70 credits from classes taken at MSU College of Law, excluding those taken on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis, and credits taken at other schools.

Honors for Graduation-Students Entering Prior to Fall 2017

Candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor whose cumulative grade point average is 3.25 or higher and subject to the Honors and Final Class Rank policy, will graduate with honors, as follows:
3.25 to 3.49 -Cum Laude
3.50 to 3.74 -Magna Cum Laude
3.75 to 4.00 -Summa Cum Laude
For the purpose of calculating honors and class rank, students retaking a course will have the two grades averaged together.

Honors for Graduation-Students Entering Fall 2017 or Later

Candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor whose cumulative grade point average is 3.45 or higher and subject to the Honors and Final Class Rank policy, will graduate with honors, as follows:
3.45 to 3.64 -Cum Laude
3.65 to 3.84 -Magna Cum Laude
3.85 and higher -Summa Cum Laude
For the purpose of calculating honors and class rank, students retaking a course will have the two grades averaged together.

College of Human Medicine

The College of Human Medicine recognizes membership in two national honor societies, which will appear on a student's transcript as TERM HONOR: ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA HONOR SOCIETY or TERM HONOR: GOLD HUMANISM HONOR SOCIETY.

A student who earned honors in a clinical rotation will have the following note on their transcript: DESIGNATION: CLINICAL CLERKSHIP HONORS.

College of Osteopathic Medicine

Remediation

The College of Osteopathic Medicine uses specific transcript notes to reflect the outcomes of course remediation:

• If a student initially receives an N (No Grade) and successfully remediates to earn a P (Pass), the transcript will display: NOTE: INITIAL N GRADE WAS UPDATED TO P VIA REMEDIATION.
• If a student receives an N and does not successfully remediate, the transcript will display: NOTE: REMEDIATION ATTEMPTED.

Honors and High Pass

For core clinical rotations, students may earn Honors or High Pass based on criteria outlined in the syllabus. These distinctions appear as: DESIGNATION: CLINICAL CLERKSHIP HONORS or DESIGNTATION: CLINICAL CLERKSHIP HIGH PASS.

Institutional ID Codes

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) identification number is assigned by the U.S. Department of Education to identify schools that have Program Participation Agreements so that its students are eligible to participate in Federal Student Financial Assistance programs under Title IV regulations. MSU's OPE ID number is 00229000.