International Student Handbook 2013

Page 10

Graduating is not always as simple as it may appear to be. There are three sets of requirements for a baccalaureate degree at PSU: •

General education (University Studies or the Honors Program).

Degree (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music).

Major requirements.

For a graduate degree, students should consult with their academic advisor to find out about their graduate degree requirements. It is important that you stay in touch with your academic advisor to ensure that you meet the requirements for each of these areas or you may find that you have to spend additional time studying at PSU. This, in turn, could jeopardize your immigration status. Your Academic Status International students must maintain full-time status (a minimum of 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and a minimum of 9 credit hours for graduate students in every term enrolled). If you choose to WITHDRAW from a course or change the grading option to AUDIT, you MUST consult with your international student advisor prior to doing so. Reducing your credit load to less than full time may place you out of status with the United States Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS)*. Failure to maintain the proper number of credits may also result in you having to abandon your studies and return to your home country. Do not take too many classes. Give yourself time to adjust to the U.S., to PSU, and to your classes. Taking too many classes can result in you receiving low grades and increasing your stress level. Taking too many classes may also endanger your academic standing and admission to professional programs. Listen to your academic and international student advisors.

Academic Standing Grades End of term grades are available on the Wednesday following finals week. Students may view grades and print grade reports using the PSU Information System called https://my.pdx.edu* online. Calculating your Grade Point Average (GPA)* Each letter grade corresponds to a numeric value on a scale from 0.0 to 4.0, in which A corresponds to 4.0. A student’s academic success for a quarter is measured cumulatively, which is computed by dividing the total number of points earned by the total number of credits taken. Under specific circumstances, letters such as: I (incomplete); W (Withdraw); X (No basis for grade); P (Pass); and NP (No Pass) may appear in grade reports. These letters are not grades and are not included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. *see glossary for definition 10


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.