Most University courses are assigned a unit value. One unit represents three hours of work per week by the student, including both class attendance and preparation. Laboratory, discussion, quiz, or review sessions may or may not be given unit value.
UC Berkeley is on the semester unit system. To convert to quarter units, refer to this chart:
| Unit Conversion Chart | |
|---|---|
| Semester | Quarter |
| 10 | 15.0 |
| 9 | 13.5 |
| 8 | 12.0 |
| 7 | 10.5 |
| 6 | 9.0 |
| 5 | 7.5 |
| 4 | 6.0 |
| 3 | 4.5 |
| 2 | 3.0 |
| 1 | 1.5 |
| 0.5 | 0.75 |
Berkeley Summer Sessions highly recommends a maximum of 10 units per session during Summer Sessions. UC Berkeley students are encouraged to consult their college or major advisers before exceeding the unit recommendation. Visiting students who wish to take more than 10 units should consult the Berkeley Summer Sessions office before registering.
Summer courses are considered versions of courses normally offered during 15 week semesters. Six units - usually two courses - constitutes full time study for both six and eight week sessions. For U.S. entry visa purposes, please refer to the full-time student status chart on the Visa Information page.
Attendance at Berkeley Summer Sessions does not constitute continuous residence. You need to apply for re-admission to any succeeding semester if you did not complete the Spring 2010 term. Consult the General Catalog for more information.
| Grade Point Conversion Chart | |
|---|---|
| Grades | Points |
| A+, A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F, NP, U | 0 |
All grades except I and IP are considered final. Only courses with a passing grade will count toward degree requirements, unless otherwise specified. A course with an I or IP is not counted toward degree requirements until the I or IP is replaced by a passing grade. The grades of P, S, NP, U, I, and IP carry no grade points, and the units in such courses are not included in grade-point average GPA computations.
Grade I (Incomplete)
If your work in a course has been of passing quality but is incomplete for reasons beyond your control (such as extreme illness), you can arrange to receive an Incomplete from your instructor so that you may finish the work during the Fall term. UC Berkeley students are required to complete the work by the first day of instruction of the following Spring semester or the I grade will lapse to either an F or NP and become a part of the GPA computation. Consult the General Catalog for instructions on removing the I grade. For visiting students, the I grade is frozen on the transcript unless you become a matriculated undergraduate at UC Berkeley or enroll in a future Summer Session. If by that time you have not met the completion deadline above, the I grade will be converted to an F (or NP).
The I grade is not physically replaced or removed from the academic record. Completion of the work is reflected as a subsequent line entry on the record, and the units and grade points earned will be included in subsequent GPA computations.
The IP (In Progress) grade can only be assigned to UC Berkeley students because its removal is contingent on enrollment in the course in the next term. Please refer to the General Catalog for more information.
Academic Probation
There will not be a probation list in August 2009 after Summer Sessions. If you are on probation in Spring 2009, you will remain on probation in Fall 2009 even if you clear your deficit in Summer Sessions. Summer Sessions' grades will be included with Fall grades in the January grade-point averages.
You can change the grading option on most letter-graded courses. Your status as an undergraduate or graduate level student determines which option is available to you:
Passed/Not Passed
(For Undergraduate - "U 1")
Undergraduate students in good academic standing may take letter-graded courses on a Passed/Not Passed (P/NP) basis. A C- or better is considered passing.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
(For Graduate or Visiting students with BA/BS or equivalent - "G 1" and "G 5")
Graduate students in good academic standing may take letter-graded courses on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. A B- or better is considered passing
Course numbering in summer is the same as during the regular academic year, with one exception. Courses with the same number and title as the Fall/Spring version but which differ in a significant way (unit value, hours of class meeting, or a change to the course description) carry the prefix "N". This indicates the course is "not identical" to the Fall/Spring versions. UC Berkeley's course numbering system is outlined below.
1-99 (Lower Division Courses)
Open to freshmen and sophomores; not acceptable for upper division credit
100-196 (Upper Division Courses)
Ordinarily open to students who have completed at least one lower division course in the given subject or two years of college work
200-299 (Graduate Courses)
Adequate preparation, subject to instructor's approval, is normally 12 upper division semester units of work basic to the subject matter of the course
300-399 (Professional Courses)
For teachers or prospective teachers
400-499 (Professional Courses)
Like teaching courses, acceptable toward academic degrees only within the limitations prescribed by the various colleges or schools or the Graduate Division
Some Summer Sessions courses are not listed in the catalog because enrollment in those courses require special arrangements between the student and instructor or dean. To enroll, students must have completed at least 60 units of undergraduate study and be in good academic standing. Enrollment in any combination of these courses is restricted to four units per semester; grading is Passed/Not Passed, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Consult the academic department directly for more information.
Many Berkeley Summer Sessions courses list prerequisites in their course descriptions. There is no system control for prerequisites, and students are responsible for knowing if they are eligible for the course or not. UC Berkeley students should meet all prerequisites as they are listed. Visiting students should assess their background in light of the listed prerequisite. When in doubt, contact the department or the instructor for advice, or request an exception to the listed prerequisite on the first day of class.
Students should have another course in mind as a backup if permission for an exception is not granted.
Courses Accepted Toward the Master's Degree
If you plan to take Summer Sessions courses in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master's degree, select only courses specially designated as acceptable for this purpose. Consult your advisor before enrolling.
Academic Residence Graduate
One Summer Session, if it is consecutive with a regular term, may be counted toward the master's degree academic residence. An exception is the MBA degree in the Graduate School of Business Administration. No degrees will be awarded for work completed during summer terms only.
Graduate Student Fees
Note that UC Graduate students pay a different course fee than undergraduate students. Please consult the Fee Statement for current course fees.
