berkeley what does w before a course number mean

by Flossie Kerluke Jr. 7 min read

How are courses numbered and/or described?

C = Course is cross-listed with another department H = Honors course N = Summer-only course not equivalent to a regular session course with the same number R = Satisfies Reading and Composition (R & C) requirement W = Offered fully or predominantly online (Prefix not required for online course)

What is a W on a transcript?

The course catalog below includes all courses currently approved to be taught at UC Berkeley. Please Note: Only a subset of courses that appear are offered each semester.To see a list of course offerings for a current or future term, please see the Class Schedule.

How important is it to get a W on a test?

Aug 31, 2021 · Find classes using the “mode of instruction” filter in the Academic Guide’s Class Schedule or the Cal Central Schedule of Classes. Mode of instruction is noted on the class details page of each section. Mode of instruction may vary across course components. The lecture and the discussion section or lab may have different modes of instruction.

Are instructors expected to follow “Berkeley time”?

Please view the Service Adjustments web page for the most current information regarding COVID-19 impacts. Before Enrolling. Before you get started, explore courses and degree options via the Berkeley Guide. Search for classes using keywords and filters in the Berkeley Guide Class Schedule.; Build your class schedule in CalCentral using the Schedule of Classes and the …

How many units of 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199?

Courses numbered 199. Supervised Independent Study (upper division) You may use no more than 16 semester units of courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 to meet requirements for the bachelor's degree.

How many units of credit are required for a 97, 98, 99, 197, 198,

You may aggregate no more than 4 units of credit for courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 for a single semester.

What are the policies and procedures of UC Berkeley?

Academic policies and procedures allow students to clearly understand their rights and responsibilities. They protect the integrity of the UC Berkeley degree and provide fair and transparent guidelines for activities related to teaching and learning across campus.

How many units of field studies are there in a semester?

Field Studies (lower division) You may use no more than 16 semester units of courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 to meet requirements for the bachelor's degree. You may aggregate no more than 4 units of credit for courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 198, and 199 for a single semester.

How many units of classes are required for a bachelor's degree?

In certain cases, exceptions to these rules may be granted by the dean of your college or school. Courses numbered 198. Organized Group Study (upper division) You may use no more than 16 semester units of courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 to meet requirements for the bachelor's degree.

What is a grade S?

A course receiving the grade S (graduate students only) is similarly counted subject to Academic Senate regulations.

How to convert quarter units to semester units?

Quarter units, either earned previously at Berkeley or at another institution, are converted to semester units by multiplying by two-thirds (for example, 180 quarter units equal 120 semester units). Courses and Units. Most University courses are assigned a unit value.

How many units are required for summer sessions at UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley Summer Sessions highly recommends a maximum of 10 units per session during the summer term. UC Berkeley students are encouraged to consult with their college or major advisers before exceeding the unit recommendation.

Is UC Berkeley a semester unit?

Laboratory, discussion, quiz, or review sessions may or may not be given unit value. UC Berkeley is on the semester unit system; this means the main part of the school year calendar (not including the summer session) is broken up into two parts called “semesters”. Many other schools use the quarter unit system;

What is unit of credit in UC Berkeley?

Units of Credit. 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; this means the main part ...

Is IP considered final?

All grade s except I (Incomplete) and IP (In Progress) 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.

How long after Berkeley time do you start a class?

Instructors are expected to continue to follow “Berkeley time”: by the “Berkeley Time” convention, instruction in class meetings normally begins ten minutes after the official start time. For example, a class whose time is listed in the schedule as 10:00-10:59 begins at 10:10 and ends at 11:00.

Does CalCentral notify students of changes?

While departments are encouraged to notify enrolled students of a change in the mode of instruction, meeting pattern, or other important features, it is the student’s responsibility to use CalCentral to review enrollments carefully prior to the start of instruction.

What is mode of instruction?

Mode of instruction is noted on the class details page of each section. Mode of instruction may vary across course components. The lecture and the discussion section or lab may have different modes of instruction.

Can final exams be rescheduled?

No final exams will be rescheduled due to time conflicts. Some classes with the “asynchronous” notation may be asynchronous only; others may have a synchronous option — consult the class notes or class syllabus for details. An asynchronous class may allow for time conflicts or it may not.

How long does it take for a bc course to update?

Please keep in mind that bCourses updates more slowly than CalCentral. You should generally expect it will take about 24 hours for enrollment changes made in CalCentral to be reflected in bCourses. Some instructors publish their course sites in advance of the first day; others wait until the start of instruction.

Should students have access to midterm and final exams?

Students should have access to midterm and final exams in the same method of delivery that they are enrolled in the class. In-person classes should plan to offer in-person exams; remote classes should plan to offer remote exams.

Does every class have a final exam?

Each class is assigned a final exam group. Not every class will have a final exam. Some instructors may replace final examinations with other modes of final assessment, subject to the department chair’s approval. Any such change in the mode of final assessment should be announced in the syllabus.

How often do you get on the wait list for CalCentral?

You can place yourself on the class's wait list within CalCentral. Automatic wait lists are processed every six hours through the end of the third week of instruction. Students on automatic wait lists are enrolled sequentially, provided there are seats available for their enrollment group.

Why do undergraduate colleges have a stake in deadlines?

All of the undergraduate colleges have a stake in consistent deadlines, because students from every college take courses in every other college. The Council of Undergraduate Deans, the body where the undergraduate colleges convene to make collective decisions, has made this decision.

How many units are in phase 1?

Undergraduates are limited to no more than 13.5 units during Phase 1 and 17.5 units during Phase 2, which includes waitlisted units. (For graduates, the limit for Phase 1 is 12 units, and for Phase 2 it is 20.5 units.) This is a hard cap enforcement. Students have from the start of their appointment time until the end of the given phase to add, ...

Can you enroll in a class without permission?

For some classes, prerequisites will be automatically enforced by the enrollment system. If the system does not find the requisites in your academic record, you cannot enroll without first receiving permission from the department or instructor.

What happens if you don't meet the enrollment restrictions?

If you attempt to add a course and you do not meet the restrictions, you will not be allowed to enroll and you will receive the message , "You have not met the enrollment restrictions (or criteria) for this class," or "Students at your course level are not permitted to enroll in this class.".

Can you enroll in both classes with time conflicts?

If both conflicting classes are not set up for students to enroll in classes with time conflicts, you will be unable to enroll in both classes while the times conflict. You must choose one or the other or find alternatives that allows time conflicts or do not conflict. Drop a Class.

When is the deadline to drop EDD?

Please be aware some courses have early drop deadlines (EDD). The deadline for dropping EDD courses is midnight on Friday of the second week of instruction. Check your college/school's website for more information. You will be allowed to drop below full-time units until the end of the fourth week of instruction.

What is a 200 299 degree?

Graduate courses numbered 200–299 are generally open only to graduate students who have completed basic undergraduate courses in the subject. Courses and seminars in the 200 series can fulfill the minimum graduate course requirement for any advanced degree.

Do you need identical course numbers for language in culture?

They do not need to have identical course numbers, but all other aspects of the course must be the same, including title, units, requisites, format, and level. For example, Language in Culture is offered by the Anthropology department as course M140 and the Linguistics department as course M146.

What is a lower division class?

Undergraduate courses are classified as lower division and upper division. Lower-division courses (numbered 1–99) are often surveys of and preliminary introductions to the subject field. They are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores, though upper-division students may enroll for unit and grade credit.

What is 89/189?

Honors seminars and tutorials (numbered 89/189 and 89HC/189HC) are primarily designed for students in the College Honors Program. They are adjunct to lecture courses and explore lecture topics in more depth through supplemental readings, papers, or other activities.

What is a concurrent course?

Concurrent courses (identified by a capital C before the course number) are pairs of courses, usually within a single department or program, for which credit is given at two levels—undergraduate and graduate. Concurrent courses are offered at the same time and place with the same instructor, but work levels and performance standards are evaluated differently for students at each level.

What is a multiple listed course?

Multiple-listed courses (identified by a capital M before the course number) are courses offered jointly by more than one department. They do not need to have identical course numbers, but all other aspects of the course must be the same, including title, units, requisites, format, and level.

What is upper division seminar?

Upper-division seminars (numbered 190–194) are small seminars, with between 15 and 20 students, that focus on research practice or issues. Many are designed to be taken along with a tutorial course in the 195–199 series.

How far in advance do you have to submit coursework for grade replacement?

If your instructor has not provided you with a submission deadline, you must submit your work to your instructor at least 30 days prior to the instructor's grade replacement deadline.

Can an instructor give an incomplete grade?

Incomplete grades can only be granted by instructors and instructors are under no obligation to grant students an incomplete grade. In cases where an instructor agrees to assign an I grade, it is important to arrive at an agreement about exactly what is required in order to finish the course with the instructor.

How to resolve incomplete grades?

Students have three possible options to resolve Incomplete grades: 1. Complete & Replace an Incomplete Grade. (expand) An Incomplete or I grade is meant to act as a placeholder grade. Once you finish your missing work, the instructor can assign you a final grade, which replaces the I grade in your record.

What is an incomplete grade?

An Incomplete or I grade is meant to act as a placeholder grade. Once you finish your missing work, the instructor can assign you a final grade, which replaces the I grade in your record. Your grade will match the grading option you chose in the semester you started the course. Incomplete grades are opportunities to complete missing work for a course, not to re-do assignments that were already completed. Because of this, it is important to assess whether you feel you can finish a course with a grade you want before deciding on an Incomplete grade.

How long do you have to submit your work to your instructor?

If your instructor has not provided you with a submission deadline, you must submit your work to your instructor at least 30 days prior to the instructor's grade replacement deadline. Instructors must submit the final grade by the deadline (above). Review the Office of the Registrar's information about Incomplete grades (link is external).

How many incomplete grades can you keep on your record?

Retain/Freeze an Incomplete Grade. Up to two Incomplete grades can be retained permanently on the record (this is often called "freezing an incomplete"). This means instead of a final grade, or the Incomplete lapsing to an F, you will have a grade of “I” on your record.

Does L&S require you to complete all grades?

L&S may require that you complete some or all of your Incomplete grades before registering for another term . If you have a high number of Incomplete units, you will likely be emailed about meeting with an L&S College Adviser to discuss your plan so a decision about continued registration can be made.

What does a W on a transcript mean?

If they instead stay enrolled and the deadline passes, they can still leave the class. However, this results in the W grade, or withdrawal.

What does W stand for on a transcript?

It’s called a “W” which stands for withdrawal. Having a W on transcript may or may not be a big deal. It all depends on a few factors, which we will get into later. Many students have reason to take their college transcripts seriously.

Can you drop a class before the add/drop deadline?

In most institutions of higher education, students can choose to drop a class before the add/drop deadline. If they instead stay enrolled and the deadline passes, they can still leave the class. However, this results in the W grade, or withdrawal.

How to calculate college GPA?

A college GPA is calculated by assigning a number to each letter grade and dividing it by the total number of courses taken. What is considered to be a good college GPA can vary and is often dictated by the graduate school you may want to apply to after undergraduate studies. However, it’s good to know that a W will not factor into ...

Is a W factored into your GPA?

However, it’s good to know that a W will not factor into the numerical calculation for your grade. It will still appear on your transcript though.

Is a W bad for college?

While a W is not the worst thing that can happen during your college career, it still is unfavorable.

Is it bad to have a W on your transcript?

How It Looks Later. Having a W on your transcript is not the best situation, but it’s also not the worst. If you plan to apply to graduate school, and there is no pattern of Ws showing up, they might not hold it against you. More important that having a W is showing an improvement in your grades.

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Units of Credit

  • 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; this means the main part of the school year calendar (no...
See more on summer.berkeley.edu

Maximum Units in Summer

  • UC Berkeley Summer Sessions highly recommends a maximum of 10 units per session during the summer term. UC Berkeley students are encouraged to consult with their college or major advisers before exceeding the unit recommendation.
See more on summer.berkeley.edu

Grade Points

  • Each letter grade you get for completing a course is equivalent to a certain number of grade points. Use the chart below for converting letter grades to grade points. All grades except I (Incomplete) and IP (In Progress)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 co…
See more on summer.berkeley.edu

Grading Options

  • You can change the grading option on most letter-graded courses. See this page(link is external)on changing grading options.
See more on summer.berkeley.edu