Registrar

Academic Policies

Repeat Credit

Most courses offered in the College of Arts and Science may be repeated. If a course was failed the last time it was taken, credit is awarded when the course is repeated with a passing grade. Passed courses may be repeated only once; failed courses may be repeated any number times.

The most recent grade in a course replaces the previous grade in determining credit, computing the grade point average, and verifying the completion of degree requirements and progress toward the degree under the following conditions:

  1. A previously passed course must be repeated within one year or (for courses not offered within a year) the first time it is offered; failed courses may be repeated at any time.
  2. Exactly the same course (same department and course number) must be completed. (A very small number of differently numbered courses as approved by the faculty may be substituted under this policy, and as designated in the departmental course listings.)
  3. The course must be repeated on a regularly graded basis. This limitation applies even if the course was originally taken on a P/F basis.
  4. The course may not be an independent study or directed study course.

Courses taken in the College of Arts & Science may not be repeated elsewhere for grade replacement; nor may courses taken elsewhere be repeated in the College of Arts & Science for grade replacement.

No matter the outcome of the repeat, all grades earned are shown on the transcript. Students are cautioned that while repeating for grade replacement a course previously passed may improve their cumulative grade point average, it may also lead to a problem in meeting hours requirements.

No Credit

It is the responsibility of the individual student to avoid duplication in whole or in part of the content of any course counting toward the degree. Such duplication may result in the withdrawal of credit.

In most instances, enrollment in a course similar to one already completed but with a different course number will result in the award of no credit for the second course. Such courses will have no effect on the grade point average. Information on cut credit/no credit can be found in the course descriptions of the Undergraduate Catalog; students also may consult the Arts and Science Registrar's office as to the status of similar but differently numbered courses.

Special Information about Math Credit

In order to accommodate varying levels of progress, the Vanderbilt Math Department has divided its calculus coursework into two sequences (plus MATH 140). The courses in these sequences cover the same material but at different rates of speed, and therefore overlap in content and credit. This means that switching from one sequence to another may result in withdrawal of credit:

Math Credit

Students who earned math credit

  1. through Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate in one sequence and complete a course at Vanderbilt from another sequence that duplicates this credit will lose credit from the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate earnings.
  2. by transfer in one sequence and complete a course at Vanderbilt from another sequence that duplicates this credit will lose credit from the Vanderbilt course.
  3. at Vanderbilt in one sequence and complete a course at Vanderbilt from another sequence that duplicates this credit will lose credit from the second Vanderbilt course.

Math Credit