Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the number of hours of college credit they have earned. Classifications are as follows:
| Freshmen |
0 - 29 earned hours |
| Sophomores |
30 - 59 earned hours |
| Juniors |
60 - 89 earned hours |
| Seniors |
90 or more earned hours |
| Special Students |
Undergraduate students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. |
| Graduate Students |
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and have been accepted to UT Pan American for graduate study. |
| Special Graduates |
Students who have earned a graduate degree and are continuing in another graduate program. |
| Doctoral Students |
Students who have been accepted to a doctoral program. |
Course Numbers
Courses are numbered to show both the collegiate level at which they are offered and the hour value of the course. The first digit shows the level, and the second digit shows the credit hours. The last two digits are departmental designations. For example, Spanish 1301 shows that the course is taught at the freshman level and carries three hours of credit per semester. All lower-division undergraduate courses ending in the numbers 87 and 88 are honors courses. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
| 1000 numbered courses |
Freshman level |
| 2000 numbered courses |
Sophomore level |
| 3000 numbered courses |
Junior level |
| 4000 numbered courses |
Senior level |
| All 5000-7000 numbered courses |
are masters-level courses. |
| All 8000-9000 numbered courses |
are doctoral-level courses. |
Grades
Students may obtain their grades using ASSIST, Web (assist.utpa.edu) and KIOSK services. Students requiring a paper copy of their grades may request a transcript from the Office of the Registrar. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation
The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total hours attempted. The Cumulative Grade Point Average is calculated using all coursework (excluding repeated courses) attempted. The current semester grade point average is calculated using only coursework attempted within a specific semester. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
Grading System
UTPA uses a 4.0 system. Effective Fall 2008 the following grades are used to designate achievement in coursework. Their corresponding grade values and points are indicated. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
| A Excellent |
4 grade points per hour |
| B Good |
3 grade points per hour |
| C Satisfactory |
2 grade points per hour |
| D Below Average |
1 grade point per hour - may not be assigned in graduate classes |
| F Failure |
0 grade points per hour |
| P Passing |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| NP No Pass |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| IP In Progress |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours; for remedial courses only |
| I Incomplete |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| CR Credit |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours; however, hours are counted in total earned hours |
| NC No Credit |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| DR Course Dropped |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| W Withdrawal from School |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records whereby parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records, and the right to request that a school correct records, and that schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. Read more about FERPA .
