Students may register for the pass/fail option at the time they initially add a class in Student Services Online. Once a class has been added, to subsequently opt for pass/fail, students must visit the Office of the Registrar at either of the locations below to make the change.

Students may not switch to pass/fail after the last day to select the pass/fail grading option for their school.  The pass/fail deadlines for each school are listed in Registration Dates. 

Please note:

• The per-term and aggregate number of pass/fail classes a student may take is determined by his/her school or department.
• Some classes are not available for pass/fail; other courses are only offered as pass/fail. Check your school's bulletin and the Directory of Classes for information on specific classes.
• Major or core requirements cannot be taken for pass/fail.

Morningside Campus

Office of the Registrar
205 Kent Hall
 

Medical Center Campus

Student Administrative Services
630 W. 168th Street
Black Building, 1st fl., rm. 141

R Credit

R is a non-evaluative grade which confers credit for registration, without designating a letter grade. Taking a class for R credit is not the same taking a class for pass/fail or auditing.

Registering for R Credit

Students should register for R credit as they would any other class. There is no specific registration option for R credit. If a student wishes to be given R credit for a class, they must request it from the instructor early in the term. The R grade will be assigned by the instructor at the end of the term.

Requirements for Taking a Class for R Credit

Students taking a class for R credit are not required to take the final exam. All other requirements are established at the time the professor grants permission to take the class. If the student performs in accordance with the agreement, the instructor will award an R grade.

Please Note:

• The student must register and pay for R credit classes.
• Many classes which require full participation, performance and interaction (elementary, laboratories, etc.) are not available for R credit.
• Most students do not get academic credit for R grades with the exception of some GSAS Ph.D students who may be allowed, in certain circumstances, to receive academic R credit.
• A student cannot take major or core requirements for R credit.
• The per-term and aggregate number of R credits a student is allowed to take is determined by their school or department.
• Classes taken for R credit will be posted on the student's transcript.

Auditing

There is no formal audit procedure at Columbia. The only exception is a program within the School of Continuing Education which requires a separate application to that program and permits registration only in certain designated sections or classes.

More commonly, students seem to use the term audit to refer to taking a class on an R credit basis. R is a non-evaluative grade which not all schools permit at all levels. Most will not give degree credit for an R grade.