Law Transcript Key - Prior to August 29, 2016

Release of Information

In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, this information is released on the condition that the recipient "will not permit any other party to have access to such information without the written consent of the student."

Official Paper Document

"Penn State" appears in white print on a green background across the entire face of the official transcript or enrollment verification which is printed on security paper. The official transcript bears the seal of Penn State and the signature of the University Registrar. The raised University seal is not required.

Official Electronic Document

An electronic signature and certification appears before you open the PDF transcript, and also on the front page of the transcript. The Statement of Authenticity bears the name of the University Registrar.

Accreditation

Penn State Law is on the approved list of the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

Unit of Credit

The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour of credit represents course work involving one 50-minute classroom hour per week over a period of 14 weeks.

Course-Numbering System

Courses in the 900 to 999 series are restricted to students enrolled in the J.D. and LL.M. programs and others receiving special permission.

Non-900 level courses appearing on the transcript are not calculated into the cumulative grade-point average or class rank.

Class Ranking

Semester and cumulative ranking information appears on the transcript. Details regarding the ranking process are found on the Penn State Law website.

Course Suffixes

Letters are frequently used following a course or section number.

The letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, M, N, Q, S, T, X, and Z appear after certain courses for which a basic course description encompasses multiple course titles.

Basis for Grades

For the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, the grades A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure. Effective fall semester 2012, the Master of Laws grading scale eliminated grades A+, C-, and D+ and follows the Juris Doctor grade scale below.

Grades are assigned to Juris Doctor candidates on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement using the grading system below.

Before Fall Semester 2000

Summary of the law grading system prior to fall semester 2000
Grade	Gradation
90 and above	Distinguished
85-89	Excellent
75-84	Good
70-74	Qualified
65-69	Poor
Below 65	Fail (No credit)

Effective Fall Semester 2000

Summary of the law grading system effective fall semester 2000
Grade	Gradation
90 and above	Distinguished
85-89	Excellent
80-84	Good
75-79	Satisfactory
70-74	Passing
65-69	Conditional Failure
Below 65	Failure (No credit)

Effective Summer Semester 2005

Summary of the law grading system effective summer semester 2005
Grade	Gradation
A	Distinguished
A-	Excellent
B+	Superior
B	Very Good
B-	Good
C+	Satisfactory
C	Passing
D	Poor
F	Failure (No credit)

Juris Doctor candidates may earn a limited number of credits on a pass/fail basis. Successful completion of such courses is indicated by the letter P. Some courses (generally clinics) are offered only on a credit/non-credit basis. Successful completion of such courses is indicated by the code CR. Unsuccessful completion is indicated by the code NC.

Incomplete Grade Symbols

Incomplete grade symbols used as part of the law grading system
Symbol	Meaning
NG	No Grade Reported
DF	Deferred

Other Symbols

Other grade symbols used as part of the law grading system
Symbol	Meaning
P	Pass
AU	Audit
R	Research
W	Withdrawal
XF	Fail, Academic Dishonesty
INCP & I	Incomplete Average
WP	Late Drop Passing
WF	Late Drop Failing
WN	Late Drop No Grade
NC	Non-Credit
CR	Credit