Grading
You not only have the freedom to choose the content and character of your education at Brown; you can also choose the way in which you are evaluated.
One grading option is the traditional letter-grading system. In this system, you will receive either an A, B, C, or NC (No Credit) for the course. No courses at Brown can be passed with a grade lower than a C. Additionally, classes in which an NC is recorded do not appear on official transcripts, they only appear on your internal records.
Your other option is to use the “Satisfactory/No Credit” grading system. Originally introduced in 1969 as part of the New Curriculum (now known as the Brown Curriculum), this system is intended to encourage you to explore subjects outside of your main interests and to promote an interdisciplinary approach to your education. Upon completing a course, you will receive either an "S," "NC," or "S with distinction." For a more thorough and insightful evaluation of a course taken S/NC, you may request a Course Performance Report, a written report on your performance from your instructor.
For more information on academic requirements and grading policy visit the Dean of the College.
Despite the openness of the Brown Curriculum, every student has several non-negotiable obligations to fulfill prior to graduation.
Demonstrate competence in writing
Every piece of written work you submit as an undergraduate will be subject to the evaluation of your instructor. Instructors of every course have the option to submit, along with your grade, a “writing not satisfactory” check. If you accumulate two or more checks during your undergraduate career, you will be contacted by the dean’s office and asked to work out a program to fulfill the requirement. This might entail taking an English course or completing work at the Writing Center. Some students upon entering Brown may be urged to complete a writing course, based on the writing they submitted in the admission process.
Successfully complete at least 30 courses
You are required to achieve a passing grade in a minimum of 30 courses. The standard semester course load is four courses. Five courses are permitted but not necessarily advisable, and three courses per semester may be taken in a given semester with permission by an academic dean.
Students may transfer to Brown a portion of their required courses from study abroad or from another approved U.S. university or college. Students are required, however, to spend a minimum of four semesters in residence at Brown.
Successfully complete a concentration (major)
Most concentrations at Brown have a prescribed character and structure, even as they permit you considerable choice. You can find descriptions of all standard concentrations here.
Fulfill the Enrollment Requirement of 32 units of tuition
The fourth general requirement for a Brown undergraduate degree is the tuition requirement. Students must be enrolled full-time for eight semesters (ten semesters for combined degree candidates) of instruction before they can graduate. That is, a student is responsible for tuition payments for eight or ten semesters. This rule holds true whether or not the student completes his/her academic work in fewer than eight or ten semesters. Approved study during the school year at another institution in the United States or abroad may also count toward this requirement.