Advanced Placement Examinations are given in May by the College Entrance Examination Board. These tests are scored during the summer and will be sent to the University at the student's request. For complete details on the Advanced Placement Exams, please contact

College Entrance Examination Board
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671

Students who have taken an advanced placement course in high school may obtain college credit at Loyola if their performance on the exam is satisfactory. Credit, but no grade, is normally awarded and recorded on the student's transcript for a score of 4 or 5, depending upon departmental policy. The Academic and Advising Support Center (AASC) will work with students who receive advanced placement credits to make any changes necessary to their programs of study. The maximum amount of credit awarded on the basis of all placement tests is equivalent to one academic year of credit. Credit awarded on the basis of placement tests does not count toward the fulfillment of residency requirements.

All transfer courses require the prior written permission of both the chair of the department awarding the credit and AASC. Only courses at accredited institutions will be accepted.

Applications for transfer from other accredited two- or four-year institutions are always welcome. Due to the University's undergraduate residency requirement, students may not transfer to Loyola after the beginning of junior year. Upon admission to Loyola, transfer students will be awarded credit for courses comparable to those offered at Loyola. (Department chairs will determine course comparability.)

For more information, please visit the transfer students page on the admission website.

Students who miss three semesters (including summer) without filing a request for a leave of absence are automatically withdrawn from the University and must reapply. This policy also applies to students who study abroad and do not take an official leave of absence from the University.

Students may apply for a leave of absence for medical or personal reasons or to study abroad. However, the leave of absence can last for no more than two semesters. If the student takes a leave of absence while on academic or disciplinary probation, s/he must complete the terms of her/his probation upon returning to Loyola. Students who are subject to full dismissal from the University for academic or disciplinary reasons are not eligible for a leave of absence.

To apply for a leave of absence, the student must mail or fax a letter with their signature to the office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, requesting the leave of absence. The letter must state whether the leave is personal or medical.

A medical leave of absence will be granted when the attending physician provides the University with documentation recommending a leave. This documentation must be received within 30 days after the student or parent notifies Loyola of the need for a medical leave of absence. A review of the student's financial obligations to the University will take place once the medical leave of absence is approved and the medical documentation is received. If the medical documentation is not received by the University within the 30-day period, the student or parent forfeits the right to a tuition refund.

Students applying for a leave must complete the Leave of Absence Form, which can be obtained by contacting the office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. They must then consult the financial aid office to determine what effect this leave may have on their financial aid. Usually, students on a leave of absence from the University will not receive transfer credit for courses taken at another institution during the period of the leave. However, prior written permission may be obtained from the Academic Advising and Support Center for any exceptions to this policy.

Upon completion of the leave, students may return to Loyola University Maryland under the academic requirements in effect at the time of the departure without completing the regular admission process. Students on an approved leave of absence who do not return at the conclusion of that leave and who do not request an extension of the leave in writing from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies will be withdrawn completely from the University at the conclusion of the first formal add/drop period, which is typically the first week of classes of a semester.

To return to the University after a medical leave of absence, the student must provide documentation from their attending physician to the office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies stating that the student is approved for a return to the University.

The university educational experience is comprised of more than just private reading and the passing of exams and tests. Mature and motivated students recognize that active and informed participation in class discussions is essential to the development of their intellectual abilities and their scholarly growth. Accordingly, the University expects its students to accept their responsibility to attend class regularly. The attendance requirements and the grading system for each course are explained by the professor of the course at the start of each term. Students are expected to be on time for all classes and must take semester exams at the regularly scheduled time.

If, for reasons of health or other emergency, a student knows that s/he will be absent from her/his classes for several days, the student should inform the Academic Advising and Support Center by telephone at 410-617-5050. AASC will then notify the student's instructors. Only instructors can excuse student absences from their classes.

Students who are absent from a semester exam for a serious reason may be permitted to take a deferred exam if they validate their absence to the satisfaction of the instructor. Students who are absent from a deferred exam will automatically receive a grade of 0 (zero) for the exam.

For more information about the various majors, minors, and concentrations offered at Loyola, please visit the majors page at the University's academics website.

All transfer courses require the prior written permission of both the chair of the department awarding the credit and AASC. Only courses at accredited institutions will be accepted. Except for courses taken as part of the Baltimore Student Exchange Program or other approved international programs, a letter grade of C or higher must be obtained for any course transferred to Loyola University Maryland; only the credits are transferred. Courses with a grade of below a C do not transfer and do not count in the regular Loyola QPA. However, in determining honors at graduation, the cumulative average is computed on the basis of all courses taken at all colleges. No higher honors will be awarded than those earned with grades that appear on the Loyola transcript for courses completed at Loyola through Loyola-sponsored programs. Students who have been placed on disciplinary suspension by the University will not be granted transfer credit for courses taken at other institutions during the suspension period.

Students may only register for five courses (excluding military science and one- and two-credit courses) via WebAdvisor or paper submission during the official registration period. To take a sixth course, the student must fill out a Sixth Course Form and have their advisor sign it; the form must then be submitted after the initial registration period for the coming semester. First-year students are permitted to request a sixth course only for the second semester if they earn a QPA of 3.000 or above for five three- or four-credit courses during their first semester. Upperclassmen must be in good academic standing (having a QPA of 2.000 or above) to request a sixth course. Approval of the request is subject to the successful completion of all the course's prerequisites and to the course's availability.

A student may withdraw from a course upon the advice and approval of the instructor of the course, the faculty advisor, and/or a member of the Academic Advising and Support Center. During the first four days of the semester, the student may withdraw from a course without receiving a grade of W. The student will receive a grade of W if s/he withdraws from the course no later than four full weeks (20 class days) before the end of a semester. After that time, students are not allowed to withdraw from any courses. Intercollegiate athletes must obtain the signature of the academic coordinator for varsity athletics. Failure to comply with the official withdrawal procedure will result in a permanent grade of F or AW (audit withdrawal).

For information about Loyola's tuition refund policy, please visit the withdrawal page on the records department website.

For information about Loyola's federal financial aid refund policy, please visit the FFA refund page on the financial aid office website.

A student's performance in a course will be reported by the instructor in accordance with the following grading system:

• A : Excellent Denotes outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative. This is the highest grade awarded.
• B : Good Denotes work which surpasses the objectives for the course. It is a mark of distinction.
• C : Satisfactory Denotes work which achieves the objectives for the course. It is the lowest grade given for an acceptable performance.
• D : Unsatisfactory Denotes work of inferior quality compared to the objectives for the course. It is the lowest passing grade and a mark of inadequate performance.
• F : Failure Denotes inadequate work below the minimal standards of competence required to pass the course. A course with this grade does not satisfy prerequisite or degree requirements.
• P : Pass-Fail "P" or "Pass" denotes satisfactory work, equivalent to a "C" (2.000) or better for a course taken on a pass/fail basis. Course credits with a "P" grade are added to the student's credit total, but the grade is not included in calculating the QPA.
  The "F" or "Fail" grade is counted as a 0 (zero) in calculating the student's QPA. Usually, a course taken on a pass/fail basis will not count toward the requirements for a degree.
• S : Satisfactory Denotes satisfactory work, equivalent to a "C" (2.000) or better for a course taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. This grade means that the course credits will be added to a student's credit total, but this grade has no effect on the student's QPA.
• W : Withdrawal Denotes withdrawal from the course on or before the deadline for this change of status. This grade means that the course has no effect on the student's credit total or QPA.
• NG : No Grade Denotes a zero-credit course.
• NR : Not Received Denotes that the grade has not yet been submitted by the instructor.
• GL : Grade Later Denotes the first semester grade for a two-semester course when the final grade is given at the end of the second semester.
• L : Audit Denotes that the student is auditing the course. To receive this grade on the transcript, the student must satisfy the attendance and other course requirements set by the instructor for an official audit.
• AW : Audit Withdrawal Denotes a lack of attendance and completion of other course requirements for a student registered as an auditor.
• I : Incomplete Denotes a temporary grade given to a student who is passing a course, but for reasons beyond the student's control (illness, injury, or other nonacademic circumstances), is unable to complete the required coursework during the semester.

"Plus" ("+") or "minus" ("-") suffixes are used to define more sharply the academic achievement of a student within these performance categories.

The Quality Point Average (QPA) is an average of the student's grades that gives proportionate weight to individual courses on the basis of the credit value assigned to them. Most courses have a three-credit value. A few courses have one-, two-, or four-credit values.

QPA Rating Per Letter Grade 

• A = 4.000    
• A- = 3.670    
• B+ = 3.330    
• B = 3.000    
• B- = 2.670    
• C+ = 2.330  
• C = 2.000  
• C- = 1.670  
• D+ = 1.330  
• D = 1.000  
• F = 0.000

At the end of each semester, recognition on the Dean's List for distinguished academic achievement is awarded to students who achieve a minimum QPA of at least 3.500 for the term, provided that during the term, they have successfully completed courses totaling a minimum of 15 credits applicable to the degree (excludes courses taken pass/fail and courses assigned a grade of "W"). If the recommended course load for a student during a particular term falls below the required 15 credits, the student should add an elective to her/his schedule in order to meet the requirement for Dean's List consideration. These same requirements also apply to students who are participating in the Loyola study abroad programs, affiliations, and exchange programs in which the grades are transferred to Loyola University Maryland.

Loyola students who are studying in Beijing, Cork, Leuven, or Newcastle must achieve a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.500 for the year, provided that during the year, they have successfully completed courses totaling a minimum of 30 credits applicable to a degree (excludes courses taken pass/fail and courses assigned a grade of "W").

Loyola students at year-long programs, exchanges, or affiliations abroad must obtain a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.500 for the year and must complete at least 30 credits applicable to a degree. Students at semester-long programs, exchanges, or affiliations abroad must earn at least a 3.500 cumulative QPA and complete 15 or more credits applicable to a degree.

Students awarded the Presidential, Claver, and Knott Scholarships must maintain the scholarship retention requirements specified in the original scholarship award letter.

For more information about how a student's grades can affect her/his scholarships and financial aid, please visit the Terms and Conditions of Awards on the Financial Aid website.

If a student is having difficulty in class, s/he can find help at the Study, which is run by the Academic Advising and Support Center and is located on the third floor of Jenkins Hall. The Study offers tutoring sessions, workshops, and other comprehensive learning assistance for students.

For more information, please visit the Study's website.

At the discretion of the course instructor, a temporary grade of I (incomplete) may be given to a student who is passing a course but, for reasons beyond the student's control (illness, injury, or other nonacademic circumstances), is unable to complete the required coursework during the semester. A grade of I should not be issued to allow the student additional time to complete academic requirements of the course (except as noted above), repeat the course, complete extra credit work, or because of excessive absenteeism or the student's unexcused absence from the final exam. A grade of I may be assigned to a graduating senior only with the written approval of the academic dean of the University and only if the incomplete Form is submitted no later than the final day grades are due to the Records office. In all other cases, the Records office will assign a grade of NR.

Arrangements for the incomplete must be made prior to the final exam, or if the course has no final exam, prior to the last class meeting. The responsibility for completing all of the coursework within the agreed-upon time rests with the student. The completion dates for incomplete courses are:

• Fall Semester: Feb. 1
• Spring Semester: July 1
• Summer Sessions: Oct. 1

If an extension to the above deadlines is necessary, the signature of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or the dean of the Sellinger School of Business and Management is required. The incomplete grade may remain on the record no longer than the time period agreed to by the instructor and the student and may not exceed one semester. If the incomplete is not satisfactorily resolved within the agreed-upon time period, the Records office will assign the student an F as the final grade. Students may not graduate with an incomplete in any course on their record.

In order to be in good standing at Loyola University Maryland, first-year students are required to have a cumulative QPA of at least 1.800 at the end of their first year of study. By the end of the first semester of their sophomore year and each semester thereafter, students must maintain a cumulative QPA of at least 2.000.

Academic Probation

Students whose QPA is at least 1.400 but below 1.800 at the end of the first semester of their first year will be placed on academic probation. These students will be required to review their performance with a probation board composed of faculty members from the Academic Standards Committee. The students must also meet with a staff member from the Academic Advising & Support Center and must also meet other requirements of probation during their second semester. Students with a QPA of at least 1.800 but below 2.00 after the first semester of their sophomore year will be placed on academic probation.

Students already on probation whose QPA does not reach the level required for good academic standing, but whose semester average is such that continued work at this level would assure graduation will receive an automatic extension of their probation.

Academic Dismissal

Students who meet the following criteria will be dismissed from Loyola University Maryland:

• Students with a cumulative QPA below 1.400 at the end of their first semester.
• Students with a cumulative QPA below 1.800 at the end of their first year.
• Students with a cumulative QPA below 2.000 after the fourth semester or any semester thereafter.