- How do I audit courses?
- What is considered a full courseload?
- How is my grade point average (GPA) calculated?
- How do I take an independent study?
- How do I change from a letter grade to pass/fail/marginal or vice versa?
- How do I know what my class status is?
- How do I withdraw from a course?
How do I audit courses?
Students, senior citizens, and seminary spouses may audit courses for $540 per course. For more information on auditing classes, please consult the academic catalog. All audits are subject to the same registration deadlines for adding/dropping as courses that are offered for credit. A faculty approving email must be received by the Registrar to audit a course. The Registrar will edit your credit type to indicate “AU” for auditor.
What is considered a full courseload?
Recommended semester course load is 4.5 courses. Maximum load is 5.0 courses for Fall and Spring Semesters. Maximum load for Summer session is 3.0 courses; however, be advised that this is a very heavy course load. Maximum load for Winter Term is 2.0 courses.
How is my grade point average (GPA) calculated?
Effective July 1, 2015, GPA calculations for students in the M.A., Dual Degree and M.Div. programs will be calculated on FINAL transcripts for graduates at the written request of students if at least 75% of their courses were taken with letter grades. This policy does not apply to transcripts for Graduate Certificate or affiliated students. Transfer courses are not calculated into the GPA.
GPA is calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of credit hours attempted. Grade points are equal to 4.0 per A, 3.0 per B, 2.0 per C, etc. Grade point averages m ay range from 0.0 to a 4.0. To get a student’s GPA, the total grade points are divided by the total credit hours attempted. For example, if a Luther Seminary student received an A for a 1.0 course, a B for a 1.0 course, and C for a 1.0 course, 9 grade points (4+3+2) would be divided by 3 course credits to equal a 3.0 GPA.
How do I take an independent study?
Students can take independent study courses with faculty members in order to deepen their proficiency in a particular content area. No more than five total courses for the Master of Arts or Master of Divinity degrees may be completed by independent study.
To register for an independent study course, you must create a course design and turn in the independent study/learning agreement form signed by both the course instructor and the division chair. The form must be submitted to the registrar’s office within the first five weekdays of the term. Students are encouraged to make two copies of the form before submitting them to the registrar; one for the instructor and one for personal files.
How do I change from a letter grade to pass/fail/marginal or vice versa?
Luther Seminary’s grading system defaults to A-F Letter Grades for Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, and graduate certificate students. Pass-Fail-Marginal grades may be elected at the time of registration for most classes and must be chosen by the first add/drop deadline. Letter grades are required for Master of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Ministry degree students in 6000, 7000, and 8000 level courses.
Students planning on further graduate study are encouraged to elect the letter grade option. All grades appear and remain on the official transcripts. See the academic catalog (after July 1, 2016) for more grading information.
If you change your mind and wish to change the grade type initially selected at registration:
- During the online registration period you may drop and re-add the course with the corrected grading preference. Contact the Office of the Registrar if there are difficulties with this.
- ALL grading preferences must be made known prior to online registration closing.
How do I know what my class status is?
MDIV (2022 and earlier start – 30 total courses)
- MDIV Seniors have earned 20 or more credits.
- MDIV Middlers have earned between 10 and 19.5 credits.
- MDIV Juniors have earned 9.5 or fewer credits.
MDIV (2023 start to current – 25 total courses)
- MDIV Seniors have earned 17 or more credits.
- MDIV Middlers have earned between 8 and 16.5 credits.
- MDIV Juniors have earned 7.5 or fewer credits.
MA (2022 and earlier start – 16 total courses)
- MA Seniors have earned 8 or more credits.
- MA Juniors have earned 7.5 or fewer credits
MA (2023 start to current – 14 total courses)
- MA Seniors have earned 7 or more credits.
- MA Juniors have earned 6.5 or fewer credits
Earned credits includes only courses that have been graded (e.g. courses in process or incompletes do not count toward earned credits).
How do I withdraw from a course?
Once students complete the initial registration process, schedule changes may be made until the add/drop deadlines for each term.
Students who withdraw from 12-week semester courses after the second week (calendar days 16-22 from the start of the term) will receive a notation of W (Withdrawal). Students withdrawing after the 22nd calendar day of the term (after the NO REFUND deadlines) will receive a notation of WF (Withdrawal Fail).
Students who withdraw from winter and summer terms will receive a WF notation at the NO REFUND deadline. See Refund Schedule in the current academic catalog.
A faculty signed add/drop slip must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar for each course change during the period ranging from calendar day 16 and beyond of the fall and spring semesters. A faculty signed add/drop slip must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar for each course change for winter and summer terms beyond the designated day of the NO REFUND deadline.
Students wishing to petition to withdraw without academic penalty may do so with verification from the instructor that the student was doing passing work at the time of withdrawal. A W (Withdrawal) notation will then be given.