2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin

Graduate Failing Grade Repeat Policy

Students who receive a failing grade in a graduate-level course may retake that course, with certain limits set forth in this policy. This policy does not apply to INC grades.

If a course is retaken, the original failing grade remains on the student’s transcript. But, depending on the grade achieved upon retaking, the original failing grade may be removed from the student’s cumulative GPA. If a grade of C- or better is earned, that new grade will count toward the student’s cumulative GPA, and the original failing grade will not. If, on the other hand, a grade is earned that is not a C- or better, both the original failing grade and the new grade will count toward the student’s cumulative GPA.

This policy has both per-course and per degree caps. A particular course can be retaken only one time (this is the per-course cap). A maximum of two failing grades may be replaced during the course of a student’s graduate-level studies for each graduate degree obtained at John Jay College (this is the per degree cap). Because there are per-course and per degree caps, a student might earn a failing grade in a required course and be unable to replace it. That would put the student at risk of academic dismissal, so the student should consult with graduate program directors.