P-N Regulations

The P/N option is only available to full time students
Classes are open to P/N if the grading basis, listed in the class detail section of the class on CAESAR, is “Student Option” (abbreviated OPT). Occasionally, a “No P/N” note may be added to classes for emphasis only
Students planning to register for the P/N option should do so when initially registering for the course. For instructions on selecting the P/N option, please see “Instructions on using CAESAR” at http://www.northwestern.edu/caesar. If the P/N option is not selected at this time, students may change their grading option on CAESAR using the "Update" function or submit a P/N form at the Office of the Registrar. Additional rules apply to classes in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Please see below
Not more than one class may be taken in any quarter under the P/N option (except as noted below in “Additional Regulations of the Individual Schools”)
All prerequisites must be met before a class can be taken P/N
P/N Option may be used only for general education classes and/or unrestricted electives
NEW: P/N option may not be used for any of the first and second year language classes in French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Latin or Italian
Contact your school for rules governing the use of the P/N option and the language requirement

A maximum number of nine one-quarter classes taken P/N may be counted toward the degree
The number of classes with grades of P or D, or a combination of P and D taken at Northwestern and offered for graduation may not exceed six
P/N Option and classes in which a student earns a D may not be used for Core, Concentration or Distribution Requirements

NO journalism classes, or any classes in a student’s Social Science concentration, basic requirements in Art/Art History, History, Literature, Science, Math, Political Science, and Economics may be taken P/N. All other classes may be taken P/N
Only one class may be taken P/N per quarter (excluding TN quarter)
No more than six classes with P grades may be counted toward the 45 units required for a degree

No more than six optional P grades earned at Northwestern may be used for graduation.
P/N Option may not be used to satisfy WCAS Distribution Requirements
P/N Option may not be used for foreign language classes taken toward meeting the WCAS foreign language requirement
P/N Option may not be used for required Major or Related classes
P/N Option may not be used for Freshman Seminars
The number of classes with grades of P or D, or a combination of P and D taken at Northwestern and offered for graduation may not exceed one-fifth of the total

A maximum of six one-quarter classes in non-music subjects taken under the P/N Option may be counted toward the degree
Music students may not take music classes under the P/N option, except for those courses graded solely with P/N grades
P/N Option for non-music classes is not open to Music students on academic probation
P/N Option is available to non-music students in all music classes including applied music, except as noted in the class schedule and on CAESAR

A maximum of 6 one-quarter classes taken under the P/N Option may be counted toward the degree although 35 of the 45 credits needed for graduation must be C- or better
Classes in the major department may be taken under the P/N Option only by permission of the Associate Dean.

Any student desiring to change to the P/N Option for any class in the School of Engineering and Applied Science must have a P/N slip signed by a staff member in the Academic Services Office (TECH L269). This slip must be taken to the Office of the Registrar to be processed. School of Engineering courses are offered by the following departments: : BMD_ENG, CHEM_ENG, CIV_ENG, COMP_SCI, ECE, ES_APPM, GEN_ENG, IDEA, IEMS, MAT_SCI, MECH_ENG, MFG_ENG, MPD, and PROJ_MGT
A maximum of eight one-quarter classes taken under the P/N Option may be counted toward the degree
Only one class per quarter may be taken P/N during the freshman and sophomore years. Students in the junior or senior year desiring to take more than one class per quarter with the P/N Option must obtain a signed P/N slip from a staff member in the Academic Services Office (TECH L269) and bring it to the Registrar's Office for processing
Engineering students who desire to P/N classes in BIOL_SCI, CHEM, ASTRON, PHYSICS, or MATH must also obtain a signed P/N form from the Undergraduate Engineering Office and present it at the Office of the Registrar for processing

All undergraduate students may change registration from grade to P/N and vice versa through Friday of the third week of classes
Students enrolled in the Graduate School may make P/N and grade changes through the end of the first week of the term