Take a Course Pass/Not Pass (P/N): Office of the Registrar

Take a Course Pass/Not Pass (P/N)

This page provides information on deadlines, regulations and policies for taking a course pass/not pass (P/N).

Students should register for the P/N option when they initially register for the course in CAESAR. Students may change their grading option using CAESAR's Update function or by submitting a P/N form.
Undergraduate students and students in The Graduate School may change registration from ABC grade to P/N and vice versa through Friday of the eighth week of classes. See the Academic Calendar for exact dates each quarter.

The P/N option may only be used for general education classes and/or unrestricted electives.
The P/N option may not be used for first or second-year language classes in French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Latin or Italian.
All pre-requisites must be met before a class may be taken P/N.
Not all classes may be taken P/N. If the class detail section on CAESAR says "Student Option" (abbreviated OPT), P/N is available.
Occasionally, a "No P/N" note may also be added to classes.

No more than six classes with grades of P or D (or a combination of P and D) may be taken at Northwestern and offered for graduation.
The P/N option (and classes in which a student earns a D) may not be used for Core, Concentration or Distribution Requirements.

The P/N option may not be used for journalism or IMC classes.
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.
The P/N option may not be used for classes taken in fulfillment of Medill’s social science, elective concentration or distribution requirements.

No more than six P grades earned may be used for graduation.
Only one class per quarter may be taken P/N.
Up to two units of Northwestern credit may be applied towards Foundational Discipline requirements with a grade of Pass, but these may not be in the same foundational area. For those students following the older Distribution curriculum, P/N courses will continue to not be allowed to count towards Distribution requirements.
P/N Option may not be used for classes taken toward meeting the WCAS proficiency in a language other than English requirement.
P/N Option may not be used for required major, minor, or related classes.
P/N Option may not be used for first-year seminars.
No more than one-fifth of the total Northwestern classes with grades of P or D (or a combination of P and D) may be offered for graduation.

Music students may not take music classes under the P/N option, except for those courses graded solely with P/N grades.
No more than six P/N classes (in non-music subjects) may be counted toward the degree.
The 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.

No more than six P/N classes may be counted toward graduation.
Courses offered by the major department may not be taken for a P grade, regardless of which requirement they are applied to, and even if they will count as an elective.

McCormick cannot override the grading option for courses taught by other schools at Northwestern.
McCormick courses are not offered with the P/N grading option.
No more than eight courses with P grades may be counted toward the degree.
Courses with P grades can only be used to meet Theme and Unrestricted Elective requirements.
- Only select McCormick degree programs allow P grades in major requirements. Consult your advisor for more information.
Freshmen and sophomores may elect P/N grading for 1 course each quarter by selecting a course (with student option grading) and making that change in CAESAR. Juniors and seniors may elect P/N grading for more than 1 course each quarter. The first course can be done by selecting a course (with student option grading) and making that change in CAESAR. Electing P/N grading for subsequent courses requires submitting a P/N form.