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COURSE REPETITION AND REPEATABILITY

Course Repetition for Grade Improvement

In an effort to alleviate substandard academic work, a student may repeat courses in which they have received sub-standard grades of “D”, “F”, “FW”, “NP” or “NC” by re-enrolling in the course(s). Students may repeat courses in this way for a total of three attempts. A withdrawal that results in a “W” on the transcript counts as one attempt to improve a grade. One additional attempt may be allowed if the College finds there are documented extenuating circumstances which justify another repetition. A petition must be submitted along with documentation supporting the circumstances relating specifically to the dates of the last attempt. Extenuating circumstances are verified cases of accidents, illness or other issues beyond the control of the student.

Course Repetition When the Student Has Earned a Passing Grade

Students may take a course once and then repeat it as many times as is stated in the course description in the catalog. After receiving a grade for a course, subsequent enrollments in that course that result in a withdrawal with a “W” count as a repetition attempt.

For courses that are not repeatable in which a student has received a satisfactory grade, i.e., “A”, “B”, “C”, “CR”, or “P” may not be repeated unless the Academic Exceptions Committee approves a Petition which:

  1. Demonstrates a significant length of time has elapsed since the course was taken (five or more years), or for other substantial reasons.

  2. Demonstrates that repetition is necessary for a student to meet a legally mandated training requirement as a condition of continued paid or volunteer employment.

After repeating a course the following changes will appear:

  • If the grade received in the original course was sub-standard, an “R” will appear in the notes column to the right of the original course. The original grade will not be used in computing the GPA. The grade received in the approved repeated course will be posted to the transcript and used for GPA purposes.

  • If the grade received in the original course was satisfactory, both the grade received in the approved repeated course and the original grade will be used for purposes of GPA calculation. (State regulations do not allow “W” grades to be removed or lined out.)

Repeatable Courses

Courses taken where a grade of "C" or better was earned cannot be repeated. There are, however, certain specialized courses that are designated as "repeatable" and are listed as such in the course description. These include:

  • Courses for which repetition is necessary to meet the major requirements of CSU or UC for completion of a bachelor's degree.

  • Intercollegiate athletics and their related conditioning courses may be repeated to meet requirements for California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) eligibility.

  • Intercollegiate academic or vocational competition courses with the primary purpose to prepare students for competition.

  • Work Experience courses, which can be taken again when there is new or expanded learning on the job for a maximum of six (6) to sixteen (16) units.

Limitations on Active Participatory Courses

The Board of Governors have changed the regulations for course repetition. The changes were made first and foremost to limit the number of times a student can enroll in the same or similar courses in physical education, visual and performing arts. In addition, changes were made to clarify the limited circumstances under which a student could enroll more than once in the same course. The regulations set upper limits on the number of times and circumstances in which a district may permit a student to enroll in the same credit course.

Active Participatory Courses in Physical Education, Visual and Performing Arts

Title 5 sections 55000, 55040, and 55041, now identifies and limit the number of times a student can enroll in active participatory courses in physical education, visual and performing arts that are related in content. A course related in content includes any course with similar primary education activities in which skill levels or variations are separated into distinct courses with different student learning outcomes for each level or variation. Students are limited to four semester or six quarter enrollments in all levels and/or variation. ALL GRADES COUNT, INCLUDING "D", "F", "W", "FW", or "NP".

Current list of Courses Related in Content, for the official list of current and inactive courses please contact Admission and Records Office (LES Building, 2nd floor).