Computing Your Major Grade Point Average

If you want to know your GPA in the major, check out the GPA calculator
on the Academic Center web site:

http://www.reshall.berkeley.edu/academics/resources/gpa/

Or try this 3-step method: Add up the grade points for all the courses that count for the major (including the two history requirements). Then add up the total number of units for the same courses. Divide the total number of units into the total number of grade points. You'll need your transcript to find out the number of grade points for each class, or use the handy guide below.

We generally do not calculate major GPAs unless a student is doing an honor's thesis. When we do, we only include courses taken at Berkeley or through UCDC. If you must calculate your major GPA for graduate school applications or the like, you may include transfer courses or not, as you wish, unless instructed otherwise by the program to which you are applying. Just be consistent and explain your method. For example, if you include the A you received in one community college course, you must also include the C you received in another, if they both apply to the major. You may count only your 7 best upper division Poli Sci grades, if you took more than seven, and include your Honors Thesis grade if you have one.

To determine grade points, multiply the value of the grade times the number of units. An A= 4, A-=3.7, B+= 3.3, B=3, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1, D-=.7, F=0.

For a 4-unit course, an A= 16.0 grade points, A- = 14.8, B+ = 13.2, B = 12.0, B- = 10.8, C+ = 9.2, C = 8.0, C- = 6.8, D+ = 5.2, D = 4.0 and D- = 2.8. Add up your grade points and the number of units, and divide the grade points by the units. Voila, your GPA!

Here's a sample:

PS 1	B+	13.2
PS 2	A-	14.8
PS 3	B	12.0
US History	C+	9.2
Foreign History	B-	10.8
120A	B+	13.2
137A	A	16.0
140D	C+	9.2
112B	C-	6.8
118AC	A-	14.8
109A	C	8.0
183	B+	13.2

141.2 grade points divided by 48 units = 2.94.