GPA - Grade Point Average Calculating Major-Specific GPA Questions and Answers

Question 1

A student is calculating their major GPA in Psychology (PSYC).
In addition to core PSYC courses, they have also taken STAT 201 (required for the major), SOC 101 (a general education elective), and ENGL 101 (a university-wide requirement).
Which of these courses should typically be included in the major-specific GPA calculation?

Accepted Answer

Core PSYC courses and STAT 201.

Answer

Only the core PSYC courses.

Answer

Core PSYC courses, STAT 201, and SOC 101.

Answer

All listed courses since they are part of the degree.

Question 2

A Biology major takes an optional, extra departmental elective, BIOL 499, after all major requirements have been fulfilled. The university does not provide an official major GPA calculation on the transcript. For the purpose of reporting a major GPA on a resume, how should this extra course be handled?

Accepted Answer

The course should be excluded because it was not used to satisfy a specific major requirement.

Answer

The course must be included because it has the BIOL prefix.

Answer

The course can be included to potentially boost the major GPA.

Answer

Only the department head can decide if the course should be included.

Question 3

A student is calculating their major GPA in Psychology (PSYC).
In addition to core PSYC courses, they have also taken STAT 201 (required for the major), SOC 101 (a general education elective), and ENGL 101 (a university-wide requirement).
Which of these courses should typically be included in the major-specific GPA calculation?

Accepted Answer

Only the most recent grade ('B') is used in the calculation.

Answer

Both the 'D' and the 'B' are averaged together.

Answer

Only the original 'D' grade is used.

Answer

Both grades are included, doubling the credit hours in the calculation.

Question 4

Which of the following courses would LEAST likely be included when calculating the GPA for a Computer Science (CS) major?

Accepted Answer

A 100-level Physical Education course taken to fulfill a university wellness requirement.

Answer

A required Calculus III course taught by the Mathematics department.

Answer

An upper-division CS elective chosen from an approved list.

Answer

A required introductory physics course (PHYS) specified in the CS curriculum.

Question 5

An engineering student has the following grades in courses for their major: MECH 101 (3 credits, A=4.0), MECH 201 (4 credits, B=3.0), and MATH 251 (4 credits, C=2.0), which is a required support course. What is the student's major GPA?

Accepted Answer

2.91

Answer

3.00

Answer

2.82

Answer

3.50

Question 6

When differentiating between a cumulative GPA and a major GPA, which statement is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Cumulative GPA includes every graded course taken at the institution, while major GPA is restricted to courses required for the major.

Answer

Major GPA includes all courses, while cumulative GPA only includes major-specific courses.

Answer

Both GPAs are calculated identically, but major GPA is only for junior and senior year courses.

Answer

Major GPA averages your grades, while cumulative GPA sums them.