In order to encourage students to explore subject matter outside their program of study and to promote interdisciplinarity, all upper-year Arts and Science students will be permitted to designate courses taken toward their degree programs for pass/fail grading, thereby minimizing any risk to the students’ GPA. Such courses designated for pass/fail grading will be referred to as Personal Interest Credits (PICs).
When does this Personal Interest Credit become available?
The selection of a PIC will be effective for classes enrolled in the Fall Term 2016 and later. The PIC is not retroactive, and may not be selected for classes taken prior to Fall Term 2016.
Can every Arts and Science student select a PIC?
Selection of a PIC is totally optional, and may be done by all Arts and Science students who:
- are registered in a degree program and Plan in the Faculty of Arts and Science;
- have passed a minimum of 24.0 units taken at Queen’s; and
- are in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 1.60).
NOTE: Some graduate programs and professional schools may not accept a PIC pass/fail grade. Be sure to consult with the graduate program and/or schools that you may be applying to after you finish your undergraduate degree.
How many classes can I select as PIC classes?
You can select a maximum of one class per term, up to a total of 6.0 units in your entire degree program, to designate as PIC’s.
Can I select any class that I want as a PIC?
No. These classes may not be selected:
- Classes that are offered by other Faculties and Schools (e.g., COMM classes);
- Classes that are already offered only as pass/fail classes;
- Classes that may count as either core, option or supporting courses to meet the requirements of any Plan in which you are registered (even if you do not plan to use the course as part of your degree plan requirements); and
- Classes in which there is a finding of a departure from academic integrity.
Only classes that are taken to fulfill the elective or total unit requirement of a degree program can be selected as a PIC.
The course I want to designate as my PIC may be used in my plan requirements but I don’t plan on using it towards my plan requirements. Can I designate it as my PIC?
No. Even though you have no intention of using the course in your plan requirements you may not designate the course as your PIC. The intention of the PIC is to explore courses that are outside of your degree plan.
When can I select a PIC?
Students may submit their PIC application up until the deadline to drop a class without academic penalty for that term – generally this is the 8th week of the Fall or Winter Term, or the May-July Session of the Summer Term, and up to the end of the 4th week of the May-June Session in the Summer Term.
You can select a full-year class as a PIC up to the deadline to drop a class without academic penalty for the Winter Term.
How do I select a PIC?
The PIC application is available on the Arts and Science website. Once completed, the form may be emailed to asc.studentservices@queensu.ca or you can bring it in to our office located in Dunning Hall.
What if I change my mind?
You can change your selection any time from the time that you request the PIC up to the deadline for PIC selection (the academic drop deadline in each term). However, after this deadline you may not change your selection for any reason whatsoever.
Will I still have to do all the work in the class if I select it as a PIC?
Yes you will. The required class components and grading scheme will be exactly the same for you as for all the other students in the class.
Will my instructor know that I have selected the class to be a PIC class?
No, the instructor will not know if you or any other student in the class has selected the class as a PIC.
How will the grading work? Do I have to do different work or get a different grade to pass the class?
You will do the same work and be evaluated in the same way, whether you select the class as a PIC or not. The instructor will enter the letter grade that you earn in the class. If you have selected the class as a PIC, a letter grade of D- or greater will be converted to a final grade of P (pass); otherwise a grade of F (fail) will be assigned. Your transcript will show only the P or F grade and not the letter grade.
Will my grade in a PIC class count toward my GPA?
A grade of P in a PIC class will not count toward your GPA. However, a grade of F in a PIC class will count toward your GPA in the same way as any other failing grade.
What if I get a really good grade in my PIC and want to include it in my GPA?
You can change your mind about your PIC designation up until the deadline date to drop a class. After that deadline date the PIC will count as Pass/Fail. As noted previously, a Pass will not be counted towards your GPA.
Will I pay less for a PIC class?
No, the tuition fees will be the same whether you select a class as a PIC or not.
I’m in computing and my plan requirements state that I must take a number of units from the humanities, languages and social sciences and a number of units in any discipline other than CISC, SOFT, MATH, STAT. Does that mean I cannot request a PIC?
No, students in SODE or CSCI may still request a PIC. However, your PIC must be over and above the requirements for your degree plan. For example, if your plan requires 9 units in humanities, languages or social sciences and 21 units in any discipline other than CISC, SOFT, MATH, STAT, that means that your PIC must be over and above those requirements.
If I want to retake an elective course that I failed, can I retake it as a personal interest credit?
Yes! If you failed an elective and want to repeat it, you can use it as your PIC. If you repeat the class and pass, then the grade in the previous attempt will be dropped from your GPA. Both course attempts will be recorded on your transcript.
What if I want to retake an elective class that I passed but my grade wasn’t as high as I hoped. Can I retake that class as a PIC?
You can, but we do not recommend it. Repeating a passed course as your PIC will not have any effect on your cumulative GPA, so there is absolutely no advantage in repeating a passed course and designating it as your PIC. As with any repeated course, both course attempts will be recorded on your transcript.
I took a 6.0 unit course as my PIC and failed it. Can I repeat that course and request it as my PIC again?
No. The maximum number of units a student may designate as PIC over their degree is 6.0, regardless of whether you pass or fail the course. You may still repeat the course if you like, but you will receive a grade for the course that will be included in your GPA. If you repeat the course and pass, then the higher grade will replace the failed PIC grade from your GPA.
What happens if I change my plan (major/minor) and the course I used as my PIC can now count towards my new plan?
Once a course is designated as your PIC, you may not use that course to fulfill any of your plan requirements. If this situation arises you would need to take an additional course towards your plan requirements and the PIC would be counted as an elective.
I’m in an Economics major now but want to change my major to History. The course I want to select as my PIC can count towards my current plan (Economics) but wouldn’t count in my new plan (History). Can I request this course as my PIC?
No. When the PIC assessments are done, we will assess the request against your current degree plan. If the course can be counted in your plan, then you would not be allowed to designate it as your PIC even if you change your plan later on.
Can Dual Degree students take a Personal Interest credit?
As long as the courses are registered under the ASC program, and they are electives, up to 6.0 units can be selected as PIC courses.
How/when will I know if my PIC has been approved?
Provided you meet the eligibility criteria noted below, your PIC will be approved. We assess PIC applications as we receive them, but it could take us 24-48 hours to notify you.
The following conditions must be met in order for a student to be eligible to select a course as their PIC:
- Minimum of 24.0 Queen’s units completed (passed)
- Student must be on a degree program
- Student must have a cumulative GPA >= 1.60
- Student may designate a maximum of 6.0 units as PIC (including the current request)
- Student may designate a maximum of one course per term as PIC
- Course must not be core, option or supporting in any Plan in which student is registered
Can I see what courses are designated as PIC in SOLUS?
Yes, you can see this under My Class Schedule as shown below.
