Regulations, The Faculty of Social Sciences University of the West Indies

coursework (which may include written in-course tests, practical work, dissertations, essays, projects, studies and other forms of coursework exercise as approved by the Faculty Board, or the Campus Committee on Examinations as appropriate).

COURSEWORK

In the case of examination by coursework a student gaining an overall mark higher than 40% but passing in only one component will be required to repeat at the next available sitting the component that was failed.

A student who is absent from a coursework examination may apply to the Dean of the Faculty for exemption from this examination no later than one (1) week following the date of this examination. He/she must at the same time submit to the Campus Registrar justification for such absence (such as, in case of illness, a medical certificate complying with any applicable Examination Regulations). The Dean shall consider any such request for exemption in consultation with the relevant Head of Department and course lecturer. If the exemption is granted, the candidate’s assessment will be based entirely on the final examinations

A student may request to submit coursework assignments, essays, etc. after the stipulated deadline date on the basis of appropriate justification (such as, in case of illness, a medical certificate complying with any applicable Examination Regulations). This request must be made within 48 hours after the stipulated deadline date and must be addressed to the Dean, who in consultation with the relevant Head of Department and course lecturer may allow the extension. The Dean, acting on advice of the relevant Head of Department and course lecturer, may consider requests for exemption from submission of the coursework assignment, essays, etc. If the exemption is granted, the candidate’s assessment will be based entirely on the final examination

A student failing a course may subject to the rate of progress requirements of these Regulations be allowed to substitute another approved course in a subsequent semester or repeat the failed course.

All optional courses (electives) listed in the various degree programmes in the Faculty Handbook will not necessarily be available in any one year.

Deadlines for changes of registration including withdrawal from or addition of courses will be as prescribed in University Regulations.

Registration for a course constitutes registration for the examination in that course

A student who does not take an examination in a course for which he/she is registered is deemed to have failed that examination unless permission to be absent has been granted.

A student who, on grounds of illness or in other special circumstances as referred to in Examination Regulation 25 fails to take an examination in a course for which he/she is registered, may be given special consideration by the Board of Examiners to take examination at the next available opportunity, without penalty.

Students are asked to pay special attention to Examination Regulation 23 which states:

"Any candidate who has been absent from the University for a prolonged period during the year for any reason other than illness or whose attendance at prescribed lecturers, classes, practical classes, tutorial or clinical instructions has been unsatisfactory or who has failed to submit essays or other exercises set by his teachers may be debarred by the relevant Academic Board, on the recommendation of the relevant Faculty Board, from taking any University examinations.

ORAL EXAMINATIONS FOR FINAL YEAR STUDENTS

10. (a) The Board of Examiners may recommend to the Department concerned that a student who has failed the last one or two courses(s) required to complete the degree be offered an Oral Examination in that one or those two courses provided that he/she has obtained in each instance a mark of at least 35% for the course(s).

If an Oral Examination is granted the student may choose to decline the offer.

The Oral Examination, which will be of maximum length of one hour, will be held as soon as possible after the previous examination. The student must contact the department concerned immediately so that arrangement may be made for the Oral.

The Oral Examination will concern the course as a whole, and not be restricted to the questions set in the examination which the student did. The First Examiner and at least one other Examiners must be present at an Oral Examination.

If the examination is passed, the student cannot be awarded a grade higher than 40 - C and this grade will replace that previously gained for the entire evaluation in that course.

If he/she fails the Oral, the student will not have any right of appeal or review.

A student will be allowed only one Oral Examination for any one Course.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

11. (i) A candidate who for good reason wishes to be absent from an academic programme for a semester or more must apply for formal leave of absence to the Campus Faculty Board, through the appropriate Dean, stating the reason for the application.

(ii) The length of such leave of absence, if granted, will be subject to approval by the Academic Board of the Campus concerned, but will not exceed one academic year in the first instance terminating at the end of the academic year for which the application is approved.

(iii) Leave of absence will not be granted for more than two consecutive academic years.

(iv) Leave of absence may be granted for one semester or for an academic year.

(v) Applications for leave of absence for a semester shall normally be submitted by the end of the third week of the relevant semester.

(vi) Applications or leave of absence for the academic year shall normally be submitted the end of the third week of semester I.

AWARD OF DEGREES

12. Notification of Results

For those candidates who have completed the requirements of the BSc degree a pass list shall be published and arranged alphabetically in the following categories:

First Class Honours
Second Class Honours
Upper Division
Lower Division
Pass

AWARD OF HONOURS

13. (i) The class of degree to be awarded shall be determined on the basis of performance at the Levels II and III only.

(ii) The minimum standard required for each class of Honours shall be the following:

First Class Honours

Either thirteen (13) 3-credit courses with the grade or A or twelve(12) 3- credit courses with a grade of A with good supporting B+ grades.

Upper Second Class Honours

Either thirteen (13) 3-credit courses with a grade of at least B+ or twelve(12) 3-credit courses with a grade of B+ or above with good supporting B grades.

Lower Second Class Honours

Either thirteen (13) 3-credit courses with a grade of at least B or twelve (12) 3-credit courses with a grade of B or above with good supporting C grades.

N.B The above will be pro-rated to take into account courses other than 3-credit courses.

(iii) With regards to the determination of the class of degree, attention is drawn to the modified penalty principle, which stipulates that where a student has failed a Level II or III examination and subsequently resits that examination, or takes a substitute examination, a penalty will be applied to the examination result. The actual grade received in the subsequent examination will however appear on the grade slip.

(iv A course designated at registration as not for credit (NFC) shall not count for purpose of assessing Honours.

(v) Core courses satisfying the requirements of specialization, majors and minors must be taken into account in the determination of the class of degree.

MARKING SCHEME FOR EXAMINATIONS
IN THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The authorised marking scheme is as follows:

          A         70 and above
B+       60-69
B         50-59
C         40-49
F          0-39

AEGROTAT DEGREE

13. A candidate taking examinations in respect of a final degree, diploma or Certificate programme and who had been absent through illness from one or more papers, may apply for the award of an aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate on the following conditions.

(i) (a) Where the whole of the final examination for a degree, diploma or certificate is taken at the end of the final year of the course and he/she has completed more than half of the examination but has been absent from the remainder of that examination.

(b) Where the final examination is in two or more parts (the award of the degree, diploma or certificate depending on performance in each of these parts) and he/she has successfully completed the first one or two parts or more than half of the final part, but has been absent from the remainder of the examinations for the final part.

(c) Where the final examination is in two parts and the student has completed the first part (level II) with a B average or higher and his course work during the final year of the course has been of a consistently high standard, but he/she has been absent from the other part of the examinations.

(ii) The Examiners consider that in the work which the candidate has submitted at such of the final examination as he/she had attended, he/she reached a standard which, if also reached in the remainder of the examination, would have qualified him/her for the award of a degree, diploma or certificate.

14. All applications for an aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate must be referred by the Registrar to the Faculty Board of Examiners and the Board for Examinations for a recommendation to the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUS). Applications from or on behalf of candidates must be accompanied by a medical certificate signed by (a) University Health Officer, or (b) the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the appropriate members on the Medical School, (c) or other medical personnel appointed for this purpose by the University, and shall reach the Registrar not later than thirty days from the last examination paper written by the candidate.

15. In assessing an application for an aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate, reports from Heads of Department on the candidates work should be taken into consideration. Oral examinations where possible, by internal examiners may be an aspect of examinations for the award of an aegrotat degree.

16. An aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate will be awarded without distinction or class.

17. Holders of an aegrotat degree, diploma or certificate will not be permitted to re-enter for the same examination but may proceed to a higher degree if accepted by the Board for Graduate Studies.

Regulations for BSc Page 1 | Page 2

The Faculty of Social Sciences
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
P.O.Box 64, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: (246) 417-4265/66 Fax: (246) 417-4270
E-mail: socsci@uwichill.edu.bb