The Central Washington University (CWU) GPA calculator is a useful tool designed to help students calculate their Grade Point Average (GPA) based on the grades they receive in their courses. The GPA is a standard way universities measure students’ academic achievement on a numeric scale. This article will explain how the CWU GPA calculator works, its purpose and functionality, and provide step-by-step examples to help you understand the calculation process.
Understanding the CWU GPA Calculator
Purpose and Functionality
The purpose of the CWU GPA calculator is to provide students with an easy way to determine their academic performance. By inputting the grades received in each course and the corresponding credit hours, students can quickly calculate their GPA. This helps students keep track of their academic progress and set goals for improvement.
Inputs for CWU GPA Calculator
Course Grade (Letter Grade)
- Input ID: courseGrade
- Type: Dropdown or text input (converted to a numerical value based on CWU’s grading scale)
- Description: Letter grade received in the course (e.g., A, B+, C, etc.).
Credit Hours
- Input ID: creditHours
- Type: Number
- Description: Number of credit hours the course is worth.
CWU Grading Scale (Example)
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3
- D = 1.0
- F = 0.0
Calculation
The GPA is calculated by multiplying each course’s grade point by the number of credits the course is worth, summing these products, and then dividing by the total number of credits attempted.
Formula
GPA=∑(Grade Point×Credit Hours)∑Credit Hours\text{GPA} = \frac{\sum (\text{Grade Point} \times \text{Credit Hours})}{\sum \text{Credit Hours}}GPA=∑Credit Hours∑(Grade Point×Credit Hours)
Step-by-Step Example
Example Calculation
Assume a student has completed three courses:
- Course 1: Grade B+ (3.3 points), 3 credits
- Course 2: Grade A (4.0 points), 4 credits
- Course 3: Grade C (2.0 points), 2 credits
Steps
- Calculate the total grade points: 3.3×3=9.93.3 \times 3 = 9.93.3×3=9.9 4.0×4=16.04.0 \times 4 = 16.04.0×4=16.0 2.0×2=4.02.0 \times 2 = 4.02.0×2=4.0
- Sum of grade points: 9.9+16.0+4.0=29.99.9 + 16.0 + 4.0 = 29.99.9+16.0+4.0=29.9
- Sum of credit hours: 3+4+2=93 + 4 + 2 = 93+4+2=9
- Divide the total grade points by total credit hours: 29.99≈3.322\frac{29.9}{9} \approx 3.322929.9≈3.322
Final GPA
GPA≈3.32\text{GPA} \approx 3.32GPA≈3.32
This calculation gives the student’s GPA as approximately 3.32.
Relevant Information Table
| Input | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Course Grade | Letter grade received in the course | Dropdown or text input |
| Credit Hours | Number of credit hours the course is worth | Number |
| Grade Points (A) | 4.0 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (A-) | 3.7 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (B+) | 3.3 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (B) | 3.0 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (B-) | 2.7 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (C+) | 2.3 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (C) | 2.0 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (C-) | 1.7 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (D+) | 1.3 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (D) | 1.0 | Fixed value |
| Grade Points (F) | 0.0 | Fixed value |
Conclusion
The CWU GPA calculator is an essential tool for students at Central Washington University to keep track of their academic progress. By inputting their course grades and credit hours, students can quickly calculate their GPA and understand where they stand academically. This tool helps students set goals, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately achieve their academic objectives.