Senior essays written in seminars do not carry course credit. Let’s say you get an A or A- on your senior essay and an A or A- in the seminar. (Remember that your grade on the essay is not necessarily your grade in the seminar, because there is potentially other graded coursework that counts toward your final grade in the seminar.) The seminar automatically counts as one A grade and one course credit toward your total number of courses. In addition, we add another A for your essay toward your total number of A grades and one course credit toward your total number of courses. Thus, you get 2 As toward your total number of A grades and 2 course credits toward your total number of courses for distinction purposes.
Let’s say you got an A or A- on your essay, but a B+ in the seminar. In this case, you get one A grade to count toward your total number of A grades and one course credit toward your total number of courses. However, your seminar grade will count as a non-A grade.
Let’s say you get a B+ on your essay and an A in the seminar. In this case you are disqualified from receiving distinction, because you must have an A or A- on your senior essay in order to qualify for distinction.
If you have any questions about this, please meet with the Undergraduate Registrar (undergrad.polisci@yale.edu).