College terms

Public university

A university that is funded by the government. Public colleges and universities are less expensive for residents of the state where they are located.

Private university

A university that is privately-funded. Tuition for a private college or university (before scholarships and grants) is the same for all students.

Credit Hour

The number of hours assigned to a specific class. This is usually the number of hours per week you are in the class. The number of credit hours you enroll in determines whether you are a full-time student or a part-time student.

Sophomore

Second-year college student.

Associate's degree

A type of degree awarded to students at a US community college, usually after two years of classes.

Greek

Fraternities and sororities. They often have specific student housing options for their members.

Prerequisite

A class that must be taken before you can take a different class. (For example, Astronomy 100 may be a prerequisite for Astronomy 200.)

Elective

A class you can take that is not specifically required by your major or minor.

Master's degree

A degree awarded to graduate students. The awarding of a master's degree requires at least one year of study (and often more, depending on the field) after a student earns a bachelor's degree.

Bachelor's degree

A degree awarded to undergraduates, usually after four years of college classes.

Syllabus

A description of a course which also lists the dates of major exams, assignments and projects.

Grant

A form of financial aid from a non-profit organization (such as the government) that you do not have to repay

Scholarship

A form of financial aid that you do not have to repay.

Loan

A form of financial aid that you must repay.

Part-time student

A student who doesn't enroll in enough credit hours to become a full-time student, as defined by your college or university. Part-time students often take only one or two classes at one time.

Full-time student

A student who enrolls in at least a minimum number (determined by your college or university) of credit hours of courses.

Non-resident

A student who isn't an official resident of the state where a public university is located. Tuition at public universities is less expensive for residents

Resident

A student who lives in and meets the residency requirements for the state where a public university is located. Tuition at public universities often is more expensive for non-residents.

Internship

A temporary job, paid or unpaid, usually in the field of your major. You may be able to receive college credit for an internship.

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An official academic record from a specific school. It lists the courses you have completed, grades and information such as when you attended.

General education classes

Classes that give students basic knowledge of a variety of topics. Students often must take general education classes in order to graduate. This set of classes includes different courses and is called by different names at various colleges and universities.

Online classes

Courses you take by computer instead of in a traditional classroom.

Commencement

Day of graduation.

Freshman

First-year college student.

Senior

Fourth-year college student. You are a senior when you graduate from college.

Extracurricular activities

Groups you belong to outside of class, such as sporting teams, clubs and organizations.

Doctorate

Highest academic degree. Awarded after a bachelor's degree.

Financial Aid

Money you receive for you college tuition or expenses that you may or may not have to pay back. (See: "Grant," "Loan," and "Scholarship")

Term

The length of time that you take a college class. (See also: "Quarter" and "Semester")

Grade point average

The average of all of the course grades you have received, on a four-point scale.

Academic year

The school year that begins with autumn classes. The academic year at Advisor: School official, usually assigned by your college or university, who can help choose your classes and make sure you are taking the right courses to graduate.

Junior

Third-year college student.

Office hours

Time set aside by professors or teaching assistants for students to visit their office and ask questions or discuss the course they teach. Your professor or teaching assistant will tell you at the beginning of the term when and where office hours will be every week.

Audit

To attend a class without receiving academic credit.

Quarter

Type of academic term. A school with this system generally will have a fall quarter, winter quarter and spring quarter (each about 10 weeks long), along with a summer term. (See also: "Semester")

Semester

Type of academic term. A school with this system generally will have a fall semester and a spring semester (each about 15 weeks long), along with a summer term. (See also: "Quarter")

Major

Your primary area of study. Your college major is the field you plan to get a job in after you graduate (for example: business, linguistics, anthropology, psychology).

Minor

Your secondary area of study. Fewer classes are required for a college minor than for a major. Colleges and universities usually don't require students to have a minor. Many students' minors are a specialization of their major field. For example, students who want to become a science reporter might major in journalism and minor in biology.