College Terminology

Catalog

Provide all types of information parents and students need to know about a school. It lists, for example: the institution's history and philosophy, policies and procedures, its accreditation status, courses of study, degrees and certificates offered, physical facilities, admission and enrollment procedures, financial aid, student life activities, etc.

Bursar

Responsible for all financial transactions of the institution.

Degrees

Rewards for the successful completion of a prescribed program of study. There are three basic types of degrees: Associate - obtainable at a two-year community or junior college, Baccalaureate or Bachelor's - offered by four-year colleges and universities, and Graduate - Obtained after the bachelor's degree, i.e., Masters or Doctorate.

Commuter

Student who lives off-campus and drives to class, or commutes.

Major

Student's chosen field of study. It usually requires the successful completion of a specified number of credit hours.

Drop & Add

Students are generally permitted to drop courses from their class schedules and/or add other courses. Colleges allow varying lengths of time for students to add and drop classes. The college catalog or class schedule should note the correct procedures. Students usually need written approval from designated college officials to initiate dropping or adding a class. A small fee is often required.

Undergraduate

A student who is pursuing either a one-, two-, or four-year degree.

Fees

Additional charges not included in the tuition. May be charged to cover the cost of materials and equipment needed in certain courses, and they may be assessed for student events, programs, and publications.

Tuition

Amount paid for each credit hour of enrollment. Tuition does not include the cost of books, fees, or room and board. Tuition charges vary from college to college and are dependent on such factors as resident or out-of-state status, level of classes enrolled in (lower, upper or graduate division), and whether the institution is publicly or privately financed.

Master's Degree

An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree.

Syllabus

An outline of the important information about a course. Written by the professor or instructor, it usually includes important dates, assignments, expectations and policies specific to that course. Some are quite lengthy.

Financial aid

Available from grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment from federal, state, institutional, and private sources. Awards from these programs may be combined in an "award package" to meet the cost of education. The types and amounts of aid awarded are determined by financial need, available funds, student classification, academic performance, and sometimes the timeliness of application.

ACT/SAT

Both tests are designed to measure a student's level of knowledge in basic areas such as math, science, English and social studies. Colleges may require the results of either the ACT or SAT before granting admission.

Faculty

Composed of all persons who teach classes for colleges.

Curriculum

Composed of those classes prescribed or outlined by an institution for completion of a program of study leading to a degree or certificate.

University

Composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional colleges and offers degrees in each.

Credit hours

Courses taken in college are measured in terms of credit hours. To earn one credit hour, a student must attend a class for one classroom hour per week for the whole semester Classes are offered in 1 - 5 credit hour increments, and sometimes larger amounts.

Minor

Designated as a specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study.

Full time student

Enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester (full-time status for a Summer term is usually 6 credit hours).

Part time student

Enrolled in less than 12 credit hours in a semester (less than 6 in a Summer term).

Final exam

Given during the last week of classes each semester. The type of final administered in a course is left to the discretion of the instructor. Final exam are given on specified dates that may be different than the regular class time, and are usually listed in each semester's class schedule.

Letter Grade/GPA

Most colleges use both letter grades and GPAs in determining students' grades. Grades at most colleges are figured using the following method: As are worth 4 points Bs are worth 3 points Cs are worth 2 points Ds are worth 1 point Fs are worth 0 points To figure a GPA, simply multiply the number of hours a course is worth by the number of points for the letter grade, then add up the totals for each course and divide by the number of credit hours. The result is the grade point average.

Alumni

People who have graduated from the institution.

Transcript

Permanent academic record of a student at college. It may show courses taken, grades received, academic status and honors received. Transcripts are not released by the college if the student owes any money to the college.

Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from courses during a semester, but there are established procedures for doing so. The college catalog and/or Class Schedule generally specifies the procedures. Written approval from a university official must be secured, and some fees must be paid.

FAFSA

The almost universal application for financial aid, including loans, grants, college work-study and other federal and state programs. It is often required before a student can be considered for scholarships also.

Extra Curricula Activities

These are non-classroom activities that can contribute to a well-rounded education. They can include such activities as athletics, clubs, student government, recreational and social organizations and events.

Bachelor's Degree

This is the undergraduate degree offered by four-year colleges and universities. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires that a portion of the student's studies be dedicated to the arts - literature, language, music, etc. The Bachelor of Science degree requires that a portion of the studies be in the sciences - chemistry, biology, math, etc. The minimum credit hour requirement for a Bachelor's Degree is 120 hours.

Junior/community College

Two-year institution of higher education. Course offerings generally include a transfer curriculum with credits transferable toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year college, and an occupational or technical curriculum with courses of study designed to prepare students for employment in two years.