The 4-year College plan

Bachelor's degree

A college degree which can often be earned by following a four-year instructional program. I will finish studying kinesiology with a bachelor's degree.

prerequisite

A course that must be completed (often with a certain minimum grade) or a skill that must be demonstrated before a student can enroll in a more advanced course

Associate's degree

A diploma earned after successfully completing a required program of study in a community or technical college. It typically requires 60 or more credits and takes at least two years of full-time study. My associate's degree will be biology.

articulation

A formal agreement between high schools and colleges or between community/technical colleges and baccalaureate institutions, designed to make it easy for students to move from one educational level to the next without any gaps or repetition in their coursework. If i were to transfer into colleges i must meet an articulation.

advisor

A member of the college faculty or staff who assists students with planning quarter or semester schedules as well as their overall programs of study. I'm looking forward to speaking to my advisor to guide me through the classes intended for my major.

assessment

A method of determining a student's knowledge or skill level, often taken to find his or her best placement or starting level in a series of courses in English, math, or reading. I will be bound to take assessments in my courses.

course

A planned sequence of instruction in a particular topic; may include class meetings, lectures, readings, demonstrations, exercises, assignments, examinations, etc.; offered repeatedly to different groups of students. I will need to take plenty of courses for my major.

Class schedule

A publication listing detailed course and section information (days, times, room numbers, etc.) for a specific semester or quarter. I will be able to choose my own class schedule.

degree

A rank conferred by a college or university and earned by a student who has successfully completed specified courses and requirements (compare with certificate, which usually requires less time and coursework). I will earn a degree within my major.

undergraduate

A student who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree; also refers to the courses and instructional programs such a student enrolls in. There are plenty of undergraduate majors.

Incomplete grade

A temporary grade given to a student who is doing satisfactory work but is forced by illness or other emergency to miss an exam or a major assignment. I cannot accept an incomplete grade.

credit

A unit of measure for college work. Generally speaking, one credit hour represents one hour of classroom attendance each week for one term, plus the study time, homework, etc. that go along with it. I will be needing of a credit will attending a university.

Independent study

An arrangement that allows a student to earn college credit through individual study and research, usually planned with and supervised by a faculty member I wish to learn more about independent study.

syllabus

An outline plan for a particular class, including textbook requirements, class meeting dates, reading assignments, examination dates, the instructor's grading standards, etc. Syllabus help you know the criteria of the class.

commencement

The ceremony at the end of an academic year when students receive their degrees or diplomas (compare to graduation) I can't wait for my commencement.

application

The first step in requesting admission to an institution of higher education. The application process is always a killer for me.

campus

The land and buildings that a college or university uses for instruction or student services. I need to be fascinated by the campus in my school choice.

Credit load

The total credit value of the courses a student is currently enrolled in. I will need to figure out my credit load.

Academic Year

Usually this refers to the September-June school year. In some cases it refers to the entire year. In my academic year, I received an academic excellence award.

Distance learning/distance education

Instruction which is not time- or place-specific; can include correspondence courses, televised or videotaped lectures, online courses (internet and e-mail), etc.

Program

Organized activities with a specific function. There will be plenty of programs in your college.

admission

Approval for a student to attend an educational institution. The admission process usually involves an application form and may require transcripts or other supporting documents. I was accepted in the Texas State and Texas A&M in Corpus Christi's admissions.

accreditation

Certification that a school or an instructional program meets standards set by an outside reviewing organization. Avid meets the accreditation.

noncredit

Courses or instructional programs which do not require extensive homework or examinations and which do not offer college credit I hope not to take noncredit classes.

General Education courses (Gen Ed)

General education courses are courses designed to create a foundation for students' understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and modes of inquiry. These courses intend to impart common knowledge and intellectual concepts to students and to develop in them necessary skills every educated person should possess.

waiver

If a student meets specific criteria, the college may waive some of his or her tuition & fees (that is, some of the money owed to the college will be forgiven) A waiver saves up money.

records

Refers to all the information the college might keep regarding a student

Academic concentration/major

Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study My academic concentration will be in Kinesiology to become a physical therapist.