ACA 111-112 Terminology of Academics & Degrees

general education requirements

A block of classes that students in their freshmen and sophomore years usually study, general in nature and almost always contains the 44-hour core. The AA General degree is comprised of this

hybrid class

A class which has both seated in class time and work assigned outside of class

degree

A completion of a set number and type of courses, a student is deemed to have finished a ---. Associate, Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate

corequisite

A course that must be taken at the same time another class is taken. For example, SPA 181 must be taken at the same time as SPA 111.

associate's degree

A generic, general term for completion usually of a two-year program

curriculum

A group of courses required for a particular program of study

academic advisor

A person who counsels students on academic matters, especially in regards to class schedules and degree requirements. (Ms. Austin is mine)

compass test

A standardized test that measures the level of knowledge of English Language, reading, and mathematics. Tests are administrated at CVCC's Testing Center and delivered via computer.

traditional student

A student who attends a college or university after graduating from high school. Early college students are not this.

major

An academic area that a student has chosen to study in depth

caa (Curriculum Articulation Agreement)

An agreement between the NC Community College System and the 16 UNC system colleges to accept credits taken at community college and apply them to the general education requirements at a four year school.

transcript evaluation

An evaluation of credits taken at one institution by another institution for the purpose of transferring credits

placement test

An exam whose results are used to place students into classes, or give credit to the student for current knowledge. COMPASS and ACCUPLACER are an example of this test used by CVCC to determine student readiness for college level Reading, English, and Math. The OPAC test is a computer test which determines basic computer competency skills. This test for Spanish is given at the middle of the semester, whereby students may earn credit for SPA 111 and 112 if they posses a sufficient skill level covered in those courses.

full-time student

At CVCC, a this student is any student enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters

course numbers

Courses in the 100 series are generally for first-year students; courses in the 200 series, for the second-years students, etc. Courses with numbers below 100 are developmental courses and cannot be counted to fulfill graduation requirements.

credit hour

Generally, the time assigned to a course indicates the number of hours the class meets per week. A three-hour course usually meets for three hours each week. Lab classes usually meet for longer time periods.

transfer of credits

If a student decides to transfer to another college after attending CVCC, the college to which the student is transferring will determine which credits it will accept from CVCC. While academic credits usually transfer, career-oriented credits (such as OST 131) and ACA 111 do not. CVCC classes with grades C or better and are on the list of credits accepted by the four year colleges will be recognized there as courses completed. While the credits are added to the student's transcript, the grade point average usually starts over.

online courses

Internet classes; A class which has no seated class time -- all work is completed online. It allows accessibility on or off campus, and communication with instructors is by email.

semester

Period of enrollment or term of classes. The academic year has two: Fall and Spring. Each is approximately 16 weeks in length, running from August -- December and January -- May.

academic probation

Students are placed on this when they are in danger of being dismissed from school because of low grades

withdraw passing (WP)

Students may do this from a class with permission from Ms. Austin when circumstances arise which warrant the student no longer attending the class. The donation of this will show on CVCC transcripts permanently, but doesn't affect the student's GPA

bachelor's degree

Students who successfully complete a university four-year program receive this degree

drop/add

Students who want to --- or --- a course must see the College Liaison to acquire and complete the necessary forms before the official decline. Students who remove themselves from classes without approval from Ms. Austin risk expulsion from the Challenger program.

associate in arts degree

The degree most challenger students receive upon graduation from CVCC. The degree is compromised of the 44-hour Core and 21 elective credits. At some universities, graduates with this degree may have certain regular requirements waived. (For example, at UNC-G students with this degree do not have to take the required 3 credits of physical education.)

checksheet

The list of classes needed to obtain a degree. In the Associate in Arts Degree, the requirements are grouped into 5 major categories: Comp. English, Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics. "Electives"are additional classes needed for graduation and may include math or foreign language labs, and any classes above the required number in each category.

academic year

The semesters a university is in session. This term can have different meanings depending on if it is related to academics or financial aid. In academic terms, it usually means fall and spring. Sometimes, however, for fin aid purposes, it can mean fall, spring, and summer if a student wants to use Pell grant money to fund summer classes.

credits

The value of a class, based on contact hours. Most classes at CVCC have 3, but some may be as many as 4 or few as 1. These are added together to make a degree program. Most two year degrees at CVCC require a total of 65 to finish.

elective

These courses are not required courses but those chosen by the student (see academic pathway)

associate in general education

This degree is very similar to the AA General except it usually doesn't contain the full 44-Core of classes. Students who have received this degree may be required to take additional math or science classes at their next college.

transcript

This is a copy of the student's cumulative academic record. Lists all courses taken and all grades and credits earned.

articulation agreement

This is an agreement between a community college and a four-year university regarding the transfer of credits

developmental course

When college-level aptitude is not achieved on the COMPASS test, this course is taken to work on skills, vocabulary, or other concepts. These courses are designated as 0 courses. (see example) Successful grade (C or better) in these classes allow students to matriculate on to the college-level course. For example, a student takes DMA 010-DMA 050 if they do not place in to MAT 140.

withdraw failing (WF)

When students choose to withdraw from classes (which Challenger students can only do with permission from Ms. Austin) instructors may assigned a grade of -- for the class if assignment, tests, or other grades average below 60. The donation of this will show on the student's CVCC transcript permanently and lowers the student's GPA.

prerequisite

When students must take one particular course before they are allowed to take another. Example: ENG 111 is a prerequisite for ENG 113

grade point average (GPA)

Your academic standing based on the calculation of your class credits and your grades. The highest on the scale used by CVCC is 4.0