College Vocabulary

syllabus

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

campus

The land and buildings that a college or university uses for instruction or student services.

Class schedule

(1) A publication listing detailed course and section information (days, times, room numbers, etc.) for a specific semester or quarter. (2) The specific courses that an individual student is taking or plans to take for a given semester or quarter.

course

(1) Often means the same as class. (2) 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.

Bachelor's degree

A college degree which can often be earned by following a four-year instructional program. A baccalaureate institution, sometimes informally called a "four-year college," is a college or university which is entitled to grant a baccalaureate or 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.

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.

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. Advisors may also help with career planning.

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.

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).

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.

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. The instructor and student arrange how and when the student will complete the work and have the "I" changed to a final letter grade. At GREAT FALLS COLLEGE, the student must finish the incomplete work within one academic semester.

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.

Program

A very general term used in many ways in a college or university: (1) The courses that an individual student plans to take ("the academic advisors can help you plan your program each year"). (2) The courses required to complete a particular degree or certificate ("he's almost finished with the Recreation Leadership program"). (3) The courses that make up a department or the departments that make up a division within the college organization (4) Organized activities with a specific function

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.

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.

accreditation

Certification that a school or an instructional program meets standards set by an outside reviewing organization. Many forms of financial aid are available only to students attending accredited institutions.

noncredit

Courses or instructional programs which do not require extensive homework or examinations and which do not offer college credit. Students frequently take noncredit courses for basic skills improvement, job training or career enhancement, or personal enrichment.

General Education courses

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.

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.

records

Refers to all the information the college might keep regarding a student; it includes registration activity (enrollment, withdrawal, etc.), grades, payments, awards received, financial aid applications and award notices, and notes on disciplinary actions, as well as address, phone number, and student identification number.

Academic concentration/major

Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study

commencement

The ceremony at the end of an academic year when students receive their degrees or diplomas (compare to graduation).

application

The first step in requesting admission to an institution of higher education. Usually there is a form to fill out by a certain deadline; sometimes there is an application fee to pay.

Credit load

The total credit value of the courses a student is currently enrolled in.

waiver

To waive a right or a claim is to voluntarily give it up. (1) 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). (2) If a student demonstrates certain knowledge and abilities, the college may waive a course prerequisite (that is, allow the student to take the class even though he or she hasn't completed the listed requirements for it).

Academic Year

Usually this refers to the September-June school year. In some cases it refers to the entire year.