GLOSSARY OF EDUCATION TERMINOLOGY

The terms found in the list shown below are used by educational administrators.  Some of the words may seem strange and unusual to the lay person.  They are listed here to help make sense of what can sometimes be a confusing process.  Good luck in achieving your education goal!

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Academic Advisor/Counselor - This person will help you select the correct courses, review the course requirements in the field you have selected to pursue and help you with any academic problems you may encounter. At some institutions, faculty conducts academic advisement. Other institutions may designate specific staff as academic counselors.

Academic Probation - All colleges require students to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) to remain in school. Any student not maintaining satisfactory progress toward his/her educational objectives will be placed on probation for a term.

Academic Suspension - A student on Academic Probation may be placed on Academic Suspension if he/she fails to maintain or achieve the minimum cumulative GPA required. A student placed on suspension may be dismissed from the college for a specified time - usually one term. Specific requirements may be placed on the student’s re-entry into college.

Add – Students may add a class to their schedule before the end of the registration period. Colleges allow varying lengths of time at the beginning of the term for students to add classes.

Adjunct faculty – Faculty members teaching at a college on a part-time basis.  They may or may not have office hours to meet with students.

Advanced Standing Credit - These are credit hours that an institution accepts toward a degree from courses that the student has earned elsewhere. Such credit may be given for work done at another higher education institution, by examination or "testing out," or by military service.

Alumni - people who have graduated from the institution.

Accuplacer, ACT and SAT – ACT and SAT are acronyms for the American College Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test.   The Accuplacer is designed to identify the class into which a student will be placed.  It may also serve to test that a student has to potential to benefit from a college education and therefore may be used to identify a minimum score requirement for entry into the college.  The ACT and SAT tests are designed to measure a student’s level of knowledge in basic areas such as math, science, English and social studies. Some colleges require the results of either the ACT or SAT before granting admission.

Application/Acceptance/Admission - Application is the process by which a prospective student submits the required forms and credentials to a college. Application criteria may include one or more of the following: previous academic records, test scores, writing samples, interviews, recommendations, and other information provided by the applicant. Admission is the status granted to an applicant who meets the prescribed entrance requirements of the institution. There is a wide variation in the Application/Acceptance/Admission policies of college.  The college catalog usually specifies the specific requirements.

Articulation Agreement - A formal agreement between institutions that allows credits earned in specific programs at one institution to be applied towards advanced standing at another institution. Articulation agreements allow you to continue your education at another institution without having to repeat certain courses.

Associate Degree - The Associate Degree is granted upon completion of a program of at least two, but less than four years of college work. The Associate Degree requires completion of a minimum of 90 credit hours on the quarterly system or 60 credit hours on a semester basis with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (a "C" average).

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree- Career and professional degree programs designed to prepare students for employment upon graduation.

Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) Degree -  Degree program designed to prepare students to transfer to senior institutions and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Asynchronous Online Courses -- Participants do not need to be online at the same time. Information is posted and available to course participants on an “anytime, anywhere” basis

Audit - to attend a class for information only, no credit given.  

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 180 credits on a quarterly basis or 120 credit hours on a semester basis.

Bookstore - All colleges have bookstores. It will generally stock all the books and other materials required in the courses offered at the institution.

Catalog- College catalogs provide all types of information parents and students need to know about a school. It lists, for example: the institution's mission, 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 activities, etc.

College - A College is an institution of higher education authorized by a state to confer degrees and/or certificates.

College Fair–An event where college-bound students meet representatives of the office of admissions from different colleges and obtain information about the school.  Also known as an Open House.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) - CLEP is a widely accepted credit-by-examination program. By receiving a satisfactory score, students earn college credits toward their college degree for each CLEP test taken.

Commuter Student - A student who is not an on-campus resident. Typically, "commuter" refers to a student living at home commutes to the college by car or public transportation.

Concurrent Enrollment - A student can enroll and attend two educational institutions at the same time if certain criteria are met. For example: a high school senior can concurrently enroll in high school and in college provided he/she meets established criteria.

Continuing Education - A division of the college that offers non-credit training.  These courses may not be paid for by traditional financial aid.

Cooperative Education - Combines a student's classroom instruction with actual work experience.  A student may receive course credit.

Corequisite Courses - A corequisite course is a course that is recommended to be taken simultaneously with another course. The two courses are related and the academic department believes that the student will gain greater understanding by taking the courses during the same term.

Course Numbers - All courses are identified by numbers usually containing 3 or 4 digits.  For example, Freshman English might be ENG101.   The letters indicate the department or subject.  The first digit indicates the class year in which the subject is usually taken.  Subsequent digits identify a specific course.

Credit Hours - Courses taken in college are measured in terms of credit hours.  Classes are usually offered in 1 - 5 credit hour increments.

Curriculum - A curriculum is composed of those classes prescribed or outlined by an institution for completion of a program of study leading to a degree or certificate.

Dean - The head of an academic division or an area within the college.

Degree Requirements - Those requirements prescribed by other institutions for completion of a program of study are generally termed degree requirements. Requirements may include a minimum number of hours, required GPA, prerequisite and elective courses within the specified major, and/or minor areas of study.

Degrees - Degrees are rewards for the successful completion of a prescribed program of study. There are three basic types of degrees:

Associate - obtainable at a two-year 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.

Department - A department is the basic organizational unit in a college, and is responsible for the academic functions in a field of study. It may also be used in the broader sense to indicate an administrative or service unit of an institution.

Distance learning - An option for earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television, internet, satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or other means.

Developmental Course - a skill-building course in reading, writing or math that prepares students for freshman-level English and math.

Drop – Students may withdraw from a class with no penalty before the end of the registration period.  Colleges allow varying lengths of time at the beginning of the term for students to drop classes.

Enrollment - Students choose classes each term by this procedure. Pre-enrollment is the method by which students select courses or receive a schedule of classes well in advance of the official enrollment date of the next term.

Extra-Curricular Activities - 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.

Faculty - The faculty is composed of all persons who teach classes for colleges.

FAFSA -Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The universal application for financial aid, including loans, grants, college work-study and other federal and state programs. It is required before a student can be considered for most grants and scholarships.

Fees - Fees are additional charges not included in the tuition. Fees 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.

Final Exams (Finals) - These exams are usually given during the last week of classes each term. The type of final administered in a course is left to the discretion of the instructor. Final exams are given on specified dates that may be different from the regular class time, and are usually listed in each term’s class schedule.

Financial Aid - Aid is made 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.

Full-Time Enrollment/Part-Time Enrollment - A full-time student is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in term.  A part-time student is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours per term.

General Education Courses - Courses required for all degrees; examples include classes such as English, mathematics, sciences, social and behavioral science, languages, etc.

Honor Roll - Students are placed on honor rolls for GPAs above certain specified levels. Criteria for President’s, Dean’s, or other honor rolls vary at different institutions.

Humanities Courses - Humanities courses are classes covering subjects such as literature, philosophy, and the fine arts. Most undergraduate degrees require a certain number of humanities credit hours.

Hybrid - Courses in which a significant portion of the learning activities take place online.  Time spent in the classroom is reduced but not eliminated. The goal of hybrid courses is to join the best features of in-class teaching with the best features of online learning to promote active independent learning and reduce class seat time.

Laboratory Classes - Laboratory classes require students to perform certain functions in controlled situations that help them test and understand material discussed in the lecture.

Lecture Classes – typically a class situation wherein the student listens to material presented by a faculty member.  Increasingly, faculty use techniques that tap into the experience of learners, such as group discussion, problem-solving, case methods, simulation exercises, games, role-play, and lecture. 

Letter Grades/Grade Point Averages (GPA) - Most colleges use both letter grades and GPAs in determining students’ grades. Grades at most colleges are figured using the following method: A’s are worth 4 points, B’s are worth 3 points, C’s are worth 2 points D’s are worth 1 point, and F’s are worth 0 points.  Calculate your GPA by multiplying the number of credit hours assigned to the class 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.

Major/Minor - A major is a student’s chosen field of study. It usually requires the successful completion of a specified number of credit hours. A minor is designated as a specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study. The requirements for a major or minor varies.

Matriculation - Official registration/enrollment of a student in college.

Mid-Term Exams (Midterms) - During the middle of each term, instructors may give mid-term exams that test students on the material covered during the first half of the term. Some classes have only two tests, a midterm and a final.

Non-Credit Courses - These are classes or courses that may not be applied towards a degree or certificate requirements.  Non-credit courses may serve one of several purposes: to explore new fields of study, increase proficiency in a particular profession, develop potential or enrich life experiences through cultural and/or recreational studies.

Online Course - A course with instruction delivered via the Internet. Students and instructor do not meet face-to-face on campus.  Sometimes, instructors give on-campus examinations and/or orientation sessions.

Open-Door Institution - The term open door refers to an admission policy that states that anyone who is 18 years of age or older, a high school graduate, and has scored a minimum grade on the institution’s designated entrance exam can be admitted to that college.

Pass/Fail Courses - Pass/fail courses do not earn letter grades or grade points for students. If a student passes a pass/fail course, he/she receives a "P" (pass) or "S" (satisfactory) on the transcript and the credit hours. If the student does not pass the course, they will receive an "F" (fail) or a "U" (unsatisfactory) on the transcript and no credit hours. A pass/fail course is not calculated in the student’s GPA.

Petition - A petition is both the process and the form a student fills out to request consideration of special circumstances. For example, if a student is denied admission, they may petition for admission based on extenuating circumstances.

Prerequisite Courses - A prerequisite course is a course taken in preparation for another course. For example, Accounting 1 is a prerequisite for Accounting 2.

Probation (Academic) – If a student’s  GPA falls below 2.0 s/he will be placed on academic probation and the number of courses you may take will be limited for the following semester.

Private/Public Institutions - Private and public institutions differ primarily in terms of their source of financial support. Public institutions receive funding from the state or other governmental entities and are administered by public boards. Private institutions rely on income from student tuition. A board of trustees or board of governors governs private institutions.

Professor – The generic title used to address a faculty member who is an assistant professor, associate professor or full professor. 

Registrar - The registrar of an institution is responsible for the maintenance of all academic records and may include such duties as maintenance of class enrollments, providing statistical information on student enrollment, certification of the eligibility of veterans, administering probation and retention policies, providing transcripts and verification of the completion of degree requirements for graduation.

Schedule of Classes- A class schedule is a list of classes a student is taking, which includes course name and number, time and location of the class, and usually the instructor’s name.

Student Identification Card (I.D.) - A student ID is usually required in college. It is similar to a driver’s license and generally includes a photograph of the student, a student number, the student’s name, the name of the college and the term enrolled. The IDs require validation each term. The card is often required for admittance to functions sponsored by the college or for identification.

Student accounts or Bursar’s Office – This office is responsible for all financial transactions at the college.

Syllabus - An outline of the important information about a course. Written by the professor or instructor, it usually includes important dates, assignments, course prerequisites, expectations and policies specific to that course.

Synchronous Online Course - Participants are online at the same web site at a predetermined time and day using technology such as chat rooms.

Term – The period of formal academic instruction. Many schools use the 15-week period called a semester for instruction.  Usually the school offers two semesters extending from September to May and a summer instructional term.  The quarter system uses a 10-week period and schools using the quarter system conduct four terms during a year.   

Transcript - The transcript is a permanent academic record of a student at college. It may show courses taken, grades received, academic status and honors received.

Transfer of Credits - Some students attend more than one institution during their college career. When they move or transfer from one college to another, they also transfer accumulated credit hours from the former institution to the new one. The new institution determines which courses will apply toward graduation requirements.

Tuition - Tuition is the amount paid for each credit hour of enrollment. Tuition does not include the cost of books, fees, or room and board.

Tutors - A tutor is a person, generally another student, who has completed and/or demonstrated proficiency in a course or subject, and is able to provide instruction to another student. Tutors usually help students better understand course material and make better grades.

Transcript - a record of a courses taken and grades received for a student.

Two-year College - Course offerings generally include occupational or technical curricula with courses of study designed to prepare students for employment in two years.  Some students transfer to a four-year college after graduation.

Undergraduate- An undergraduate is a student who is pursuing a one-, two-, or four-year degree.

University - A university is composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional colleges and offers degrees in each.  Universities offer doctoral degrees.

Withdrawal - Students may withdraw from courses during a term, but there are established procedures for doing so. The college catalog and/or Class Schedule generally specify the procedures. Written approval from a college is usually required.

Work-Study – A job  that permits students to earn part of their college expenses.  Students usually work 15-20 hours per week on campus or for an off-campus non-profit organization. It is a federal government student financial aid program.