Below are some handy definitions of college jargon.
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A faculty member or counselor assigned to help you plan a class schedule, choose a major or answer other questions about college. (Get to know this person well as he or she can be very helpful.)
A warning to a student that his or her academic progress is unsatisfactory and that you must improve if you are to graduate or even continue your studies.
You may choose to take a class just to review, but not to receive a grade. Auditing does not allow you to get credit for the course and does not affect your grade point average (VA benefits do not pay for Audit classes.)
The catalogue has important information about the college, its programs and course descriptions. It is your contract with the college. You will be under the same catalogue that you begin college under, until you skip either a spring or fall semester.
Freshmen and sophomores--your standing is linked to the number of college hours you have completed toward graduation, not the number of years you have been in college.
Colleges may number their courses in different ways, but most use a 100 - 400 levels for undergraduate classes. Those at the 100-level often are introductory survey classes while the upper level courses cover subjects in a narrower focus but in greater detail. Many upper-level courses have other courses as prerequisites.
A unit of credit you can earn for taking a course for a period of time, usually either a semester or quarter. Many college courses offer 3 credit hours, meaning that you meet that class 3 hours per week. Read the fine print to see if there are labs, seminars, or other requirements for earning the hours.
Your curriculum includes all courses required for your degree as listed in the catalog. Courses will likely be listed in a specific order, or course sequence, if they must be taken in order.
A college administrator such as an academic dean who might head a college, overseeing degree programs and having the authority to grant exceptions to academic policy. A dean of students would work in student services.
This term may mean that you are lacking one or more courses necessary for graduation or for entrance to a program. Deficiency may also mean your grades are so low you cannot return to school.
Courses necessary for completion of a degree in a specific field. Some courses may count as credits toward your graduation requirements but not toward your major field. Your academic advisor can offer information and guidance.
The process for dropping or adding classes within a specified period of time. You will need to fill out the proper forms and get official signatures. Dropping a course may change your status from full-time to part-time student. If you are receiving financial aid you should report the change to the financial aid officer. Be aware of the deadline for exercising the drop/add option.
A course you may choose to take because of your academic interest but which will not count toward the requirements for core courses or your major or minor field. A limited number of electives are needed to meet general degree requirements. Think carefully before taking many electives before completing requirements. That's a bit like eating your dessert before finishing the main course.
Exams given at the end of a semester, generally over all of the material in the course. A final may count for as much as half your grade, or possibly less. The final exam plan is often described in the initial class syllabus.
Students enrolled in a specific number of course hours, usually at least 12 hours in a semester. Full-time students are eligible for more financial aid than part-time students.
Lower division classes, taken at the freshman and sophomore levels, including English, math, science, history and other requirements which some colleges require all students to complete for graduation. Many of these are required before you can register for upper level courses, so complete these as soon as possible.
Colleges assign points for each grade (i.e. A = 4 points, B = 3 points, etc.) You can determine your GPA in three steps. Multiply the number of credit hours in each course by the value assigned to each grade. Add the calculated points for all courses. Divide by the total number of credit hours.
A term for the number of credits you may earn for each course in which you enroll. Example, if you enroll in five "3-hour" courses, you will achieve 15 credit hours.
Your special chosen field of study in college. As much as 30 percent of your course work, usually upper division, will be in your major field.
The middle point of a semester. The exact day changes from year to year, but it is the deadline for withdrawing without instructor's signature. Also the last day to change grade option.
Many colleges allow you to take some classes, generally electives, on a pass/fail basis. You can earn credit for graduation but these grades do not affect your GPA. To use the pass / fail option you generally must make a written request by a certain deadline.
The practice of registering the following semester classes during the previous semester. By preregistering, you will have a better chance of getting into the courses and sections you desire.
A condition or specific course(s) which must be met before enrolling in other courses.
The state of being warned that your grades are unsatisfactory and that you must improve if you are to graduate or even continue your studies. You must have below a 2.0 GPA to be placed on probation.
A college administrator who directs registration, maintains student transcripts, and performs other duties as assigned. When faculty submits final grades, the registrar's office posts them to your transcript. The registrar gives you your transcripts and evaluates your incoming credits.
The activity arranged to allow students to schedule their classes for the coming term. Before registering, consult with your advisor to be sure you are taking appropriate classes.
If you (or your parents) have lived in the state where your college is located for a specified period of time, you have established in-state residency. This allows you to pay a lower tuition than out-of-state students.
Sometimes called a master schedule, this is a listing of all courses that will be offered in the coming semester, and the sections of classes, the meeting place, name of instructor, time, and all deadlines and extremely important information you must read.
The length of time a class lasts. There are 2 semesters: Fall starts mid-August and ends mid-December. Spring starts mid-January and ends mid-May. Summer is 8 weeks (June-August).
A printed outline showing the dates and subjects of lectures, reading assignments, and exam schedule.
Your official college record showing the courses you have taken, the grades you received, your class standing, and graduation information. You get this from the Registrar.
A term used to describe the state of not yet having chosen a major field of study; the opposite of having declared a major.
The process for dropping one or all classes a student has after the drop/add period is over. You will need to fill out paperwork and get official signatures. Simply not attending class does not officially withdraw you. Withdrawing from a class could change your status from full-time to part-time and withdrawing completely may take you off your parents' insurance. If you are receiving financial aid, you should report the change to the financial aid officer. The deadline for withdrawing without instructor permission is Mid-term. After Mid-term, withdrawing requires the instructor's permission, which they may or may not give. You cannot withdraw after finals week has begun (you still owe at least a percentage of the tuition for a class when you withdraw.)
Last updated April 20, 2005
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