College Vocabulary

 

 

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

work-study-A type of financial aid which pays students to work part-time, often on campus, during the academic year.

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.

tuition & fees-Tuition is a student's basic payment towards the cost of instruction at a college or university. Most institutions also charge fees for laboratory equipment and materials, computer use, parking, and other miscellaneous costs.

transfer-To move from one college or university to another and have the second institution recognize and accept some or all of the courses taken and credits earned at the first.

term-A unit of time that can refer to either a quarter or a semester, depending on which system the college or university follows.

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

semester-Some schools organize the academic year into two main periods-Fall and Spring Semesters-plus a shorter Summer Semester (compare to quarter).

resident-For purposes of calculating a student's tuition and fees, someone who has lived in the state for a specified length of time as shown by specified types of evidence.

requirements-Minimum standards defined by the college, for example for admission or graduation. See also prerequisite; distribution requirements; general education.

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.

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.

associate's degree-A diploma earned after successfully completing a required program of study in a community or technical college. It typically requires 90 or more credits and takes two years of full-time study. Some associate's degrees enable students to transfer to baccalaureate colleges and universities, others prepare students to go right into the workforce in a professional/technical field.

baccalaureate or
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.

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

certificate-A document granted by a college or university indicating that a student has successfully completed specified courses and requirements (compare with degree, which usually requires more time and coursework).

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.

dean-An academic administrator or official at a school, college, or university, especially one with responsibility for students or faculty.

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).

diploma-An official document issued by a college or university indicating that a student has earned a certain degree or certificate.

elective-A course that is not required for a particular instructional program. Many programs require a certain number of elective credits, and many recommend certain electives for students to choose from.

financial aid-Money available from various sources to help students pay college expenses. These funds come as loans, grants, or scholarships from the state or federal government or other organizations. Work-study is also a form of financial aid.

GED (General Education Development)-A certificate representing the equivalent of a high-school diploma.

grade-point average (GPA) - The GPA is computed by multiplying the number value of the grade earned in each course (generally, A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) times the number credits for each course, then dividing the result by the total number of credits taken.

graduation-The formal completion of an instructional program or course of study. Students graduate after successfully meeting all credit and course requirements and other criteria set by the college or university (compare to commencement).

grant-A type of financial aid that does not have to be paid back after the student leaves school. Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies, and educational institutions.

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.

internship-A supervised short-term apprenticeship or temporary job in a real-world setting closely related to a student's field of study. The student may or may not be paid but earns college credit for the work experience. See also practicum.

loans-A type of financial aid that must be repaid to the government agency or other lending organization when the student leaves school.

major-Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study. At BCC, this is called "academic concentration" in a particular subject.

placement-The appropriate level to enter a series of courses, based on the student's skills ("since she learned so much Spanish in high school, she can place into Spanish 201 in her first year at college"); often used in the context of basic skills subjects such as mathematics or English composition. See
also assessment.

professional/technical - A course or instructional program that emphasizes job skills training for a particular field of work; often called "occupational" or "vocational" education and often contrasted with "academic" or "transfer" education.

quarter-Some schools (including BCC) organize the academic year into three main periods-Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters-plus a shorter Summer Quarter (compare to semester).

register/registration-To sign up or enroll in a course or courses. "Registration activity" includes enrolling, dropping/withdrawing, choosing "pass/fail" in place of letter grades, making payments, etc.