Important College Terms

College is a sea of acronyms, learn what they and other important terms mean.

Advisor: Assists student in planning program of study – scheduling, course adjustments, and helps student understand graduation requirements.

A.A. (Associate in Arts): First two years of a four-year sequence. Emphasis on Humanities and Social Sciences.

A.S. (Associate in Science): Designed to transfer to a four-year institution for more specialized training in Career Field.

A.A.S. (Associate in Applied Science): Provides both career and general education. Allows student to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Associate Dean: The person who acts as head of a certain faculty or department

Counseling: One-on-one assistance with personal issues with a trained counselor, not an advisor.

Credit Hour: A measure of academic work. One credit hour usually represents one hour of class time per week.

Curriculum: Program of courses approved for a specific degree or certificate.

Degree: Academic credential that is awarded to a student who has completed a particular course of study.

Division: A grouping of faculty of a similar academic field of study (example: Humanities Division).

Drop/Add: Scheduled times when you may change your original class choices by dropping a course and adding a new one.

Elective: Courses of your choice that are taken for credit.

Exam Schedule: A posted listing of dates, times and locations of all Final Exams.

Full-Time Student: One who is enrolled in 12 or more credits in a semester.

Matriculated Student: One who has been formally accepted as a candidate for a degree in a specific curriculum.

Non-Matriculated Student: One who is taking courses to satisfy personal needs and interests without applying for candidacy for a degree.

Office Hours: Set times when teachers and faculty advisors are available in their offices to address student concerns.

Orientation: Takes place the day before classes and continues in the form of Freshman Seminar and housing activities – to orient the student to college and the campus.

PIN (Personal Identification Number): Your confidential number needed to access Student Online Services and to register for courses.

Part-Time Student: Enrolled in fewer than twelve credits in a semester.

Plagiarism: Copying or reproducing ideas and material other than your own and passing it off as your own.

Pre-Advisement: A practice your advisor may use to prepare you for registration.

Pre-requisite: A required course which must be met before another prescribed course may be taken.

Section: Many popular courses are divided up into multiple classes or sections with different professors and time slots.

Syllabus: A course outline given out at the first class which includes: what you will study, due dates and how grades will be assigned.

Transcript: A document displaying student’s academic results.