Glossary of Terms for TransferIN.net
2+2 Program A program offering an associate’s degree that will transfer directly toward
a bachelor’s degree in the same field of study. These programs may be within the same
college or between two colleges.
A
Academic Advisor A counselor or designated individual who has been formally trained to assist students with academic information that will enable them to enroll in the classes related to their academic goals.
Academic Dismissal/ A student who is dismissed is no longer matriculated and may not
Suspension register for any credit courses at the college for a specified period of time.
Academic Probation A student will be placed on academic probation at the end of a semester in which the student’s degree grade-point average falls below that which is required.
Academic Standards College standards that students must maintain, such as a certain grade-point average, in order to remain in good standing with the school.
Accredited Colleges and schools must meet specific requirements in academic programs, facilities, etc. to be certified by accrediting agencies. Usually, colleges must be accredited for their students to receive financial aid.
ACE American Council on Education
ACE CCRS American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service
Add/Drop Period A period of time before classes begin when schedule changes are made. A penalty may be charged for changes made after the start of classes.
Admission Acceptance into a college after the student has submitted appropriate forms and
completed the school’s admission requirements.
Advanced Credit Some colleges offer tests for advanced college credit. Students who receive a high score can earn credit in specific subject areas.
Advanced Placement (AP) College-level courses (designed by the College Board) offered in high school. Students may take an AP test at the completion of these courses.
Advanced Placement Tests Tests given at the end of an Advanced Placement (AP) course taken in high school. Students with high scores on these tests can be placed in upper-level college course and may receive credit for beginning-level courses.
Advanced Registration A period of time during which students can register early for classes. See Registration
American College Testing A company that produces standardized admission tests. See Standardized Admission
(ACT) Program Tests
Application Fee A charge to process a student’s application.
Articulation The process of equating courses from one institution to courses of another institution.
Articulation Agreement An agreement between two or more schools that allows course credit to be accepted or transferred and be applied toward a degree or certificate. This includes formal agreements between a 2-year institution and a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.
Arts and Sciences A grouping of academic studies that may include fine arts, languages, social sciences, natural sciences and humanities.
Assessment Assessment is a way of evaluating students’ present skills in English, reading and math for course placement.
Associate Degree Degree awarded after a student completes a specified number of course requirements and credit hours, typically requiring two full-time years of study or its part-time equivalent.
Audit An option for class registration in which the student pays to attend class but does not want to receive credit.
B
Baccalaureate or Bachelor’s The degree granted by a college after students have satisfactorily completed a four or
Degree five year, full-time program of required courses, or its part-time equivalent.
Bulletin See Catalog
C
Career Plan A set of steps to be followed over a period of time to get a desired job.
CAS (Course Applicability A free online tool that enables students to view course equivalencies, program
System) requirements, enter and store course work, and request an evaluation of transfer work
towards a program.
Catalog A school’s official publication containing course descriptions, major/minor and general education requirements, college policies, procedures and standards, and student rights and responsibilities. It may also be referred to as a bulletin.
CBE Competency-Based Education
CEEB College Entrance Examination Board
Certificate Certificates may be awarded for successful completion of a specialized program of study and are typically not designed for transfer.
College-Level Examination A series of examinations in undergraduate college courses that provides students
Program (CLEP) the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement and earn college credit.
College A school offering studies that lead to an academic degree. A college can be independent or part of a larger university system.
Community College College that offers programs (usually two years or less for full-time students) leading to certificates or associate’s degrees. These programs prepare students for immediate employment, or for transfer to a four-year college.
Competitive Admission An admission policy where a school only admits students who meet certain
Policy requirements.
Conditional Admission A college may admit students who have not met all admission requirements. To remain, these students must fulfill specified requirements before or during their enrollment.
Continuing Education Continuing Education is designed to offer students an alternative to the traditional full-time college degree.
Continuous Enrollment The process of registering for and completing courses during consecutive semesters, which may include summer sessions. It may determine catalog year for graduation.
Cooperative Education A program in which a student combines employment and study in a career field.
( Co-op Education)
Core Classes Classes that all students in a major, minor or general education program are required to take.
Corequisite Course which must be taken the same semester as the course that specifies the corequisite.
Core Transfer Library (CTL) A list of courses approved by all public institutions which will transfer among all public colleges and universities, assuming adequate grades.
Correspondence Course A class where students receive lessons in the mail and return completed assignments to instructors. Correspondence is a form of independent study or distance education. See Independent Study and/or Distance Learning
Counselor A professionally trained staff member who helps students with educational, career, or personal concerns.
Course Withdrawal Process a student follows to terminate enrollment in a specific course; process varies from institution to institution.
CPE College Proficiency Exam
Credentials A certificate, diploma, or other type of evidence that a person has completed specific requirements determined by a provider.
Credit The numerical unit earned for the completion of a specific course.
Credit Transfer The acknowledgement by a college or university of student credit earned at a different institution.
Curriculum A planned sequence of courses aimed at an academic or occupational goal; also referred to as a program of study.
D
DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
Declare a Major Student officially tells a college their major or area of study. See Major
Deferred Admission A college may accept a student but then allow him/her to delay coming to the school for a specified period of time.
Degree After finishing a program of study at a college, students receive an academic title.
Degree Audit A personalized report that lists the courses taken and requirements needed for completion of a student’s chosen major(s), minor(s), and certification(s).
Discipline A field of study. See Major
Dismissal Students can be dismissed or expelled for consistently poor grades or breaking rules.
Distance Education Classes taught by means other than traditional classroom attendance such as: via satellite or television, through the Internet, by video tape or CD ROM, and by correspondence. Describes instruction and learning that occur when the instructor and learner do not physically meet.
Distributive Requirements See General Education/General Studies Requirements
Drop Discontinuing a class within the drop/add period. A drop is not usually recorded in the student’s transcript.
E
English Language Proficiency An SAT II Subject Test designed for students with English as a second language or limited
(ELPT) English proficiency, who have had at least two years of English-language study in a U.S. high school.
Equivalency A course from one college may be equivalent or equal to a similar course at another college.
Exemption A course or graduation requirement which is fulfilled by means other than traditional class room work.
F
FAFSA See Free Application For Federal Student Aid
Federal Pell Grant A college federal financial aid grant program. Students apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Federal Perkins Student Loan A low interest loan for students who show financial need. It must be repaid after graduation. Students apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Federal PLUS (Parent Loans Financial aid processed through a bank, other lending agency, or college or university to
for Undergraduate Students) help pay for college. These loans must be repaid with interest and are not deferred.
and/or Federal Direct PLUS
Federal Stafford Loan and Student financial aid processed through a bank and/or a college. A student must be
Direct Ford Loan enrolled in a college degree program at least part- time to receive a Stafford Loan. Loans must be paid back with interest after a student leaves school. This was formerly college Guaranteed Student Loan; it requires a completed FAFSA.
Federal Supplemental Federal grant for students with exceptional need. Apply by filling out a FAFSA.
Educational Opportunity
Grant (SEOG)
Federal Unsubsidized Similar to a Federal Stafford Loan, except interest is paid by the student during college.
Stafford /Direct Unsubsidized
Ford Loan
Final Exams Tests or exercises given at the end of a term that are often comprehensive; that is, they may include all material covered during the semester.
Financial Aid Federal, state, college and private programs which help students pay for college costs. Financial aid can be in the form of grants, loans, or work-study programs.
Financial Aid Counselor A college staff member who helps students and parents fill out financial aid forms and processes financial aid money.
Free Application for Federal The required application for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Students must
Student Aid (FAFSA) file their application between January 1 and March 1 of the year the student plans to
attend college.
Full-time Student A student who carries a minimum number of credits or hours to be considered “full-
time” by a college. The number of credits considered to be a full-time load can vary
from college to college.
G
General Education/ Many colleges require students to take a variety of classes in different academic areas.
General Studies For example, they may require a certain number of courses in science, foreign language, Requirements and math.
General Educational Tests which measure the knowledge and skills usually learned in high school. A person
Development Test (GED Test) who passes the GED test has the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Gift Aid Financial aid which is not repaid, such as grants and scholarships.
Grade-Point Average (GPA) Grade-point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted.
Grant Financial aid based on student need; it is not repaid. Grants are often described as “free money” and are awarded by the state and federal governments based on criteria met by the student.
GRE Graduate Record Examination
Guaranteed Student Loan See Federal Stafford Loan
(GSL)
Guest Student A guest student, or visiting student, is currently enrolled and in good
standing at one college but wants to take courses at another college to fulfill the
home institution’s degree requirements.
H
Hours Hours, credit hours and credits are terms used interchangeably.
Humanities The branches of learning concerned with human thought and relations, especially
literature, philosophy, fine arts, and history.
I
Incomplete A student doing satisfactory work, but forced by illness or other emergency to miss the
final exam or a major assignment, arranges with the instructor to receive an incomplete
(I) grade.
Independent College A college or other school which is not supported by a state. Some independent colleges have a religious affiliation or are single-sex schools.
Independent Study Studying a subject for credit but not in an organized class. Examples are correspondence
courses, video or computer instruction, and student-instructor meetings. See
Correspondence Course
INS Immigration and Naturalization Service. An agency of the Department of Justice which
administers and enforces immigration related provisions and statutes within the United States.
Interdisciplinary Programs or courses using knowledge from two or more academic areas.
Internship Class credit given to students who work at jobs on or off campus. The jobs give them
practical experience in their major.
L
Liberal Arts A school or course of study which focuses on developing students’ general knowledge
and reasoning ability instead of a specific career; the result is often considered to be a
well-rounded, general education in the arts and sciences.
Load The total number of credit hours taken in a term. Also called academic load.
Loan Financial aid that must be repaid with interest after a student leaves school.
Lower Division Normally freshman- and sophomore-level courses offered by a college. Community
colleges offer ONLY lower division courses. Four-year institutions offer lower division
courses and upper division courses, which are junior-level and senior-level courses.
Traditionally these are numbered as 100- or 200-level courses.
M
Major Subject areas in which students may take classes; an area of interest in which students
earn a degree.
Matriculated Student A matriculated student has been accepted for admission to the college, has registered in a curriculum and is taking courses toward a degree or certificate.
Minor An area of interest studied at the same time as the major. It is rarely in the same department as a major and requires fewer classes than a major.
N
National Achievement A scholarship program for African-Americans only, similar to the National Merit
Scholarship Program for Scholarships and based on junior year PSAT scores.
Outstanding Negro Students
National Direct Student Loan See Federal Perkins Student Loan
(NDSL)
National Merit Scholarships These competitive scholarships are limited in number and are offered by corporations and colleges. Winners are determined by PSAT scores and other criteria.
Native Student A student who began college at the institution and has not transferred to another institution since his/her initial enrollment.
Need Analysis Form A form, filled out by the student and/or family members, used to determine the amount of financial aid the student can receive. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a need analysis form. See FAFSA.
NMSQT See National Merit Scholarships, Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
Non-Traditional Student A student older than the typical college age of about 18-25 years.
Nontransferable Degree A degree, usually an associate’s degree, that cannot be counted as credit toward more
education, like a bachelor’s degree, at the same time or a different college. See Transferable Degree
O
Ombudsperson In education, a person who acts on behalf of students and others in the school community who have difficulties with the school.
P
Part-time Student A student enrolled in a number of course credits or hours which are less than full-time.
Pass/Fail An option for class registration in which students choose to receive a grade of Pass or Fail in lieu of a letter grade (A, B, C, D). Students can earn credits toward graduation by passing these courses but the grades will not count in their GPAs. It is best to check with advisor to make sure that Pass/Fail grades will transfer to another college or university.
PEP Proficiency Examination Program
Placement Test See Assessment
Portfolio A file of materials created by a student which displays and explains skills, talents, experiences, and knowledge gained throughout life.
Postsecondary Education Education after high school at a public, private, vocational, technical, proprietary, trade, or business college or university.
Preliminary Scholastic A high school test which measures verbal and math skills and prepares students for the
Assessment Test/National SAT I. It determines eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship. See Scholastic
Scholarship Qualifying Test Assessment Test
(PSAT/NMSQT)
Prerequisite Beginning class that prepares students for a more difficult class.
Private Institution See Independent College
Probation A warning that a student is not in good academic standing. It may be accompanied by restricted credit hour enrollment.
Program Set of required courses for a degree in a major area of study. See Curriculum
Proprietary Schools Colleges that are run as profit-making institutions. These colleges provide students with practical training in specific fields.
PSAT See Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
Public College College or other school supported by the state; the state pays part of the schools operation costs.
R
Receiving Institution The institution to which a course will be transferred and accepted.
Registrar Person in a school who manages class schedules and academic records.
Registration Actual enrollment of a student into specific courses after the student has been admitted to the college.
Remedial Course A course that teaches skills that are needed to succeed in college. Many students learn these skills in high school. These skills are in the areas of math, writing, reading, etc.
Required Course A course that a student must complete to meet certain goals or to complete a specific curriculum.
Residency Requirements 1) Most colleges require that students spend a certain amount of time on campus or complete a minimum number of hours through their institution. 2) The minimum amount of time a student must live in the state to be eligible for in-state tuition, which (for public institutions) is lower than the fee paid by out-of-state students.
Rolling Admission Schools with this admission practice accept applications throughout the year and decide whether or not to admit students as soon as they receive the required materials.
S
SAT I See Scholastic Assessment Test
SAT II: Subject Tests See Subject Area Test
Scholarship Scholarships are awarded for academic and other achievements (music, athletics, etc.) and do not have to be paid back.
Scholastic Assessment Test I A standardized admission test published by the College Entrance Examination Board
(SAT I) (CEEB). See Standardized Admission Tests
Self-paced Courses Self-study courses permit students to set flexible schedules. Self-paced courses are recommended for students who are self-motivated, are strong readers, have good problem solving skills, can manage time well, and set their own deadlines.
Sending Institution The institution where a transfered course was taken.
Service Learning Combines community service with classroom instruction, focusing on critical thinking, value clarification and social responsibility. The key components of Service Learning are linkage to course competencies or objectives, a relevant experience and a meaningful contribution to the community.
SOC Serviceperson’s Opportunity College
Standardized Admissions These tests are designed to measure verbal and mathematical knowledge or skills and
(SAT I, ACT, etc.) are used to predict achievement in college. The test score may be considered along with other factors for admission to the college.
Student-designed Major At some schools, students can plan an individualized major. Such programs must be approved by appropriate school administrators.
Study Abroad Programs where students go to school for some time in another country while making regular progress toward their diplomas or degrees.
Subject Area Tests Standardized tests given by the American College Testing Program or College Board in specific high school subjects, such as biology, a foreign language, etc. Colleges look at these tests scores when making decisions about course placement or admission to a specific program.
Support Services Services provided by most colleges to help students in areas such as academics, veterans affairs, adult, and special-needs.
Suspension Because of poor academic performance, the student is not allowed to enroll in classes for a specified number of semesters, usually one academic year.
Syllabus An outline and/or statement of policies for a given course section. Typically issued in the first week of classes, the syllabus often contains required reading, grading scales, attendance policies, and/or descriptions of major assignments. The syllabus will introduce a student to the structure and expectations of the course.
T
Total Withdrawal When a student withdraws from all of his/her courses. Most schools have deadlines to process a total withdrawal.
Transcript An official record of a student’s college coursework that is maintained by the college registrar. Courses taken, grades, GPA, and graduation information are included on a transcript. Official transcripts are requested by the student from the originating institution.
Transfer Credit Course credit that is accepted from or by another college or university to meet requirements in a major or as general education.
Transfer Program College program that prepares students to complete the degree at another school. Often two-year colleges have transfer programs to prepare students for four-year colleges. These programs usually award associate’s degrees.
Transfer Student A student who changes from one school to another. Grades and credits from the first school may or may not be counted at the second. Schools may not accept ALL credits earned at another institution.
Transferable Degree A degree, usually an associate’s degree, that can be counted as credit toward another degree, like a bachelor’s degree, at the same or different college. See Nontransferable Degree and/or Transfer Program
Transient Student A student who is taking course at an institution with the intention of transferring them back to the school where they are earning a degree.
U
Upperclassperson Student who is a junior or senior but has not yet received an undergraduate degree.
Upper Division Normally junior- and senior-level courses offered by a four-year institution.
Traditionally numbered as 300- or 400-level courses.
W
Waiver An exemption from normal policies, procedures or requirements.
Withdrawal Officially dropping any or all courses during a school term.
Work-Study A form of financial aid in which students earn money by working part-time at their
college. Students apply for work-study by submitting the FAFSA.