Glossary of College Terminology
Don't understand "collegese"? Check the glossary for a term you don't understand.
Alphabetical Index:
A B C D F G I L M P R S T W
A
Accreditation:
An endorsement given to educational institutions or academic degree programs by an organization that reviews qualifications.
Associate diplomas:
A two-year diploma from a community or junior college. NWP offers an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science.
Audit:
To attend a class without receiving credit for the class.
B
Bachelor’s degree:
A four-year degree from a college, university or professional school; usually requires at least 120 credit hours.
C
Course numbers / codes:
Numbers assigned to specific classes.
D
Degree:
A certificate of completion of a course of study.
Degree plan:
A specific list of required courses and electives to be completed for a degree.
Doctoral degree:
The most advanced degree that can be earned.
F
Fees:
Course-related costs to attend college.
Full time:
Twelve or more credit hours per semester for undergraduate students.
G
GPA:
Grade point average; the average of your class grades, generally based on a 4 point (0-4) or 9 point (0-9) scale.
Grants:
Financial assistance that does not require repayment.
I
Internship:
A job in a student’s field of study; may be required in some academic programs and may include salary and credit.
L
Loans:
Financial assistance that must be repaid.
Long session:
Regular fall or spring semester.
M
Major:
A student’s concentrated field of study.
Master’s degree:
A graduate degree that usually requires two or more years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Minor:
A student’s secondary field of study.
P
Practicum:
See Internship.
Prerequisite:
A course that must be taken prior to enrolment in another course.
Private university:
A college or university that is not provincially/ federally assisted and relies on private funding, tuition and fees.
Public university:
A provincially or federally supported college or university.
R
Registration:
Enrolment in classes.
S
Scholarships:
Financial assistance based on merit; do not require repayment.
Spring / Summer session:
A spring / summer term of approximately six weeks.
T
Teleregistration:
Registration by telephone for classes.
Tuition:
Costs for courses, not including certain fees.
W
Web-based classes:
Classes held on the Internet instead of in a traditional classroom.
Web registration:
Registration through the Internet for classes.