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.