Academic Vocabulary

academic concentration	See major.


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



accreditation	Certification that a school or an instructional program meets standards set by an
	outside reviewing organization. Many forms of financial aid are available only to
	students attending accredited institutions.


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.


advisor	A member of the college faculty or staff who assists students with planning
	quarter or semester schedules as well as their overall programs of study.


Advisors may also help with career planning. See also counselor.

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.


articulation	A formal agreement between high schools and colleges or between
	community/technical colleges and baccalaureate institutions, designed to make it
	easy for students to move from one educational level to the next without any
	gaps or repetition in their coursework..


assessment	A method of determining a student’s knowledge or skill level, often taken to find
	his or her best placement or starting level in a series of courses in English,
	foreign languages, math, or science.


At MSU Great Falls CoT students can take the ASSET test to determine	placement in English and Math courses.


ASSET test	ACT’s standardized test designed to asses skills in math, reading and English.


MSU Great Falls CoT uses the ASSET test for student’s placement in English	and math courses.


associate's degree	A diploma earned after successfully completing a required program of study in a
	community or technical college. It typically requires 60 or more credits and takes
	at least two years of full-time study. An Associate of Arts and Associate of
	Science degrees enable students to transfer to baccalaureate colleges and
	universities, Associate of Applied Science degree’s prepare students to go right
	into the workforce in a professional/technical field.


audit	A student who audits a course formally registers for it and attends class sessions
	but earns no credit and has no obligation to complete homework projects or take
	tests.


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.


basic skills	Usually refers to a level of competency—specifically in reading, writing, and
	mathematics—which is required for successful college-level work in all fields of
	study.


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


catalog	A comprehensive resource listing college regulations, program and course
	descriptions, degree and graduation requirements, transfer requirements, and
	other essential information.


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).


class	(1) A specific group of students meeting for specific instructional purposes. It can
	mean the whole series of scheduled meetings (“Dr. Owen is teaching two English
	Composition classes this quarter”) or just one session (“we had a guest speaker
	in my Home Economics class today”).


(2) Often means the same as course (“she’s taking classes in Interior Design”).

(3) A group of students who start at a school together and expect to complete	their studies at the same time (“he’s in the graduating class of 2003”).


class schedule	(1) A publication listing detailed course and section information (days, times,
	room numbers, etc.) for a specific semester or quarter.


(2) The specific courses that an individual student is taking or plans to take for a	given semester or quarter.


college-level study	Curricula and instruction that assume the student has already mastered certain
	skills and abilities and has the level of commitment needed for postsecondary
	school work. Compare to developmental-level study.


commencement	The ceremony at the end of an academic year when students receive their
	degrees or diplomas (compare to graduation).


community college	The community colleges in Montana are: Dawson Community College; Flathead
	Valley Community College; and Miles Community College
	competency
	In “competency-based” courses or instructional programs, students must
	demonstrate certain skills and abilities (instead of just earning passing grades in
	classes) before moving from one level to the next or earning the final certificate
	or degree .


CORE	General education courses that students can take to transfer to a 4 year state
	institution. Students must complete the entire CORE and ask the Registrar’s
	office to post it on their transcript for it to transfer to one of the Montana
	University System 4 year schools.


counselor	A member of the college faculty who has special training in guidance and who
	assists students in academic or personal matters. See also advisor.


course	(1) Often means the same as class.


(2) A planned sequence of instruction in a particular topic; may include class	meetings, lectures, readings, demonstrations, exercises, assignments,
	examinations, etc.; offered repeatedly to different groups of students.


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.


credit load	The total credit value of the courses a student is currently enrolled in.


curriculum	(plural: curricula)
	(1) An established sequence of information to be learned, skills to be acquired,
	etc. in a specific course or in a complete instructional program.


(2) Collectively, all the courses offered by a department, division, or college.

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).


department	An organizational unit within a college or university, offering courses about
	closely related topics (at a small school there may be one general education
	department, at a large school there may be separate departments for
	psychology, English, math, etc).


developmental-level study	Instruction that helps students improve their English and math abilities and
	prepare themselves for college-level study.


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


discipline	(1) A subject; field; branch of knowledge or learning ("he teaches in the related
	disciplines of physics and astronomy")
	(2) Orderly behavior ("instructors are responsible for maintaining discipline in
	their classrooms")
	(3) Correction or punishment for disorderly behavior ("she disrupted the class
	repeatedly, so the college will begin disciplinary action").


distance learning or distance education	Instruction which is not time- or place-specific; can include correspondence
	courses, televised or videotaped lectures, online courses (internet and e-mail),
	etc.


At MSU Great Falls CoT distance learning refers to our on-line and hybrid	courses. MSU Great Falls CoT has a distance learning department that will help
	students with their on-line courses.


distribution requirements	Course requirements included in an instructional program to make sure that the
	student is well-rounded and gains some perspective outside his or her specific
	focus or major.


division	An organizational unit within a college or university consisting of two or more
	related departments.


drop	To cancel registration in a course after enrolling into it. Students often add and
	drop courses before settling on a class schedule for a particular quarter or
	semester. See also withdrawal.


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.


ESL (English as a Second Language)	Usually refers to developmental-level instruction in English language skills for
	non-native speakers.


enrollment	(1) The process of signing up and paying for courses. See also registration.


(2) The total number of registered students attending classes in a particular	instructional program or the whole school.


evaluation	(1) The process and standards by which an instructor judges a student's work
	and assigns a grade.


(2) At MSU GREAT FALLS COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY , the process of	determining that a student has met all requirements to complete a degree or
	certificate and is ready to graduate.


faculty	The instructors or teaching staff at a school.


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.


FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)	The application required for students to be considered for federal student
	financial aid. The FAFSA is processed free of charge and is used by most state
	agencies and colleges. There is a form for each academic year. FAFSA forms
	are available from colleges, high schools and on the website www.fafsa.ed.gov.


freshman	A student in the first year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program (or
	one who has earned fewer than 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits so far).


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


general education	At MSU Great Falls CoT you can either do the general education CORE classes
	to transfer to another institution, or complete an entire associates degree in
	general education
	grade
	A formal indicator of a student's overall performance in a course, recorded on the
	official transcript. Traditional letter grades are "A" for outstanding achievement,
	"B" for high achievement, "C" for satisfactory achievement, etc.


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.


hy-brid class	A course that is taught both on-line and on campus. Students are required to
	participate in both portions of the class.


incomplete	A temporary grade given to a student who is doing satisfactory work but is forced
	by illness or other emergency to miss an exam or a major assignment. The
	instructor and student arrange how and when the student will complete the work
	and have the "I" changed to a final letter grade. At MSU GREAT FALLS
	COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY , the student must finish the incomplete work
	within one academic semester.


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.


junior	A student in the third year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program
	(or one who has earned 90-135 quarter credits or 60-90 semester credits so far).


learning outcomes	What students are expected to know and to be able to do as a result of their
	experience at the college and, more specifically, as a result of completing their
	general education requirements.


load	See credit load.


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


lower division	The courses students are generally expected to complete during the first two
	years of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program.


major	Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study.


MPSEOC (Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council)	The Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council (MPSEOC) is a
	non-profit organization representing the 24 institutions of higher education across
	the state of Montana. The mission of the organization is the promotion of higher
	education to students, parents and guidance counselors, with the awareness of
	the post secondary opportunities available throughout the state of Montana and
	beyond. www.montanacolleges.com
	MUS CORE
	See CORE
	Montana University System
	The campuses associated with the Montana University System are: the
	University of Montana (Missoula); UofM College of Technology (Missoula); the
	University of Montana Helena College of Technology; Montana Tech; Montana
	Tech College of Technology; the University of Montana Western; Montana State
	University – Bozeman; Montana State University Billings; MSU Billings College of
	Technology; Montana State University Northern; and MSU Great Falls College of
	Technology.


no-show	A student who registers into a course but never goes to class. At MSU Great
	Falls CoT a no-show student will receive an "F" for the class on his or her
	transcript.


noncredit	Courses or instructional programs which do not require extensive homework or
	examinations and which do not offer college credit. Students frequently take
	noncredit courses for basic skills improvement, job training or career
	enhancement, or personal enrichment.


open admissions	The policy of some colleges to admit nearly all applicants, regardless of high
	school grades and admission test scores. It means different things at different
	schools. Community and technical colleges in Montana admit anyone who is over
	18 or has a high school diploma or GED.


outcomes	See learning outcomes.


pass/passing	At most schools, a student will earn credit and "pass" a class with a grade of "A"
	through "D." A student who earns an "F" grade fails the class and earns no credit.


Different schools have different standards, so a student who passes a class with	a "D" may or may not be able to use that class to meet prerequisites or fulfill
	requirements.


placement	The appropriate level to enter a series of courses, based on the student’s skills
	often used in the context of basic skills subjects such as mathematics or English
	composition. See also assessment.


postsecondary	Refers to all educational programs for students past high-school age; it includes
	community and technical colleges and job training programs as well as
	baccalaureate colleges and universities.


practicum	A course that includes job-related activities and stresses the practical application
	of theory in a field of study. See also internship.


prerequisite	A course that must be completed (often with a certain minimum grade) or a skill
	that must be demonstrated before a student can enroll in a more advanced
	course (for example, Anatomy and Physiology I is a prerequisite for Anatomy and
	Physiology II).


private college	The private colleges located in Montana are: Carroll College; University of Great
	Falls and Rocky Mountain College
	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.


program	A very general term used in many ways in a college or university:
	(1) The courses that an individual student plans to take ("the academic advisors
	can help you plan your program each year").


(2) The courses required to complete a particular degree or certificate ("he's	almost finished with the Recreation Leadership program").


(3) The courses that make up a department or the departments that make up a	division within the college organization
	(4) Organized activities with a specific function
	quarter
	Some schools organize the academic year into three main periods-Fall, Winter,
	and Spring Quarters-plus a shorter Summer Quarter (compare to semester).


records	Refers to all the information the college might keep regarding a student; it
	includes registration activity (enrollment, withdrawal, etc.), grades, payments,
	awards received, financial aid applications and award notices, and notes on
	disciplinary actions, as well as address, phone number, and student identification
	number.


refund	(1) Tuition and fees that are paid back to a student who has withdrawn from a
	course. At MSU GREAT FALLS COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY , the amount
	to be refunded depends on how many credits the student is taking and
	exactly when the student dropped the course(s). The refund policy and
	deadlines are published in each Credit Class Schedule and on the students
	Registration Worksheet.


(2) Financial aid money that is not required as payment to MSU Great Falls CoT	for tuition, fee and book charges.


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.


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


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.


scholarship	(1) A type of financial aid. Organizations may give scholarships according to
	academic achievement, financial need, or any other basis. Usually there is a
	competitive application process.


(2) A person's ability and expertise in a particular discipline of study ("I've always	admired Dr. Busacca's scholarship in Italian art and literature").


section	A specific class with its own unique days, hours, location, and instructor. A
	number of sections of a certain course may be offered during a quarter or
	semester, each with different days, times, locations, and instructors but
	presenting the same curriculum.


semester	Some schools organize the academic year into two main periods-Fall and Spring
	Semesters-plus a shorter Summer Semester (compare to quarter). MSU Great
	Falls CoT operates on a 16 week Fall and Spring semester and an 8 or 10 week
	summer semester.


senior	A student in the fourth year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program
	(or one who has earned 135-180 quarter credits or 90-120 semester credits so
	far).


sophomore	A student in the second year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program
	(or one who has earned 45-90 quarter credits or 30-60 semester credits so far).


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


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


TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	A standardized test which assesses the English language abilities of students
	who are not native English-speakers.


transcript	An official record of the courses and semester or quarter credits a student has
	taken at a college or university, the grades and degrees or certificates earned,
	and any awards and honors received.


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.


tribal colleges	The tribal colleges in Montana are: Blackfeet Community College; Chief Dull
	Knife College; Fort Belknap College; Fort Peck Community College; Little Big
	Horn College; Salish Kootenai College; and Stone Child College.


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.


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.


upper division	The courses students are generally expected to complete during the last two
	years of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program.


waiver	To waive a right or a claim is to voluntarily give it up.


(1) If a student meets specific criteria, the college may waive some of his or her	tuition & fees (that is, some of the money owed to the college will be forgiven).


(2) If a student demonstrates certain knowledge and abilities, the college may	waive a course prerequisite (that is, allow the student to take the class even
	though he or she hasn't completed the listed requirements for it).


withdrawal	The process of formally dropping a class or classes after the term has started.


work-study	A type of financial aid which pays students