College Transfers – Glossary
Accreditation – A recognition conveyed upon an educational institution that validates the quality of the school meets predetermined standards.
Accrediting Agency – An institution that conveys accreditation status upon an educational institution. Legitimate accreditation agencies in the U.S. are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Articulation Agreement – A formal agreement between educational institutions that defines what course credits can be transferred between the institutions. These are most commonly between a two-year school and a four-year program or school. The goal of these agreements is to make transfers between schools easier for students.
Associate Degree – A degree typically earned after completing two academic years of coursework. Graduates of two-year schools earn an associate's degree.
Bachelor Degree - A degree typically earned after completing four academic years of coursework. Graduates of four-year schools earn an bachelor's degree.
Career Schools – Also known as vocational schools, this is a general classification of post-secondary schools that teach job-specific skills. Unlike academic schools, they do not typically provide a general academic education and are usually limited to providing associate's level degrees and certifications. These schools typically have national accreditation rather than regional accreditation.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – This program offers subject-specific tests administered by the College Board which students can sometimes earn credit for in place of taking a class.
Community College – A two-year, public college that provides associate's degrees and also prepares students who will transfer to a four-year school. They typically have relatively low admissions requirements, low tuition and reside in populated areas, making college education accessible to many. More recently, many have started offering certificate programs and continuing education programs.
Core Courses – These are courses required for all students to earn a given degree. They provide a foundation for additional courses in a student's major. Two-year schools focus mainly on core courses.
Course Equivalency – A course that is defined as being equivalent to another course at a different school. Courses that are deemed equivalent can be transferred to that school. Schools with articulation agreements have determined and documented course equivalencies for the programs involved.
Credit – Recognition of completion of a college course. The number of credits granted measure the number of hours the course was held for. One credit is typically given for attending a course for one hour a week for 16 weeks. Lab credits require more hours per credit.
Distance Learning – Education where the instructor and the students are in separate locations. Classes are taught via the Internet either in real-time or are accessed by the students at a time they choose.
Elective Courses – Advanced courses which allow students to learn more about a specific area of interest or to meet a concentration requirement. Students elect which classes they want to take, unlike core courses which are required of all students.
Extracurricular Activities – Organized student activities which are outside of the educational curriculum and are not eligible for college credit.
Financial Aid – Financial assistance for college students awarded in the form of grants, loans or work-study. Financial aid is available from the federal government, state governments and educational institutions.
Grade Point Average (GPA) – A student's numeric average grade for a semester or a cumulative grade for all completed coursework. A GPA number of 0 through 4 is given with an "A" counting as a 4, "B" counting as a 3, etc. and "F" receiving a 0. GPA's include decimal places.
Horizontal Transfer – This is a transfer between two schools at the same level. Transfers between two two-year schools and between two four-year schools are considered horizontal transfers.
Junior College – This is a two-year college which can be a public community college or a private two-year college. This term is used less frequently than in the past.
Major – The subject matter which a college student is studying and intends to earn a degree in.
Minor – A secondary subject matter which a student studies for at least 18 credits, when earning a bachelor's degree.
Non-traditional Student - A student who is attending college as an older adult rather than directly after finishing high-school.
Online School – Schools of higher learning that offer their courses via the internet rather than in a physical classroom.
Part-time Student – A college student who is taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester. This status can impact tuition, financial aid, scholarships and repayment of loans.
Regional Accreditation – The type of accreditation obtained by traditional academic colleges and universities and conveyed by one of six regional accrediting agencies. Employers and other academic institutions recognize regionally accredited schools as legitimate sources of degrees and course credits.
Re-entry Student – A student who has prior college experience and is re-enrolling after not attending school for a period of time. They are sometimes referred to as adult students or non-traditional students.
Reverse Transfer – This is a transfer from a four-year school to a two-year school.
Semester – Usually a 16 week time-period during which courses are held in the fall and winter/spring. Shorter, condensed semesters are sometimes available in the summer and at other times. Students must attend classes for more hours in a week during a condensed semester.
Swirling – When a student takes individual courses at multiple colleges rather than enrolling at one school with the intent to complete their degree there.
Technical Schools – A subset of career schools that focus on technology education.
Transcript – A student's academic record which includes courses taken, credits earned and grades.
Transfer Program - A program offered by a two-year school that is specifically designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year school after graduation. These programs attempt to mimic the courses students would take during their first two years at a four-year school.
Transfer Student – A college student who is transferring from one college to another and is obtaining credit for some or all of the coursework completed at the prior institution.
Two-year Schools – Sometimes known as Community Colleges, the term refers to all schools that provide a two-year curriculum resulting in an associate's degree and/or transfer to a four-year school.
Tuition – The amount that is paid for educational instruction. Tuition is charged by the class or by the semester.
Vertical Transfer – When a student transfers from a two-year school to a four-year school.
Vocational Schools – See Career Schools.
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