College and University Key Terms & Definitions
College and University 101
College: a college refers to an institution that offers just an undergraduate degree (4 year degree) and/or liberal arts college
University: a university refers to a larger institution offering both undergraduate and graduate programs.
What is a Bachelor’s Degree?
A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree in which you study a subject of your choice at an academic institution, and is commonly known as a college degree. Getting a bachelor's degree can enhance your access to job opportunities, expose you to new ideas, and boost your earning potential. It typically takes 4 years to complete a bachelor’s degree (120 credits min.)
While a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree usually focuses on general studies, along with subjects like the arts, communication and sociology, a BS (Bachelor of Science) degree delves into topics such as business, technology and healthcare or STEM.
Academic Advisor: Assigned upon enrollment, your academic advisor provides support and counsel on which classes to take and when to take them.
Common Application (Common App): Allows students to apply to multiple schools by filling out one document.
Co-op: Co-operative education allows for both theoretical learning and hands-on, practical application of newly acquired knowledge.
Commencement: After completing all degree requirements, learners qualify for graduation. Commencement is the ceremony in which students receive their diplomas and celebrate!
Course Catalog: Learners use the course catalog to find classes related to their degrees, including both core courses and electives.
Core Requirements: Within a degree program, core requirements refer to the classes that students must pass in order to graduate. Electives typically complement core classes.
CSS Profile: Administered by the College Board, many private and some public institutions require students to complete this financial application to show their ability to pay and need for aid.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Prepared annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid (including Pell Grant, Federal student loans and Federal Work-Study).
Externship/Internship:
Externships are similar to internships but typically last a shorter amount of time and do not provide college credit. Externships allow for job shadowing prior to graduation.
Electives: Unlike general education and core courses, electives allow students to take classes in any subject they find interesting. For instance, business students who want to learn fencing can take a fencing class as an elective.
Honors College: Students with top academic marks may be invited to join an honors college, a more rigorous track, a college or university with an accelerated general education curriculum and a culminating project, such as a thesis.
Internships give students the opportunity to gain relevant, hands-on work experience before graduating. Most internships offer college credits and some pay.
In-State Tuition: Public colleges and universities allow students who reside in the same state as the institution to pay in-state tuition, or a lower amount than what nonresidents pay. Most schools require the student to have lived in the state at least one year prior to enrollment.
Learning Communities: Cohorts of up to 25 students take these linked courses together and form dynamic academic-social learning communities through which they engage in integrative multidisciplinary tasks. Some live together on campus as well.
Major: A term used in undergraduate studies, a major refers to a student's chosen area of study, such as accounting or history.
Meal Plan: Many colleges require in-person students to purchase campus-based meal plans that can be used in cafeterias and restaurants across campus.
Merit-based Aid: While need-based aid supports students with limited finances, merit-based aid supports those who demonstrate academic and/or personal excellence but may or many not have financial constraints.
Out of State Tuition: When a student attends college at a public school but is not a resident, thus needs to pay tuition at a higher rate, the out of state rate. Typically, states have a ceiling for how many OOS students they permit to enroll.
Net Price: This term refers to the actual price.
Subsidized Loan: From the US Department of Education, provide 6 month grace period after graduation and not accrue interest.
Student Portal: Colleges use student portals to help learners stay organized. They can access email, review assignments, see their grades, and request documentation on these sites.
RA: Residential Assistant reports to the director or residential life and is usually a junior in college who lives with underclassmen to assist with their issues. Tuition is usually covered.
Rooms & Board: Many colleges use room and board as an overarching term to describe the fee that covers both on-campus housing and a meal plan.
Term: This is another word used to describe a semester, quarter or trimester.
Unsubsidized Loans: Unlike subsidized loans, these do not cover costs associated with accrued loan interest, while still in college.
Work-Study: Students who qualify for work-study funding through the FAFSA can apply for part-time campus based jobs that pay hourly wages.
What is a Master’s degree? JD or MD or PhD?
A master's degree is an academic qualification granted at the postgraduate level to individuals who have successfully undergone study demonstrating a high level of expertise in a specific field of study or area of professional practice.
Juris Doctor (JD):
A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is the professional degree necessary to become a lawyer. A JD degree is a terminal degree—or the highest level of degree you can achieve in a given discipline. In order to begin a Juris Doctor program, you will need to have first earned your bachelor’s degree, but you do not need a master’s degree. It takes 3 years to complete law school.
Doctor of Medicine:
What Is an MD? MD stands for doctor of medicine. MDs are allopathic doctors. That means they treat and diagnose conditions using conventional medical tools like x-rays, prescription drugs, and surgery. It takes 4 years to complete medical school not including a residency.
PhD:
A PhD is the highest possible academic degree a student can obtain. PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy,” which refers to the immense knowledge a student gains when earning the degree. While you can actually get a PhD in philosophy, "Doctor of Philosophy" doesn't always refer to someone who has a terminal degree in that discipline. You can get a PhD in a number of fields, such as science or economics, and the word "Philosophy," translated from original Greek to mean "lover of wisdom," can refer to the degree holder's dedication to understanding a subject.