General College Vocabulary - Academic Terms

Sep 14, 2026

General College Vocabulary provides clear definitions of commonly used academic terms encountered throughout college admissions and enrollment. It covers academic structures such as academic year, semesters, and credits; degree pathways including associate and bachelor programs; and essential student concepts like GPA, registration, curriculum, prerequisites, electives, required courses, and major/minor requirements. The glossary also explains financial aid mechanisms, including grants, loans, and financial aid transcripts, supporting students in navigating university policies and expectations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Academic Calendar and Enrollment

Credits, Courses, and Degree Pathways

Financial Aid and Student Requirements

General College Vocabulary These are terms you should become familiar with as you will be hearing them and using them throughout your academic careers at any college or university you aspire to attend. Academic Year: September through the following August. Includes the Fall Semester, Winter Semester, Spring Semester, and Summer Session. Academic Credits: See Credits Accredited: Certified by a specific state, regional, or national organization as meeting standards of quality in instruction, staffing, facilities, finances, and policies. ACT: American College Testing program is an assessment used for undergraduate admission purposes. Admission: Being accepted by a college or university so you can register for courses. Associate Degree: Degree (diploma) granted after successful completion of a program of study which has a minimum of 62 credits. Associate in Arts Degree (AA): A degree designed for transfer to an upper division college or [university. A Florida A.A. degree](university. A Florida A.A. degree) satisfies General Education Program (GEP) requirements at all Florida State University Systems Schools (SUS) . Associate in Science Degree (AS): A broad based degree designed to prepare students to enter a wide variety of careers. Baccalaureate or Bachelors Degree: completion of all University and major graduation requirements as [certified by the University. A B.A. is](certified by the University. A B.A. is) the Bachelor of Arts degree, [and a B.S. is](and a B.S. is)[ ](and a B.S. is)[the Bachelor of Science degree.](the Bachelor of Science degree.) Catalog: a resource for students to use to find out about the University academic policies, procedures, college/school/degree/major requirements, course descriptions and faculty listings. It is published annually and its contents are subject to change. Each college/university has one, many can be accessed on line via the world wide web. Course: A single subject, such as ENC 1101 (English Part 1), taken for one semester. Credits: Also referred to as Academic Credits, Credit Hours, and Semester Hours. Each course is assigned a number of credits which generally indicates the number of hours per week the class meets; i.e., a three credit course generally meets three hours each week. Courses with labs and occupational courses, however, generally meet more hours than the number of credits they carry. Tuition and fees are ordinarily charged by credit. Curriculum: See Program of Study Elective: A course you may elect (choose) to take as opposed to a course you are required to take. Fees: Special charges for courses or services other than tuition. Financial Aid: Money received from various sources (grants, loans, scholarships, jobs) to help students with college costs. Most, but not all, forms of aid are based on financial need. Financial Aid Transcript: A document you are required by federal regulations to have every other college you attended send to the Financial Aid Office of the current school you are at or are planning on attending, which lists any federal aid you may have received or states that you received no aid. Required of financial aid recipients before aid can be awarded. Full-Time Student: Enrolled in 12 or more credits in a semester. G.E.D. (General Educational Development): A high school equivalency certificate for adults who did not receive the traditional high school diploma. It is earned by passing the national G.E.D. exam, which may be taken through Delta Assessment/Testing Services Office. General Education Program: A group of courses in the areas of social science, natural/physical science, communication, and humanities which provide a common and broadly-based body of knowledge. GPA (Grade Point Average): The average number of grade points per semester hour attempted. GPA is computed by dividing the total number of grade points assigned by the total number of semester hours attempted, less hours resulting from NC (No Credit),

FAQs

What is an Academic Year and how is it divided?

An Academic Year runs from September through the following August and includes the Fall Semester, Winter Semester, Spring Semester, and Summer Session.

How do Credits relate to course meeting hours?

Each course is assigned a credit number that generally indicates the number of hours per week the class meets; tuition and fees are commonly charged by credit.

What does Financial Aid include, and what is a Financial Aid Transcript?

Financial Aid includes grants, loans, scholarships, and jobs, with many forms based on financial need. A Financial Aid Transcript is required by federal regulations and lists federal aid received (or states no aid) from every other college attended.

Sep 14, 2026

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