Academic Glossary
Advanced Placement Credit
AP credit is given to students who score three or higher on the Advanced Placement Examinations in Biology, Advanced Placement Science A, English Composition and English Literature, English Language and Composition, any of the foreign languages, Calculus AB or BC exams, U.S. History, European History, Psychology, and American Government and Politics. Contact the Registrar for the credits assigned.
Baccalaureate
The Bachelor's Degree; traditional first step on the ladder of higher education. It is characterized by a four year program which blends courses aimed at promoting the acquisition of broad knowledge through a solid foundation in the Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as courses designed to give depth of understanding in the major field.
Carnegie Unit
The unit of work expected of students for each college credit. The college expects students to spend 45 hours of work for each credit. The most common break down for one credit is one hour of class work and two hours of homework for fifteen weeks each semester. A three-credit course demands nine hours of work each week.
CLEP
The College Level Examination Program by which up to 60 semester hours of credit may be earned towards your degree. Contact Career Services for CLEP applications.
Credits
Arithmetic representation of the value of completed course work towards the degree requirements. One classroom hour and two hours of homework for the nominal fifteen-week semester usually counts for one credit. As the usual course responsibility requires three classroom hours per week, per semester, and six hours of work per week outside the classroom, the normal yield per course is three credits. Tradition and practice in the case of laboratory, studio, shop, and other practica awards proportional credit for hours of attendance.
Department
An administrative subdivision of the faculty. Sometimes the department is identical with a discipline category such as English or Mathematics. Departments such as Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences represent an association of faculty members of related disciplines.
Electives
Those course selections by the candidate which are not predetermined by graduation, major, or minor requirements.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Befitting the Baccalaureate tradition and current practice, the Fitchburg State College candidate is required to complete a minimum of 60 credits in a college. For details, see "Liberal Arts and Sciences Program."
Major
That structured experience in an academic field which constitutes the candidate's specialization. All degree programs require a major. As considerable variation exists as to prerequisites and total credits, the candidate must carefully study the structure of the major of her/his choice. For details of major requirements, see "Courses and Programs."
Minor
That structured experience in a related discipline/field which is recognized by the major department as supportive of the candidate's specialization. Minors are defined by the Academic Department offering them. As considerable variation in requirements exist, the candidate should study carefully the minor offerings, see "Courses
and Programs."
Prerequisite
Those courses which must be satisfactorily completed before admission to certain other courses. Prerequisite courses are listed in the course description of the course requiring them. Again, see "Courses and Programs."
Program
That construct of Liberal Arts and Sciences, major, minor, and/or professional courses which satisfies the requirements for a particular degree.
Self-Help
Self-Help is in the form of loans and work.
Track
That subdivision of academic programs which constitutes a unit of professional competence. Suggestive of the complexity of identifications involved in only one department, consider the example of Business Administration. This program includes tracks in Accounting, Management, and Marketing. The candidate should clarify with his/her advisor and major department the track which he/she is interested in pursuing.
Waiver of Regulations
Recognizing the inappropriateness of rigidity in endeavors to promote its goals, the college provides for waiver procedure relative to its baccalaureate rules, regulations, and programs. All petitions for waiver of regulations begin with the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies if they involve undergraduate requirements and the Office of the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education for graduate requirements. The student should note that reasons for waiver must be as exceptional as the grant.
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