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Advising Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A–D

Academic Course Load:
The number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled during a quarter.
Academic Program:
A series of credit courses designed to lead to a degree, diploma or certificate in a field of study or occupation.
Add:
The process of increasing an academic course load.
Advanced Placement (AP):
A program administered by the College Board through which a student can earn college credit for examinations taken in high school. Students can earn AP credit for art, biology, history, mathematics, foreign languages, and other WSU courses.
Advisor:
A university professional who has been assigned to each student to facilitate his/her successful program toward a college degree.
Associate Degree:
The degree typically awarded by a community or junior college (Sinclair Community College or Clark State Community College, for example) following the completion of a two-year program of study.
Audit:
The process by which a student can register for classes on a no-grade, non-credit basis. Audits must be designated at the time of registration.
Baccalaureate Degree:
An academic program generally consisting of a minimum of 183 credits, of which at least 56 credits must be general education credits.
Bachelor’s Degree:
Same as a baccalaureate degree. B.S.= Bachelor of Science degree; B.A.= Bachelor of Arts degree.
CAS (Course Applicability System):
The Course Applicability System or (CAS) is used to determine course equivalencies. CAS was designed to provide a Web-based advising system for potential transfer students and WSU students taking courses.
CRN Number:
The 5-digit number that appears before the subject code (subject code/course) in the class listing each registration term. This number provides more detailed class information.
Class Number:
The 3-digit number that appears after the department/subject code (i.e. ACC) and before the section number in the class listing each registration term. This number identifies the specific course (i.e. ACC 204, Accounting Principles I).
Conditional Students:
Applicants to degree status who lack the credentials required for unconditional admission to WSU as degree candidates. The WSU Office of Admissions determines the criteria for admission based on several factors including a student’s academic performance in high school, ACT scores, and/or academic record from other institutions.
Co-Requisite:
Course or courses that a student is required to take along with another course in which the student is enrolled.
Credit or Credit Hour:
Each credit hour is a unit of time, usually 50 minutes, during which a class will meet each week during a quarter.
Cumulative Grade-Point Average (GPA):
The weighted mean value of all grade points a student has earned by enrollment in WSU courses through any delivery system and at any location or through credit examination.
Curriculum:
A designated set of courses leading to a student's earning a degree or certificate.
Dean's List:
A recognition of academic excellence. To be named to the Dean's List, students must have at least a 3.4 GPA for the quarter; have completed for the quarter at least 12 hours of credit for courses in which they have received grades of A, B, or C; and cannot have received a grade of F, X, D, I, U, T, M or N. Categories for Dean’s list are: 3.4 – 3.59, honors; 3.6-3.79, high honors; and 3.8-4.0, highest honors.
Degree Audit (DARS):
DARS is an automated degree audit system that reflects the progress a student has made toward the completion of the General Education and college degree requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the DARS report. Students should discuss and review discrepancies with their academic advisor. DARS is a useful piece of information for all students enrolled at Wright State. Students can access their DARS online through WINGS Express.
Degree-granting College:
WSU offers undergraduate programs/degrees in six colleges: Raj Soin College of Business, Colleges of Education & Human Services, Engineering & Computer Science, Nursing & Health, and Science & Mathematics, ad through Wright State University-Lake Campus.
Degree Requirements:
A list of exact courses, subject areas and credit hours needed to obtain a specific degree or certificate. Degree requirements can be found on college web pages or in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Direct Admit:
A student who is directly admitted to a degree-granting college has declared a major on his/her application and has met the pre-admission requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. These pre-admission requirements, which include a specific high school GPA, a minimum ACT/SAT composite score, a specific percentile for class rank, and/or a definitive high school core curriculum, differ among the degree-granting colleges.
Drop:
The process of decreasing an academic course load. See also Withdrawal.
Dismissal:
Students who remain on probation for two quarters may be dismissed from the university for unsatisfactory academic performance.

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E–H

Electives:
Courses in which a student may enroll, depending upon his or her interests and needs. When choosing electives, students should consult their advisor.
Enrollment Cancellation/ “Backed–out”:
Initiated by the Registrar's Office, an enrollment cancellation occurs when a student does not meet his/her financial obligation to the university by the posted payment due dates. When a student's enrollment is cancelled, he/she loses all of his/her enrolled classes for the semester. Often referred to as: being “backed-out” of classes.
Fresh Start:
An undergraduate student who is readmitted to the university after an absence of three or more years (12 consecutive quarters) may request the university to recalculate the cumulative grade point average and hours earned during the period of previous residency.
Freshman:
A student who has earned fewer than forty five posted credits.
Full-Time Student:
A student enrolled in twelve or more credits during a quarter. A student is considered full-time with six credits during a summer session.
General Education Requirements (Gen. Eds./GE):
As part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree at Wright State, these courses are typically introductory courses and serve as part of a broadly based program of study designed to promote intellectual growth, cultivate critical examination and informed understanding, encourage breadth and flexibility of perspective, and provide students an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that will form the basis for their life-long learning.
Grade-Point Average:
Indicates a student's academic progress and status on a 4.0 grading scale.
Graduate Degree:
A degree awarded for education at a level beyond the bachelor's degree. State universities offer graduate certificates, master's degrees and specialist degrees in various professional and liberal arts fields, such as medical or law degrees.
GPA Hours:
Hours earned which affect a student's GPA and used in calculating the overall GPA.
Holds on Student Records:
Actions taken by University offices to restrict a student's registration ability or prevent the student from receiving a transcript or diploma. Holds are usually placed for academic, financial, health, or conduct reasons.

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I–O

Incomplete Grade (I grade):
An I grade indicates that the student has completed part of the required work for the course and has made arrangements with the instructor to complete the remaining work by the end of the next term. If the work is not completed by the date grades are due for the next term, the I grade reverts to an F in the course.
Junior:
A student who has completed more than 90, but fewer than 134.9 posted credits.
Major:
The subject area leading to a degree or certificate in which a student chooses to concentrate his/her academic work.
Master’s Degree:
An academic degree program of at least one year of prescribed study in courses at the graduate level.
Minor:
An academic program that supplements a major. Minors require a minimum of a select number of hours/courses specific to the degree program. Courses counting in a minor can also count in the student's major. All courses listed in a minor are subject to pre-requisites.
Non-degree/Transient Student:
A Non-degree/transient student must be in good standing at his/her home school before enrolling at WSU. A transient student may not, as a general rule, attempt more than 16 credits in any quarter or session and is subject to all rules and regulations of Wright State University. An undergraduate guest student must apply to the Office of Admissions.

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P–R

Part-Time Student:
A student enrolled in fewer than twelve credit hours during a semester.
Pin Number:
Number assigned to restrict registration of classes for selected students in the University College.  Students assigned pin numbers are: all first year students, PSEO, transfers, continuing students with more than 90 hours of credit, and students on probation.
Placement Test (COMPASS):
Results of this test are used to place students at the appropriate entry level with respect to writing and mathematical skills. ACT/SAT scores determine whether or not a student is required to take a placement test or tests after he/she is admitted and before registering for classes.
Pre-Requisite:
A course or set of courses a student must complete before being allowed to register for a more advanced course in the same or related area.
Probation:
When a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.0, the registrar takes scholastic action to place a student on probation. Students on probation will have registration  restrictions
Program of Study:
The subject area in which a student chooses to concentrate his/her academic work.
Quality Points:
The number of quality hours (for a course) multiplied by the numerical value of the grade earned (A = 4.0 points, B = 3.0 points, etc.). The total number of quality points divided by the total number of GPA hours equals a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Quarter:
One of the three main enrollment periods in an academic year. At WSU, the academic year consists of 3 ten week quarters -- fall, winter and spring, a summer session and winter intersession (both with varying time commitments).
Repeating Courses:
Courses can be repeated if the grade earned was a D, F, or X. The course may be repeated until the student has achieved a grade of at least a C. A student’s cumulative GPA will be recalculated based on the number of hours earned and any additional regulations or policies set by different colleges and departments. Students should refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for more information regarding Repeating Courses.

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S–Z

Section Code:
The 2 digits that appear after the subject/course number in the schedule of classes, as in ACC 204 02. This number (02) refers to the specific section of the course.
Senior:
A student who has earned more than 135 credit hours.
Sophomore:
A student who has earned more than 45, but fewer than 89.9 credit hours.
Syllabus:
A document provided by an instructor that describes the content and expectations of a course, the grading policy, a list of assignments and due dates, and related information such as the required textbooks and other course materials, the instructor's office hours, contact information, etc.
Transcripts:
Written record of a student's academic performance. Students may obtain official and unofficial transcripts by contacting the Registrar. Transfer Credit:
Transfer credit refers to units (hours) of academic credit awarded at a receiving institution in recognition of college level credit earned at a sending institution. Semester hour credit may be converted to quarter hour credit by multiplying the semester hours by 1.5 (e.g., five semester hour credits will equate to 7.5 quarter hour credits).
Transfer Module:
The Transfer Module contains 54-60 quarter hours or 36-40 semester hours of specified course credits in English composition, mathematics, fine arts, humanities, social science, behavioral science, natural science, physical science, and interdisciplinary coursework. A transfer module completed at one college or university will automatically meet the requirements of the transfer module at the receiving institution, once the student is accepted. Students may be required, however, to meet additional general education requirements that are not included in the Transfer Module.
Transfer Student:
A student applying for admission to Wright State University who has formerly attended another regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
Transient Student:
Any Wright State student who wishes to take course work at another accredited institution of higher education is considered a “transient student”. Note: Course work taken at another institution cannot be considered for Wright State’s Repeat Policy.
Upper Division/Upper Level:
A general term describing the third and fourth years of college (an upper-division student) or courses taken in the last two years of college (upper-division courses). Wright State courses numbered 300 or higher would generally be considered upper-division courses.
Withdrawal:
The process of dropping a course or courses, program of study, or leaving the university altogether. Students who do not follow the proper withdrawal procedures may receive a grade of F.

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