Glossary of Common Terms
Academic Renewal | Appeals | Articulation Agreement | ASSIST
Associate Degree
Bachelors Degree (Baccalaureate)
Catalog | CCC | College | Competetive Admissions | CSU | CSUMentor
Department | Electives | Freshman | General Education | GPA
IGETC | IGETC Certification | Impacted Major/Impacted Campus Interdisciplinary Major | Junior
Lower Division | Lower Division Major Preparation
Major | Master's Degree | Minor | Mixed Records
Quarter System | Re-entry Student | Repetition
School | Selection Criteria | Semester System | Senior | Sophomore
Subject Credit Supplemental Application
TAG | TAP | TCA | Transferable Coursework/Unit | Transferable GPA
U.C. | Undergraduate | Unit Ceiling | Unit Credit | Upper Division
WASC | Well-Rounded Students
Academic Renewal
A student may petition to have college grades of D or F excluded from grade point average calculations if that work is not reflective of the student's present level of performance. However to ensure a true and complete academic record, their permanent academic record will show all of the student's course work, including excluded classes.
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Appeals
When a decision is rendered, on an application or petition, not in the favor of a student, the student provides additional documentation to the deciding party to receive a review for a favorable decision.
Articulation Agreement
A written contract between two schools in which course equivalencies are agreed to by both schools. For example, on www.assist.org you can find coures-to-course agreements (articulation agreements) between California Community Colleges and the CSU and UC system.
Associate Degree (AA, AS, . . .)
A degree granted by community colleges to students who complete a specified program of study, usually totaling 60 semester units. Associate degrees are awarded in arts and science and are sometimes called two-year degrees, in contrast to the four-year, or bachelor's degree, awarded by a university.
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Bachelors Degree (Baccalaureate)
A level of education marked by the completion of the equivalent of four or more years of full-time education (at least 124 semester units or 180 quarter units). Baccalaureate degrees are offered by the CSU, UC, and many private colleges and universities. Baccalaureate level also refers to courses that meet requirements for the baccalaureate degree, also called a four-year or bachelor’s degree
Competitive Admissions
As a result of impaction, when the University or a Major reaches full capacity, they will increase the requirements for admission (impaction criteria) in order to control the growth of the university. For example, an impacted program/major at a university may increase their minimum grade point average for admissions to the major.
CSU
This is the abbreviation for " California State University". Examples of CSU schools are San Francisco State, San Jose State, etc. It is one of two systems of state-funded higher education in California that grant baccalaureate and higher degrees. The other is the University of California system.
CSUMentor
This website contains information about all 23 CSU campuses. Also, it is the application website for the CSU system. Students may apply to the CSU system online by going to www.csumentor.edu.
Electives
Courses that are not used to meet specific major, general education, or graduation requirements, but can be used to complete the total units required for a degree.
Freshman
Refers to the first year of study for an associate or bachelor’s degree. Students who have completed 1-29 semester units (1-44 quarter units) are considered freshmen.
General Education
A broad group of courses to include a wide variety of subjects outside a specific major; also known as survey courses
Impacted Major/Impacted Campus
There is more demand (more students) than there is room for students to be admitted to the University or within the specific major. Since there is such high demand for the spots in an impacted major, minimum admission requirements for that major may be raised. For example, an impacted major/program may require a higher grade point average.
Junior
Refers to the third year of study for a bachelor’s degree. Students who have completed 60-89 semester units are considered juniors.
Major
The subject area in which a student pursuing a college degree develops greatest depth of knowledge.
Master’s Degree
A degree beyond the bachelor’s, also called a graduate degree. Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees are most common, but there are also professional master’s degrees, such as the Master of Fine Arts or the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Mixed Records
A student that has attended a university or baccalaureate granting college and a community college.
Quarter System
The division of the academic year into four equal parts usually lasting 10 weeks each. Three constitute an academic year, with summer school considered an optional "quarter".
School
A school is a separate academic unit within a University.
Senior
Refers to the final year of study for a baccalaureate degree. Students who have completed 90 or more semester units are considered seniors.
Sophomore
Refers to the second year of study for a bachelor’s degree. Sophomore level is usually attained by completing 30-59 semester units.
Subject Credit
When completing a course after the maximum units allowable for transfer, a student can earn credit for completion of the specific subject, yet receive no additional units or credits.
Transferable Coursework/Units
At CCSF, courses numbered from 1-799 (except remedial courses) will transfer to CSU. For information regarding transferable courses to UC, refer to the ASSIST website at www.assist.org or check in the CCSF Catalog.
Transferable GPA
This is the GPA that is calculated using the transferable courses, and is the GPA that is used for admission criteria at 4-year institutions. The general formula for calculating a transferable GPA is: Total transferable grade points divided by total transferable units. See a counselor for any assistance in calculating your transferable grade point average.
U.C.
The abbreviation for the "University of California". Examples of UC schools are UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles. One of two systems of state-funded higher education in California that grant baccalaureate and higher degrees. The other is the California State University (CSU) system.
Undergraduate (undergrad)
An enrolled student who has not completed a baccalaureate degree; a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior .
Unit Ceiling
A maximum number of units allowed for completion of a Bachelors Degree.
Unit Credit
A measure of credit earned for course completion. A unit is based on the number of hours of instruction per week required in the classroom and/or lab or in independent study. A course earning three semester units will usually meet three hours a week. One quarter-unit is equal to 2/3 of one semester unit. Satisfactory completion of a course usually yields unit credit. Often referred to as 'units' or 'credits'.
WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
The accrediting agency for all junior colleges and senior colleges in California, Hawaii, and western territories.
Well-rounded Student
Students who, in addition to their major, have completed a broad array of courses in different areas of study, have paid or volunteer work experience, and is involved in extra-curricular activites.
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