Academic year

August to May ( 8 months)

Semester

A division of the academic year. Each semester lasts sixteen weeks.

Course load

The number of courses taken.

Credit hour

Credit awarded for participation and completion of a course.

Credit load

Total number of credits for which a student is enrolled. A full time credit load is at least 12 credit hours for undergraduates and at least 9 credit hours for graduates.

Major

The main subject of interest for a student studying for degree. A major usually requires approximately 40-60 credit hours of work.

Minor

A secondary field of interest not required for a degree.

Required & Core Course

A necessary course which fulfills a student’s major requirements.

Prerequisite Course

A basic course necessary before admission can be granted into a higher level course.

Elective

A course selected by the student which is not a requirement for a program but still fulfills graduation requirements.

Registration & Enrollment

Official procedure of arranging a class schedule, paying tuition and fees. You are formally enrolled after satisfying the payment requirements for the applicable tuition and fees.

Incomplete

A temporary mark granted when the student has been unable to complete the required coursework by the end of the term. Work must be completed within a specific time.

Academic Probation

An enrollment restriction as a result of poor grades. If you are placed on academic probation, be certain to consult the International Office.

Academic Warning

A notice that your grades are below the academic requirements. The minimum university grade point average is 2.0 (higher for some majors) for graduation.