Glossary of Terms
This reference guide is designed to assist in defining terms frequently used at Missouri State University and in the Undergraduate Catalog.
- Academic Advisor
- A University employee who is committed to helping students meet their educational goals and to make informed and responsible decisions.
- Academic Year
- Begins in August with the fall Intersession, continues through the spring semester and concludes with the summer session.
- Alumni
- Individuals who have attended or graduated from a particular college or University.
- Admission to Degree Program
- A process required of students who have a major with specific admission requirements.
- Auditing a Class
- A grading option that allows completion of a course without receiving credit or a traditional grade. An audited course cannot be used to fulfill a degree requirement.
- BearPass Card
- Student's official University identification card.
- Block
- Classes meets for only the first or second half of the term (semester).
- Board of Governors
- Governing body for Missouri State University appointed by the Governor of Missouri.
- Catalog
- University's official publication of academic policies and procedures, programs of study and course offerings for a particular academic year.
- Certificate
- Document representing that the student has completed a University Certificate.
- Chancellor
- Highest administrative officer of the campus.
- Change of Schedule Period
- First five days of the fall, spring, and summer semester sessions in which students can add and drop classes.
- Class Schedule
- An online listing of courses offered for a specific term.
- College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)
- Program that allows students to receive credit by examination instead of completing a course.
- Commencement
- Ceremony held at the end of the spring semester to recognize candidates for graduation.
- Core 42 :
- A framework for general education that all Missouri public two- and four-year institutions of higher education will adopt effective for the 2018-19 academic year that will facilitate the seamless transfer of academic credits.
- Corequisite
- Two or more courses that must be taken during the same semester.
- Credit by Examination (CBE)
- Method of earning academic credit outside of traditional course offerings.
- Credit Hour
- Standard unit of measuring coursework. The unit of credit used at Missouri State is the semester hour.
- Cross-Listed Courses
- Two or more different courses taught in the same room, at the same time, with the same instructor. Students may receive credit toward graduation for only one.
- Darr Honors Program
- Designed to serve the needs of academically talented, high-achieving students accepted into the Honors College Program.
- Dean's List
- Published list of students who have achieved a specific level of achievement established by the University. The list is published at the conclusion of each semester and Summer Session.
- Degree Audit
- Advising tool designed to assist in tracking a student's progress towards graduation.
- Department Head
- Administrative officer holding faculty rank; responsible for a primary unit within an academic organization.
- Diploma
- Document provided by the University certifying that the student has earned a degree.
- Division Chair
- Administrative officer holding faculty rank; responsible for a grouping of academic departments and degree programs
- Dual Enrollment
- Typically refers to high school students who are receiving high school credit while also being enrolled in college-level credit. This term can also refer to students who are concurrently enrolled in two or more higher education institutions.
- Enrollment Status
- Terms used for reporting a student's academic load to external agencies. (i.e., full-time, half-time, less than half-time)
- Good Standing
- Academic status of students who are not on probation or under suspension.
- General Education Requirements
- Group of foundation courses required of undergraduate students regardless of the student's major.
- Grade Point
- Numerical value given to grades. For example, four grade points per credit hour is awarded for a grade of "A".
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Calculation derived from dividing the grade points earned by the number of credits attempted.
- Hold
- Block which prohibits students from functions such as registering for courses or receiving a transcript or diploma. Most holds are due to an unpaid financial obligation or failure to complete a required process.
- Honors, Scholastic
- Designation indicated on the graduates' diploma and transcript that reflects outstanding scholarship.
- Identical Courses
- Those courses identified by multiple course codes and/or numbers that are taught in the same classroom, at the same time and by the same instructor. Student may only receive credit toward graduation for one.
- Incomplete Grade
- Assigned when a student has not completed all work for a course and the instructor agrees to allow additional time for completion of the course.
- Internship
- Work at a business or agency related to a student's major and/or career plans for which credit hours are awarded.
- Intersession
- Brief period (typically 1-3 weeks) between semesters when a limited number of courses are offered.
- My Grizzly Den
- Web-based system that provides access to personal student information, email, blackboard, online registration and much more. A BearPass account is required to access the system.
- Non-Resident
- Student who does not meet requirements for classification as a Missouri resident for fee purposes in accordance with the residence policy.
- Non-Traditional Student
- Includes evening students, married students, students with children and students of 22 years of age or older.
- Option
- Subset of courses within a degree program that represent a specialized area of study. Officially approved options appear on the transcript but are not printed on the diploma.
- Overload
- Semester credit hours that exceed the maximum number of hours permitted based on the student level (undergraduate or graduate). Permission is required for an overload.
- Pass/Not Pass
- Grading option that allows students to pursue coursework without receiving a traditional grade noted on course or transcript.
- Prerequisite
- Specific requirements that must be met prior to enrolling in a given class. Prerequisites may consist of courses, test scores or enrollment in a specific program of study.
- Probation
- Status that indicates unsatisfactory academic progress. Students may be subject to academic load limitations and other restrictions.
- Program of Study
- All requirements that a student must complete in order to be awarded a degree or University certificate.
- Readmission
- Admission process followed by a student who wishes to enroll after not taking classes for two major semesters excluding summer.
- Registration Restriction
- A type of prerequisite that requires student be in a specific program of study in order to take the class
- Reinstatement
- Process by which a suspended student appeals to return to the University.
- Semester
- Instructional period of 15 weeks plus a final examination period offered twice a year (referred to as Fall and Spring semester). Additional instructional periods include intersessions and a summer session.
- Service Learning
- Program which allows students to earn academic credit in selected courses in exchange for meaningful and productive community service.
- Student Services Fees
- Required fees assessed at the time of registration that cover the student's access to a variety of services, programs and activities.
- Suspension
- Status that prevents a student from enrolling in courses unless an exception is granted by the dean of the student's major.
- Syllabus
- Document describing the objectives, outcomes, assessment activities and structure of a course that is made available to students during the first week of classes.
- Term
- Terminology for a semester.
- Transcript
- Serves as the student's official academic record and the University's official record of credit and degrees awarded, including the courses taken by a student and the grades received in each course. Probations, suspensions and disciplinary expulsions also appear on the transcript.
- Transfer Credit
- Courses taken at another accredited institution and accepted toward degree requirements at Missouri State.
- Tuition
- The amount of money that must be paid for classes. Other fees may be assessed in addition to tuition.
- Vice Chancellor
- Highest administrative officer within academic affairs or student services.
- 'W' Grade
- Indicates student withdrew from (dropped) a class without academic penalty.