CHOOSING A MAJOR

What does that mean? A glossary of college terms

Associate degree: degree awarded generally following completion of 15 months to two years of study. Associate degrees include: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS).

Bachelor's degree: degree generally awarded following successful completion of four to five years of study. Two of the most common bachelor's degrees are: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS).

Certificate: award given in a non-degree program, usually in a vocational or technical area, after preparation for employment in a specific occupation. Certificate programs are generally six to 12 months long.

Credit hour: A credit in a school or college, usually representing one hour of class per week for one term.

Diploma: award given in a non-degree postsecondary program, usually in a vocational or technical field to prepare for employment in a specific occupation. Diploma programs are generally nine to 18 months long. This diploma is not the same as the diploma you receive when you graduate from high school.

GPA: Your grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of credit hours attempted. Your grade point average may range from 0.0 to a 4.0 (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0).

Graduate student: student who has earned a bachelor's degree and is working toward a master's, doctorate or professional degree.

Major: primary academic field of study chosen by a college student.

Minor: secondary academic field of study chosen by a college student.

Postsecondary: means "after high school." Postsecondary education can be received at a college, university, community college, technical college, proprietary trade school or through other off-campus courses.

Proprietary trade school: privately owned schools that provide a wide range of courses of study, such as cosmetology, business and broadcasting. Programs range from two to 24 months and lead to certificates or diplomas in a variety of subjects.

Transcript: cumulative academic record that lists courses taken, grades received and credits or credit hours received.

Tuition: amount of money schools charge for instruction and for the use of certain school facilities, such as libraries.

Undergraduate: college student who has not yet earned a degree.

Waiver: arrangement under which a school does not charge specific costs if a student meets certain qualifications.

Work-study: employment that lets students earn money to help pay the cost of higher education.