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.