An individual starting college for the first time will hear a number of words and phrases which may be unfamiliar. These are some of the words and phrases which apply to college.
- Course
- The organized subject in which instruction is offered within a semester.
- Course Load
- The value of credits for a course.
* Full-time students carry a course load of 12 to 18 semester hours.
* Part-time students carry a course load less than 12 semester hours. - Course Prerequisite
- A course requirement that must be met before a higher-level course can be taken.
- Credit Course
- The course which counts toward a certificate, degree and / or graduation requirements.
- Credit Hours
- Each class is worth a certain number of credit hours. A 3 credit hour course will meet about 3 hours a week. A 4 credit hour class has a lab and will meet about 6 hours a week.
- Developmental Courses
- Developmental courses (also may be referred to as remedial courses) designed to help students strengthen their academic skills. These courses do not count toward degree or graduation requirements but are essential in helping students develop academic skills prior to taking college level courses.
- Dropping/Withdrawing
- To drop a class or withdraw from college a form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office. Students must adhere to the deadlines that appear in the Academic Calendar.
- Electives
- An elective is a course which is not required in a students' major but will count toward completion of degree requirements.. A limited elective is one which a student selects from a specific group of courses.
- Grade Point Average
- A grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained to stay
in good academic standing. Having less than a 2.0 GPA can affect
student's academic or Financial Aid status
1.0 = D
2.0 = C
3.0 = B
4.0 = A - Major or Field of Concentration
- The specific program of study or degree area which students determine they will devote most of their studies in college. Also known as "career" fields
- Non-transfer Degree Plan
- Degrees (programs) that are nontransferable to four-year colleges. The Associate in Applied Science is a nontransferable degree which may or may not transfer its courses depending on the receiving institution.
- Paired/Clustered Courses
- Courses that are "linked" together so students register for either two (paired) or three (clustered) classes. Students explore the relationships between the different courses, get academic support from fellow classmates and use the same research for creating projects or papers for both courses. Instructors function as a team, helping and supporting students in the work of both classes. Research has shown that students develop better attitudes toward learning and have higher course completion rates in paired/clustered courses.
- Transfer Degree Plan
- A degree which when completed is transferable to a four-year college. The Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science are transferable degrees.
- Registration
- The actual process of officially enrolling in classes, includes paying tuition and fees. At Del Mar College these are EARLY REGISTRATION, REGULAR REGISTRATION, LATE REGISTRATION, WEB REGISTRATION.
- Tuition & Fees
- The cost of enrolling in classes.
- Semester/Term
- The time period in which credit courses are offered. A traditional semester consists of two semesters per year which are Fall and Spring. There are shorter semesters offered in the summer and throughout the year.
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