Vocabulary: College Majors

Vocabulary: College Majors

The List: Download Day 1 Vocabulary

The Vocabulary: Day 1

Academic Period – The time frame for which a student is enrolled; usually it is a semester, quarter, or trimester with specified start and end dates
Academic year – The period of time during which a school holds classes
Admission requirements – The specific criteria and qualifications that students must meet in order to be accepted into a college or university
Advising – The process of receiving guidance and support from academic advisors to help students make informed decisions about course selections and major choice
AOS (Area of Study) – The specific academic field or discipline that a student chooses to focus on during their college education, synonymous with a major
BA (Bachelor of Arts) – An undergraduate degree typically awarded in fields related to the liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences
BS (Bachelor of Science) – An undergraduate degree typically awarded in fields related to the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and technology
Catalog – A comprehensive publication provided by colleges and universities that contains detailed information about academic programs, courses, and policies
Change of Major – The process by which a student officially switches their declared major to a different one, often involving specific requirements and procedures
Competitive major – A major or academic program with limited enrollment capacity, high demand, and rigorous admission criteria due to its popularity and limited availability
Concentration – A specialized area of study within a major that allows students to focus on a specific topic or aspect of their chosen field
Core curriculum/Core requirements – A set of required courses that all students must complete as part of their undergraduate education, designed to provide a well-rounded foundation
Course load – The number of classes a student takes each term; can vary by term
Declaration of major – The formal process through which a student officially selects and announces their chosen field of study for their undergraduate degree
Degree – Document awarded to a student when they finish a higher education course of study
Degree audit – An evaluation or assessment of a student’s academic progress, showing completed and remaining requirements for graduation
Discipline – A specific field of study or academic department, such as history, biology, psychology, or engineering
Electives – College classes the student chooses that are outside of their major areas of study
LAC (Liberal Arts College) – A type of college that emphasizes a broad-based education in the liberal arts and sciences
ROI (Return on Investment) – A measure of the financial benefits gained from investing in a college education compared to the costs incurred

The List: Download Day 2 Vocabulary

The Vocabulary: Day 2

Enrollment status – The course load of a student reported by the school, generally defined in terms of full-time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, or graduated
GE (General Education) – A set of courses that provides a well-rounded education by covering a range of subjects outside a student’s major, often required for graduation
General education courses – A set of required courses in various subjects (e.g. math, science, humanities) that all students must complete to ensure a well-rounded education
Impacted – A term used to describe majors or programs with more applicants than available spots, resulting in a competitive admission process
Internship – A work experience opportunity where students gain practical, on-the-job training and real-world experience in their field of study
Major – A specific area of study that a student decides to focus on in college
Minor – Directed study that requires fewer credits than a major
Portfolio – A collection of a student’s work, projects, and achievements that showcases their skills and accomplishments in their chosen field
Pre-major – A status assigned to students who have not yet officially declared their major but are working toward meeting their prerequisites and requirements for admission to a program
Prerequisite – A required course or condition that must be completed before enrolling in a more advanced course in the same subject
Reach school (1-2) – A post-secondary school a student has a relatively low probability of being admitted to. Recommended to apply at 1-2 reach schools
Safety school (2-3) – Any college or university where your academic credentials exceed the range for incoming freshmen, and you have a very good chance of being accepted. Recommended to apply at 2-3 safety schools
STEM – An acronym representing academic disciplines and fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Target school (3-5) – A school where a student’s academic credentials fall within the school’s average range and the student has a good probability of being admitted. Recommended to apply at 3-5 target schools
Undecided – Students who have not yet chosen their major and are exploring their options
Undergraduate student – A student who is enrolled in a course of study at or below the bachelor’s level
UG (Undergraduate) – Pertaining to students pursuing their first degree in higher education, typically a bachelor’s degree
UAC (Undergraduate Advising Center) – A resource or department at a college or university that provides academic advising, guidance, and support to undergraduate students during their academic journey
UP (Upper Division) – Refers to the latter part of a student’s undergraduate education, typically when they begin taking more specialized and advanced courses in their major