DCB Student Handbook 2023-2024

28 | P a g e D C B S t u d e n t H a n d b o o k Glossary of Academic Terms PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR: All students are assigned a professional advisor according to their program. ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE: Awarded to a student who has completed the requirements of a prescribed program or course of study. It is usually awarded to a student who has completed a career-technical program and who intends to begin working directly after graduation. The AAS requires at least 60 credits. ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE/ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE: Awarded to a student who has completed the requirements of a prescribed program or course of study. It is usually awarded to a student who completes the first two years of a transfer program and intends to move on to a 4-year college or university. An AS/AA degree requires at least 60 credits. CAREER/TECHNICAL PROGRAMS: One or two-year programs designed to lead directly to employment. Students completing one-year programs receive diplomas or certificates and students completing two-year programs receive the Associate in Applied Science degree. COLLABORATIVE STUDENT: A collaborative student is one who is currently enrolled at more than one North Dakota University System (NDUS) institution for a particular term. The institution from which the student is earning a degree is considered the "home institution." The institution(s) that supply courses for a degree are considered "host institutions." CREDITS/UNITS: The way in which the college weighs and values class offerings and assesses progress toward a degree. All academic work is expressed in terms of units. The unit is also referred to as a unit hour, semester hour, semester credit hour, or semester credit. A lecture class period is usually 50 minutes in length. A laboratory class period can run two or three hours in length. Extra distribution of time can vary with various types of courses. CURRICULUM: A group of required courses that lead to a degree. For example, the medical assistant curriculum leads to the AAS Degree in Medical Assistant. CERTIFICATE: Awarded to a student who has completed the requirements of a prescribed curriculum in a one- year program. EARLY ENTRY: Early entry is a program which allows high school students, who are academically ready to enroll in college courses, earn college credits while still working toward their high school diploma. If a high school also grants credit for the college course, it is considered to be a dual credit course. ELECTIVE: A course which a student may select in consultation with the advisor that applies toward curriculum requirements. FRESHMAN: A student who has met all entrance requirements and who has earned fewer than 24 credits. FULL-TIME STUDENT: A student who is registered for 12 or more credits in a term. GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES: Courses in communica- tions, math, science, technology, social science, arts and humanities, and physical education in which all students must earn credits in order to obtain the Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree, or Associate of Applied Science Degree. GRADE POINT AVERAGE: The grade point average (GPA) is a measure of your academic performance level. GPA’s are calculated on a semester basis and a cumulative basis for all work done at Dakota College at Bottineau. Transfer credit is not combined with the Dakota College at Bottineau GPA with the exception of collaborative students. HOLDS: A student’s ability to receive a transcript, graduate, or register may be “held” because of a financial responsibility or admission requirement that has not been met. INTERNSHIP: Cooperative Education is a program that integrates classroom instruction with a work placement or internship. This program is credit producing. Students must complete 45 hours of work experience per credit and are eligible to earn up to six credits of cooperative education. MAJOR/PROGRAM: A specified field of study which a student selects to emphasize by enrolling in the prescribed courses. MIDTERMS: The testing period that occurs around the middle of each semester. Students can access midterm grades usually within one week following midterm. PART-TIME STUDENT: A student who is registered for fewer than 12 credits in a term. PREREQUISITE: A course which is required that is successfully completed before a second course can be taken. For example, ENGL 110 College Composition is a prerequisite for ENGL 120 College Composition. PRIOR LEARNING: Prior Learning involves the awarding of college credit for prior experiences that demonstrate college- level knowledge. The methods used to evaluate this knowledge are: standardized assessment, professional training &