Mar 19, 2024  
2016-2017 CATALOG 
    
2016-2017 CATALOG [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Terminology


 One black female student

The following is a list of terms commonly used in admission and registration procedures.

Academic load
  The total hours of credit for all courses taken during a semester.
Add and drop deadlines
  The latest date in a semester when a course may be added or dropped from a student’s class schedule.
Admissions
  The process of being admitted to the College allowing you to register for classes. Completion of the Admissions process does not constitute registration for classes.
Admissions file
  The documents collected for admission including the application form, official transcripts of previous work in high school and/or college and any standardized test scores or other information required by the Admissions Office.
Audit
  Registering for and attending class but not eligible to receive credit.
Clock Hours
  The Tennessee College of AppliedTechnology uses clock hours for instruction which is the actual hours of attendance in each program.
Concentration
  A group of courses within a major which emphasizes one aspect of the major.
Concurrent
  A course that may be taken prior to or at the same time as another course.
Corequisite
  A course to be taken or a requirement to be fulfilled at the same time another required course is being taken.
Curriculum
  The set of courses offered in a particular degree or certificate program. More generally, the courses (in total) offered in a college or university. The plural is curricula.
Drop
  Officially discontinuing a portion of one’s schedule for the remainder of the semester.
Elective
  A course that is accepted toward fulfillment of credit for a degree or certificate but is not specifically required for that degree or certificate. So termed because a student “elects” or chooses to take the course(s).
Full load
  A full-time student is one taking 12 or more hours. A full load is often referred to as 12 hours. A student taking less than 12 hours is a part-time student.
General Education For Transfer
  The shared common core curriculum of 41 semester hours taken in the freshman and sophomore years which provides critical thinking skills and the broad knowledge to become a lifetime learner in a global community and literate in many forms of communication.
Grade point average (GPA)
  An average on the four point scale determined by dividing the total accumulated quality points by the corresponding total hours of credit attempted. Certain grades do not influence this computation, e.g., “W.”
Honors course
  A version of a regular course reserved for students who select and qualify for advanced challenge.
Learning Support
  Foundation courses in English, math, reading, and study skills designed for students who are not fully prepared for college level courses. Placement in Transitional Studies courses is determined by ACT or SAT and/or COMPASS tests scores.
Major
  The academic area offered by the College in which one specializes.
Non-degree Seeking
  A Non-degree Seeking Student is one who takes credit courses without working toward a degree.
Orientation
  A meeting (or series of meetings) designed to acquaint a new student with the facilities, policies, sources of information and assistance, and academic and social atmosphere of the College.
Prerequisite
  A requirement to be completed or a level of skill or knowledge to be demonstrated prior to enrollment in a course or program.
Probation
  The status of students when their cumulative GPA drops below Chattanooga State’s standards. Students may still enroll while on probation.
Quality points
  Academic performance records are compiled through use of a scale assigning four “quality points” per semester hour of credit for an “A” grade ranging to one “quality point” per semester hour of credit for a “D” grade.
Reapplication
  A form students must fill out if they do not attend Chattanooga State for one or more semesters (summer excluded).
Registration
  The process of officially enrolling in one or more courses. Students must be admitted to the College before they can register for classes.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  When students accept financial aid, they accept responsibility for making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students must be in compliance with the SAP Policies as a condition of initial and continuing receipt of funds.
Semester
  The division of the calendar year used in academic scheduling. A semester is roughly four months in duration.
Semester credit hour
  The unit of academic credit at Chattanooga State. Generally the number of hours a course meets each week determines the amount of credit it carries. (Laboratory and clinical courses are notable exceptions to this guideline.)
Suspension
  The status of students (usually following probation) when their cumulative GPA drops below Chattanooga State’s standards for two consecutive semesters. Students may not enroll while on suspension.
Transcript
  A cumulative record of a student’s course work and grades.
Transfer Program
  An academic program that completes two years at the College which prepares the student to transfer to a university.
Withdraw
  Officially discontinuing all of one’s schedule for the remainder of the semester.