Academic Terminology

Academic Advisement Report: The Academic Advisement Report is an assessment of the undergraduate student’s academic progress toward completion of requirements for the bachelor’s degree. This report may be viewed on the Academic Requirements on My.IllinoisState.edu. To determine specific program requirements (in addition to the  general requirements for graduation stated above), students should  consult the following sections of the Undergraduate Catalog: (1) the  General Education requirements; (2) the specific requirements for the major and minor fields of study; and, if the student seeks teacher  licensure, (3) the University‐wide Teacher Education program  requirements in this Undergraduate Catalog.

Academic Affairs: One of the four major divisions of the University, headed by the Vice President and Provost, that focuses on educational needs of students.

Academic Good Standing: A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00, which is required for continued enrollment in the University.

Academic Programs:

• Major: A cohesive combination of courses, including introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework that designates a student’s primary area of specialization. Majors are designated on university transcripts. In Campus Solutions (student information system) a major is referred to as a 'plan'. 
• Minor: A combination of courses designed to provide a cohesive introduction to an area of study beyond the major. Minors are designated on university transcripts upon receipt of degree.
• Sequence: A subdivision of a major/minor in which there are specific requirements. Sequences of the same major or minor generally share a common core within a major or minor. Sequences are designated on university transcripts upon receipt of degree. In Campus Solutions (student information system) a sequence is referred to as a 'sub-plan'. 
• Certificate: Undergraduate certificates are a group of courses focusing on a specific area of knowledge or competency designed to provide professional development and career advancement opportunities, to broaden career options, or to enhance an individual's skills or education as part of the process of life-long learning. These certificates are not part of degree programs, although courses completed as part of a certificate curriculum could be used in meeting degree requirements, where appropriate. Undergraduate Certificates require a minimum of 9 credit hours and a maximum of 17 credit hours. Certificate programs should be designed for students who are not in a major/minor in which the certificate resides. However, there may be exceptions. Certificates should not duplicate major/minor requirements. 
• Concentration: A subdivision of a major without specific requirements that is provided for advisement only. Concentrations are not designated on university transcripts. All informal curricular recommendations made by departments and schools (such as emphases, tracks, areas of study, specializations, etc.) should be considered concentrations. Concentrations are advisory only; no approval process is required.

Academic Year: The period of time commencing with the fall semester (16 weeks) and continuing through the spring semester (16 weeks) and summer term (12 weeks).

Advanced Placement Program:  Sponsored by the College Board, this program allows students to be awarded credit or exemptions from required courses based on test scores.

Alumni: Individuals who have attended or graduated from a particular college or university.

Audit: The completion of a course taken without credit. It does not count toward full-time student status for financial aid and other purposes.

Board of Trustees: The governing body for Illinois State University.

Campus Solutions: Student Information System software that supports registration and managing students’ progress toward their degrees.

Career: Campus Solutions term for undergraduate or graduate status.

Clinical Experience: Part of a program that allows for observation, participation, studies of individual pupils or clients, individual field work, and practicums both on and off campus.

College Level Examinations Program (CLEP):  A program that allows students to receive credit by examination rather than completing coursework.

Courses:

The University operates on semesters. The credit value of all courses is stated in terms of semester hours. University's Credit Hour Policy 

Students should consult the Course Finder website for course descriptions, prerequisites, and course offerings and My.IllinoisState.edu for class availability. The registration system will enforce prerequisites in effect at the time of registration. Questions regarding course offerings should be referred to the department chairperson or school director. 

Course numbering and terms used in course descriptions

Combination Courses: Course format that combines lecture and laboratory components in each class meeting.

Directed Research: Course format used for independent study, thesis, and dissertation courses.

Independent Study: Intensive study in a special area of the student’s interest under the direction of a qualified member of the faculty. Each individual investigation is to culminate in a comprehensive written report and/or examination and/or artistic project. A maximum of six semester hours of independent study may be applied toward graduation.

Professional Practice: Professional Practice consists of one or more credit-generating, academic/career related, salaried or non-salaried work experiences. Professional Practice work sites are located on the Illinois State University campus and with business, industry, government, and other agencies and organizations outside the University. Professional Practice courses are designated by the numbers 198, 298, 398, 498, and 598. A student may count no more than 16 hours of professional practice courses (198, 298, 398) toward graduation.

Seminar: A regular meeting of students, under the guidance of a faculty member, in which each conducts research and exchanges information, problems, and results through informal lectures, reports, and discussions.

Temporary Course: Temporary courses are active for one year and may not be required for a major, sequence, minor or a certificate. Temporary courses are often used to take advantage of the skills of a faculty member who will be at the University for a limited period, or to respond to particular interests of students. Temporary courses are designated by the numbers 189, 289, 389, 489, and 589. 

Course Modality: Refer to the Office of the Registrar's website for definitions. 

Credit Hour: A standard unit of measuring coursework; credit hours are assigned to a particular course and count toward graduation, except in remedial courses. Typically a course that meets for three hours a week is worth three credit hours.

Cross-listed Course: Cross-listed courses are offered by more than one department or school, but treated as one course for credit purposes. A cross-listed course will be considered as one course regardless of the department/school through which the student registered for the course. This is a general rule that applies to all cross-listed courses taken for any purpose.

Curriculum: A program of study covering the entire undergraduate or graduate career and designed to satisfy the requirements for a degree.

Dean: The highest administrative officer of a college.

Dean of Students:  Through a variety of services, solutions, and support, the Dean of Students Office helps students apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life practice. The Dean of Students Office also serves as a student support network by providing advocacy, problem resolution, and crisis intervention for those times when additional support is needed. 

Department Chairperson: An administrative officer holding faculty rank; responsible for the primary unit of academic organization.

Enrollment Status: Undergraduate students for fall and spring are considered full-time if they are enrolled 12.0 or more semester hours, half-time if they are enrolled fewer than 12.0 but at least 6.0 semester hours, and part-time if they are enrolled fewer than 6.0 semester hours. Undergraduate students for summer are considered full-time if they are enrolled 6.0 or more semester hours, half-time if they are enrolled fewer than 6.0 but at least 3.0 semester hours, and part-time if they are enrolled fewer than 3.0 semester hours.

Escrow Credit: The practice of holding the placement of courses until the successful completion of specified courses. For example, diploma school or Associate Degree nursing courses are “held in escrow” for the student until successful completion of three specified Nursing upper-division courses at Illinois State University.

Finance and Planning: One of the four major divisions of the University, headed by the Vice President for Finance and Planning, that focuses on financial management and planning.

General Education Program: Thirty-nine credit hours of integrated foundation courses that must be completed to obtain a baccalaureate degree.

Grade Point Average (GPA): The total number of grade points divided by the total graded semester hours attempted at Illinois State Universit

Hold: A block that may prevent a student from receiving a service or performing an action. For example, a financial hold may result in a student not being allowed to register or receive a transcript. Campus Solutions refers to a hold as a “negative service indicator.”

Honors Program: A program designed to serve the needs of academically talented, high-achieving students. 

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): A statewide agreement among more than 100 public and selected private institutions, designed to facilitate transfer between colleges and universities within the state. 

Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE): The board that oversees and coordinates all public higher education in Illinois.

Interdisciplinary: A program or course that spans two or more academic disciplines.

Matriculation: The point at which a student is formally admitted to the university and eligible to enroll in classes.

Midterm Grades: are collected for all new first-year students as well as for some other student groups to allow for early intervention to increase student success.

Milestone: Program requirements that are not credit-bearing but may serve as prerequisites for courses.

Nontraditional Student: A student who does not fit the typical profile of undergraduate students.

Office of University Registrar: An academic service unit that maintains academic records, awards transfer credit, provides enrollment verification, transcripts and course registration and confers degrees. Student questions can be answered in 107 Moulton.

Prerequisite: Specific requirements that must be completed prior to enrolling in a given class, program, or field of study.

Preview: A required two-day program held during the summer to orient new freshmen students and their families to campus.

Provost: The Vice President for Academic Affairs who is responsible for all academic matters.

School Director: An administrative officer holding faculty rank; responsible for the primary unit of academic organization.

Semester: A semester at Illinois State is the 16-week academic session offered each fall and spring.

Semester Hour: See “credit hour.”

Seventy-five (75) Hour Limit on Undeclared Student Status: Illinois State University requires all students to have a declared major upon completion of 75 hours of college-level coursework, including transfer credit.

Student Affairs:  One of the four major divisions of the University, headed by the Vice President of Student Affairs, that focuses on personal and nonacademic needs of students.

Syllabus: A document describing the objectives, outcomes, assessment activities, and structure of a course.

Term: Campus Solutions term for “semester.”

Transcript: The University’s official record of credit or degrees awarded, including the courses taken by a student and the grades received in each course.

Transfer Registration and Orientation Day: Specifically designated days for transfer students to meet with an academic advisor and to complete advance registration.

Unit: Campus Solutions term for “semester hour” and “credit hour.”

University Advancement: One of the four major divisions of the University, headed by the Vice President for University Advancement, that focuses on public outreach and fundraising.

University College: An academic unit that provides academic support to all students, advising all freshmen and undeclared students, and special populations of undergraduate students such as pre-professional students, international students, and student-athletes. University College provides academic support and tutoring to all students as well as programs and services that assist students in making the transition to the University. University College also oversees the Interdisciplinary Studies Major and Minor and the and University Studies Major.

Welcome Week: A variety of social activities scheduled at the beginning of the fall semester to integrate students into campus life.

Winter Session: Time-period between the fall and spring semesters. A limited number of classes are offered online during Winter Session.