Tulane University: Glossary
2008-2009 Academic Year
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Academic year: The period consisting of fall and spring semesters.
Advanced placement: Exemption or credit awarded to beginning first-year
students based on scores on the College Board Advanced Placement [AP] Tests.
Advanced standing: Exemption or credit awarded to beginning first-year
students upon successful performance on proficiency examination.
Audit: To enroll in a course for no credit.
Capstone experience: A core curriculum requirement, designed by the student's
school or major department; every senior completed the capstone by applying
information, skills and ideas from the major to one significant project.
Code of Student Conduct: The regulations of behavior that prohibits
unsatisfactory or disruptive conduct. Disciplinary action and sanction resides with
the Office of Student Affairs.
Course load: The total number of semester hours for which a student is registered
in one semester or summer term.
Credit: The quantitative measure of recognition given to a course stated in
semester hours.
Cross-registration: Courses designated in other divisions of the university or at
Loyola for which a student may register.
Cumulative or overall average: A student's grade point average based on the
total number of quality points earned and total number of semester hours
attempted.
Curriculum: A program of courses required for a degree in a particular field of
study.
Departments: The academic units of the university within colleges or schools;
administered by chairs or directors.
Drop/Add: A change in registration during the designated period of time in
which a course and/or a section the time and day the course is offered may be
changed.
Dual degrees: A program whereby a student may pursue concurrently two
undergraduate degrees within the same school or in two schools of the university.
Early registration: A specified period of time during a semester when a student
may pre-enroll in courses for the following semester.
Elective: Course chosen by the student, as opposed to a required course. The term
"elective", without a qualifier, will be understood to be a free elective, chosen by
the student at his or her option from all the courses offered by the university for
degree credit, with due regard for prerequisites and subject to restrictions of the
school or college in which the student is enrolled.
Equivalent: When used in a course prerequisite [e.g., "Prereq: SOCI 101 or
equivalent"], this term means either credit in a comparable course, or equivalency
to be determined by individual department.
Good standing: The typical status of a student who is not on academic probation
and is eligible to continue in or return to the university.