This reference guide is designed to assist in defining terms frequently used at Missouri State University and in the Undergraduate Catalog.
- Academic Advisor A University employee who is committed to helping students meet their educational goals and to make informed and responsible decisions.
- Academic Year Begins in August with the fall Intersession, continues through the spring semester, and concludes with the summer session.
- Accelerated Masters Program option that allows eligible juniors and seniors to take a limited number of graduate-level courses that count towards both their undergraduate and graduate degree thereby reducing the time it takes to complete a graduate degree.
- Alumni Individuals who have attended or graduated from a particular college or university.
- Admission to Degree Program A process required of students who have a major with specific admission requirements.
- Auditing a Class A grading option that allows completion of a course without receiving credit or a traditional grade. An audited course cannot be used to fulfill a degree requirement.
- BearPass Card Student's official University identification card.
- Block Classes meets for only the first or second half of the term (semester).
- Board of Governors Governing body for Missouri State University appointed by the Governor of Missouri.
- Boomer University mascot
- Catalog University's official publication of academic policies and procedures, programs of study, and course offerings for a particular academic year.
- Certificate Document representing that the student has completed a University certificate program of study.
- Change of Schedule Period First five days of the fall and spring semester and first two days of summer session in which students can add and drop classes.
- Class Schedule An online listing of courses offered for a specific term.
- College Group of academic departments and/or programs administered by a college dean.
- College Level Examinations Program (CLEP) Program that allows students to receive credit by examination instead of completing a course.
- Commencement Ceremony held at the end of the spring semester, summer session, and fall semester to recognize candidates for graduation.
- Comprehensive Major A BA or BS major that does not require completion of a minor.
- Core Courses Group of foundation courses required by a college, department, or specific major.
- Corequisite Two or more courses that must be taken during the same semester.
- Credit by Examination Method of earning academic credit outside of traditional course offerings.
- Credit Hour Standard unit of measuring coursework. The unit of credit used at Missouri State is the semester hour.
- Cross-Listed Courses Two or more different courses taught in the same room, at the same time, with the same instructor. Students may receive credit toward graduation for only one.
- Dean (academic) Highest administrative officer of a college.
- Dean's List Published list of students who have achieved a specific level of achievement established by the University. The list is published at the conclusion of each semester and Summer Session.
- Declaring a Major/Minor indicates that student wishes to pursue a particular major and/or minor. Many majors have specific admission requirements.
- Degree Audit Advising tool designed to assist in tracking a student's progress towards graduation.
- Department Head Administrative officer holding faculty rank; responsible for a primary unit within an academic organization.
- Diploma Document provided by the University certifying that the student has earned a degree.
- Dual Enrollment Typically refers to high school students who are receiving high school credit while also being enrolled in college-level credit. This term can also refer to students who are concurrently enrolled in two or more higher education institutions.
- Enrollment Status Terms used for reporting a student's academic load to external agencies. (i.e., full-time, half-time, less than half-time)
- Exit Exam Required for all bachelor degree graduates for assessment purposes.
- Good Standing Academic status of students who are not on probation or under suspension.
- General Education Program Group of foundation courses required of undergraduate students regardless of the student's major.
- Grade Point Numerical value given to grades. For example, four grade points per credit hour is awarded for a grade of "A".
- Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation derived from dividing the grade points earned by the number of credits attempted.
- Hold Block which prohibits students from functions such as registering for courses or receiving a transcript or diploma. Most holds are due to an unpaid financial obligation, or failure to complete a required process.
- Honors, Scholastic Designation indicated on the graduates' diploma and transcript that reflects outstanding scholarship.
- Honors College Program Designed to serve the needs of academically talented, high-achieving students accepted into the Honors College Program.
- Identical Courses Courses identified by multiple course codes and/or numbers that are taught in the same classroom, at the same time, and by the same instructor. Student may only receive credit toward graduation for one.
- Incomplete Grade Assigned when a student has not completed all work for a course and the instructor agrees to allow additional time for completion of the course.
- Intent to Graduate Form completed by seniors in their final semester of coursework. This form triggers a review of the student's academic record, inclusion in the commencement program, and diploma ordering.
- Internship Work at a business or agency related to a student's major and/or career plans for which credit hours are awarded.
- Intersession Brief period (typically 1-3 weeks) between semesters when a limited number of courses are offered.
- Lower Division Undergraduate courses numbered lower than 300.
- Major Collection of courses and requirements, that is designated as the student's primary area of specialization. Appears on the student's diploma and transcript.
- Minor Collection of courses indicating additional specialization in an area of study beyond the major. Minors do not appear on the student's diploma but are listed on the student's transcript.
- Mixed Credit Courses that are part of an accelerated masters program in which students can receive both graduate and undergraduate credit.
- My Missouri State Web-based system that provides access to personal student information, email, blackboard, online registration, and much more. A BearPass account is required to access the system.
- Non-Comprehensive Major One that requires completion of a minor in order meet graduation requirements.
- Non-resident Student who does not meet requirements for classification as a Missouri resident for fee purposes in accordance with the residence policy.
- Non-traditional student Includes evening students, married students, students with children, and students of 22 years of age or older.
- Option Sub-set of courses within the major that represent an specialized area of study. Officially approved options appear on the transcript but are not printed on the diploma.
- Overload Semester credit hours that exceed the maximum number of hours permitted based on the student level (undergraduate or graduate). Permission is required for an overload.
- Pass/Not Pass Grading option that allows students to pursue coursework without affecting their GPA.
- PIE (Partners in Education) Program designed to facilitate communication between first-year students and their families. Through written consent of the student, members will have increased access to their student's information.
- Postbaccalaureate Non-degree seeking graduate student who has earned a bachelors degree and wishes to take additional courses but not pursue an additional degree.
- Prerequisite Specific requirements that must be met prior to enrolling in a given class. Prerequisites may consist of courses, test scores, or enrollment in a specific program of study.
- Probation Status that indicates unsatisfactory academic progress. Students may be subject to academic load limitations and other restrictions.
- Program of Study All requirements that a student must complete in order to be awarded a degree or University certificate.
- Readmission Admission process followed by a student who wishes to enroll after not taking classes for one full calendar year.
- Registration Restriction A type of prerequisite such as program of study or student classification (e.g. senior status; graduate status, etc.)
- Reinstatement Process by which a suspended student appeals to return to the university.
- Semester Instructional period of 15 weeks plus a final examination period offered twice a year (referred to as Fall and Spring semester). Additional instructional periods include intersessions and a summer session.
- Senior Permission Allows students to take graduate coursework while still classified as an undergraduate. Permission is required.
- Service Learning Program which allows students to earn academic credit in selected courses in exchange for meaningful and productive community service.
- SOAR (Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration) Program, a day and a half in length, designed to assist students and their families in making a successful transition to university life.
- Student Services Fees Required fees assessed at the time of registration that cover the student's access to a variety of services, programs, and activities.
- Suspension Status that prevents a student from enrolling in courses unless an exception is granted by the dean of the student's major.
- Syllabus Document describing the objectives, outcomes, assessment activities, and structure of a course that is made available to students during the first week of classes.
- Term Same as a semester
- Transcript Serves as the student's official academic record and the University's official record of credit and degrees awarded, including the courses taken by a student and the grades received in each course. Probations, suspensions, and disciplinary expulsions also appear on the transcript.
- Transfer Credit Courses taken at another accredited institution and accepted toward degree requirements at Missouri State.
- Transfer Student Student who has completed 24 or more transferable credit hours after high school graduation.
- Tuition The amount of money that must be paid for classes. Other fees may be assessed in addition to tuition.
- Upper Division Undergraduate courses numbered 300 and above.
- "W" Grade Indicates student withdrew from (dropped) a class without academic penalty.