Understanding Academic Lingo
As an adult student, navigating the world of academia can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding all the acronyms being thrown around. To help make things easier, we have put together a comprehensive guide to commonly used terms.
By familiarizing yourself with these acronyms, you can feel more confident and prepared as you navigate your college journey. Don't hesitate to ask your professors or academic advisors for clarification on any terms that are still unclear to you.
Adult Learner-A student who is 24 years old or older, earning a bachelor’s degree.
Blackboard- It is a learning platform used in higher education, and the one WSU utilizes for their students.
Blue Book [1]:- A blue-covered booklet used for writing examinations.
Cohort [2]- Students who are educated at the same period of time—a grade level or class of students (for example, the graduating class of 2004) would be the most common example of a student cohort.
Credit hour- A way of measuring how much credit a student receives for attending a course which corresponds to the hours per week spent in that course. For example, if a student enrolls in a class that meets for one hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, that course would be worth three credit hours.
First Generation or First Gen Student- A first-generation (FGEN) college student is a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor's degree.
Gen Eds or General Education credits- General Education courses refer to classes that are designed to build and strengthen essential employability skills within the context of an exploration of topics with broader societal or personal importance.
Graduate student- A student who has finished their undergraduate degree, enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program.
Learning Platform [3]-A webspace or portal for educational content and resources that offers a student everything they need in one place: lectures, resources, opportunities to meet and chat with other students, and more.
Office hours- Hours set by a professor, outside of classroom hours for students to talk to a professor about the class.
Semester- Either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided (definition taken from Merriam-Webster.com. At WSU, our semesters last 16 weeks and we also have summer semester that lasts 8 weeks.
SI or Supplemental Instruction [4]- A program developed to assist students with learning material in traditionally difficult classes. It is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking certain courses. SI sessions are led by a student who has previously succeeded in the course and focus on collaborative and active learning.
Syllabus [5]: A syllabus provides you with information specific to a course, and it also provides information about important university policies. This document should be viewed as a course overview; it is not a contract and is subject to change as the semester evolves. It often includes the schedule of assignments, exams, projects, etc. you are expected to complete over the course of the semester as well as outcomes of the course and the grading scale.
TRIO Disability Support Services, DSS: assists first-generation and/or limited income undergraduate students who have learning, physical, and psychological disabilities
Undergraduate: A student who is earning their bachelor’s degree.
[1] Definition taken from Merriam-Webster; [2] Definition taken from Ed Glossary; [3] Definition taken from My Computer Career; [4] Definition taken from WSU Supplemental Instruction; [5] Definition taken from WSU Syllabus Information