Post Secondary Terms

Student Classification

• Undergraduate -- A student enrolled in a program leading to a certificate or an associate, baccalaureate, or other degree

• Graduate student -- A student enrolled in an academic program of study above the bachelor's degree level at a college or university. Typically, these students are enrolled in masters or doctoral programs

Universities Four-year institution provides both undergraduate education and post-graduate education

Colleges

•Four-year institution •Many offer courses leading to a master's or doctoral degree. •Usually smaller and less research-oriented than universities.

Community Colleges•Two-year college that usually is public and serves the residents of a local or regional area•Most admit all or most of the students who apply•Some programs, such as nursing, may be more selective•Students receive associate degrees after two years of successful full-time study•Academic transfer programs

Private Career Schools•For profit schools that specialize in technology-related fields or trades such as business or cosmetology. •Most award diplomas or certificates that are completed in a short amount of time

Public Colleges•operated and financially supported by the state in which they're located

Private Colleges•Rely on endowments, tuition and fund-raising campaigns•Do not receive government subsidies.

Religious Affiliated Colleges•School s that have a sponsoring denomination, but most welcome students who don't subscribe to their same faith

Military Academies•Offer tuition-free education in exchange for military service• West Point• Air Force

Types of Undergraduate Degrees•Certificate -- An award for successful completion of a particular vocational or technical program (generally one year, but less than four years of study)•Diploma -- A document given to high school, college, or university graduates to show that they have completed the required courses•Associate degree -- An undergraduate degree that can be earned at two-year colleges and professional-technical schools•Bachelor’s degree -- A degree received after the satisfactory completion of four- or five-years of full-time study at a college or university

Types of Graduate Degrees•Master’s degree -- first graduate (post-baccalaureate) degree, usually requiring one to two years of full-time study

•Doctoral degree -- awarded after successfully completing a program of two or more years beyond the bachelor's degree, and in most cases beyond a master's degree

• Specialist degree -- Awarded for completion of a program that requires at least two years of full-time academic work beyond the bachelor’s degree and is often associated with education programs

•Professional degree -- required to practice in certain professions, such as law and medicine. Study usually requires a total of at least six years, including prior college-level work. May be awarded in architecture, chiropractic, dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, rabbinical and Talmudic studies, theology, and veterinary medicine

Other terms…•Endorsement -- Awarded for study in a specific area such as coaching, computer education, middle level education, etc. The program requires intensive study in one area and is linked to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. It certifies you to work or teach in that area of expertise

•Transfer of credit -- Moving earned course credits from one school to another to complete a degree. College-level courses often transfer from one accredited institution easily, although students should inquire ahead of time. When students transfer, they need to make sure official transcripts are sent from all previous institutions to the new school's office of admissions.

Program of Study/ MajorThe field of academic study in which a student specializes. The courses that constitute the main body of a program of college study

MinorThe subjects that make up a secondary concentration of college study

Other post-secondary options…

Apprenticeships -- A relationship between an employer and an employee during which the worker learns a trade. Training is on the job as well as in the classroom

On-the-job-training -- Practical job training that takes place in an actual work situation. Training can last from several hours to several months depending on the skills to be learned

Military (as an option) -- Education assistance including the Montgomery G.I. Bill, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment

College Entrance exams• -- College entrance exam that includes test areas in English, math, reading, science and an optional writing section. Perfect composite score is 36

•SAT® -- College entrance exam that measures verbal, writing and math reasoning skills. A perfect score is 2400

• -- A computer-adapted placement test used by community colleges