Commonly used terms

Get familiar with the vocabulary

Academic Dismissal
Required withdrawal from a program due to unsatisfactory academic performance (see Academic Regulations of the Undergraduate Academic Calendar).

Academic Probation
This is a warning to students that their academic performance is unsatisfactory and that they will be dismissed from their program unless their performance improves by the end of the next term. Please refer to the Section 19, Academic Regulations of the Academic Calendar to find about more about the rules and regulations surrounding this.

Academic Program
A distinct group of courses and other requirements which lead to eligibility for a degree or other university-awarded credential.

Asynchronous Delivery
An asynchronous online course is one where the content is pre-recorded and can be accessed at  any time through Brightspace. Asynchronous courses don’t require you to be online at a certain time, making them a great option for flexible learning. Courses may have a blend of asynchronous and synchronous delivery.

Audit Student
A student permitted to attend classes but not expected to prepare assignments, write papers, tests or examinations. Credit is not given nor is a mark awarded for courses. Courses appear on the transcript with the notation “Aud”. If not already admitted to the University, audit students must apply. Students may register to audit a course only after the first day of classes.

Banner ID
Your Banner ID, commonly referred to as your B00 (or "boo"), is your student ID number, and will be used throughout your studies at Dalhousie. When communicating with the Registrar’s Office, it is important to include your B00 in any email communication so we can verify your identity.

Blended Learning 
Blended learning is an umbrella term that represents a wide range of course configurations that "blend" either where the class takes place (online or in person) or how interaction takes place (asynchronously or synchronously). In the classic sense, a blended course is one that happens both online (synchronously and/or asynchronously) and in-person. This could be half online and half in person, but how a course is blended in terms of location will vary from course to course. 

Challenge for Credit
Challenge for credit is one way the university may assess and attach specific value to a student’s prior experiential learning outside of the university environment.

Co-operative Education
Program where academic study is combined with career-related work experience.

Convocation
Convocation refers to the ceremony that recognizes the culmination of your academic journey, a celebratory event where graduates are recognized by their professors, peers and the wider Dalhousie community. Throughout this celebratory period, you will be welcomed into the Dalhousie alumni family. See Graduation.

Co-requisite
Requirement which can be fulfilled concurrently with the course being considered.

Course
A unit of study in a subject area. Courses are identified by a course/ subject label, number, credit value and title (e.g. ENGL 1000.06: Introduction to Literature).

Credit Hours
A unit by which University course work is measured. One course is normally equal to three credit hours (e.g. ENGL 1100.03: Writing for University = 3 credit hours).

CRN (course reference number)
Each course has a CRN attached to it and it is used when registering for courses.

Cross-listed Courses
Where two or more courses deal with similar content across subject areas, a course may be ‘cross-listed’. Cross-listing means that the courses are similar enough that it is not possible to receive credit for completing both versions, e.g. a student cannot receive credit for both MATH 1060 and STAT 1060. If both versions are completed, then credit for the course with the higher final grade is kept, and the lower grade is excluded. See Repeat Policy for more information.

Elective
All degree programs include required courses and electives. An elective is a course you choose to take out of interest.

Exclusion
An exclusion is when one course is sufficiently similar to another course that credit will only be given once if both are taken, but not similar enough for the courses to be cross-listed and eligible for the repeat policy.

Good Standing
Students who meet the required GPA are in good academic standing (see Academic Regulations section of the Academic Calendar).

Grade Point Average (GPA)
The weighted sum of the grade points earned, divided by the number of credit hours enrolled.

Graduate students
Students who are candidates for a masters degree or doctoral program.

Graduation
The term used when students have successfully completed all degree requirements for their program and the University has approved the student be awarded their degree by Senate. Degrees and certificates are not automatically awarded; students must apply to graduate to receive their award.

In-Person Course
A course that occurs synchronously ("live") and all students attend class face to face in a physical classroom. This type of course may still make use of Brightspace as a place for you to access content, submit assignments, or view your grades.

International Learning Experience (ILE)
International Learning Experiences at Dal include student exchange programs, study abroad programs, international field courses, co-ops, and international research.

Internship, Fieldwork, Clinical Practice, Externship, Practicum, Clerkship
These terms are used in programs to describe practical professional educational experiences that are conducted in a non-university setting such as a health or social service agency.

Letter of Permission
A Letter of Permission authorizes a Dalhousie student to take a course(s) at another institution for credit towards a Dalhousie qualification. Such permission must be obtained in advance of taking the course(s).

NetID
Your NetID is the unique username you will use to log in to Dalhousie systems.

Online Course
A course that occurs asynchronously (i.e., entirely on Brightspace) without any live components. In this type of course, students learn independently from one another, and on their own tine, connecting with instructors and peers via email or discussions boards, or group work.

Prerequisite
A requirement that must be fulfilled prior to registering in a specific course.

Registrar
An official in a university who is responsible for keeping student records.

Repeat Policy
In many programs, students can repeat a course to improve their GPA. When a course is repeated, the higher grade is kept, and the lower grade is excluded from your GPA. There are faculty and program- specific regulations about what can be repeated, and how many times. Check the academic calendar or speak to an academic advisor to find out more.

Required Course
A course you must take to fulfill your specific degree program. For example, all students pursuing a BA in International Development Studies take two required courses: INTD 2001 and INTD 2002.

Special Students
Students who are not candidates for a degree or diploma but who wish to take courses that may be allowed for credit. This is not the same as auditing a course. Special students must satisfy normal admission requirements.

Syllabus
A course outline that each professor distributes to their students at the beginning of the term. This has important information such as readings, assignment due dates, and mid-term test dates.

Synchronous Delivery
Synchronous courses are online classes that are delivered live. You will be expected to be online at a certain time to engage with this course. These courses are scheduled in Atlantic Time. Courses may have a blend of asynchronous and synchronous delivery.

Transcript
A transcript is a complete history of a student’s academic record at Dalhousie. Partial transcripts, a portion of a student’s record pertaining to registration in a particular degree, faculty, or level of study, are not issued. Students who started their studies prior to September 2013 will have a two-part transcript which includes both work completed at the former NSAC and Dalhousie.

Transfer Student
A transfer student is one who is awarded credit towards a Dalhousie degree for academic work completed at a previous university or equivalent institution of higher learning.

Undergraduate students
Students who are candidates for an undergraduate degree or diploma.

Visiting Student
A person permitted to take courses at Dalhousie for transfer of credit to another university.

Work Term
Career-related work experience required in co-operative education programs. Work terms are usually 13-16 weeks in duration.

Writing Intensive
Writing intensive courses are those which emphasize the process of writing, frequency of writing assignments, and weighting of those assignments in the class grades. A writing intensive course is normally taken as a sequel to a writing requirement course but does not satisfy the writing requirement.