GLOSSARY OF ACADEMIC TERMS
This page provides a list of commonly usedacademic terms found in this calendar. Thedefinitions provided are intended to helpreaders understand the outlines of academicregulations and programmes which follow.

Academic Dismissal - Denial of allregistration privileges for a minimumof three academic years because offailure to meet academic standards.

Academic Distinction - A designationawarded to any student completing anundergraduate degree with an overallGrade Point Average of at least 3.7 onall courses attempted.

Academic Probation - Permission to continue registration, subject tomeeting terms required for returningto Good Standing.

Academic Semester - Either theSeptember to December or theJanuary to April portion of anacademic year.

Academic Suspension - Denial of allregistration privileges for a specifiedperiod of time because of failure to meetacademic standards.

Academic Year - The academic sessionwhich last from September to April.

Advanced Placement - Registration atan advanced level in a course because ofpreviously acquired backgroundknowledge. Unlike advanced standing,this permission is not granted withcredits awarded for the previouslyacquired knowledge.

Advanced Standing - Registration at anadvanced level in a discipline because oftransfer credits granted for coursescompleted at another recognizedinstitution.

Auditor - A student who attends a class orclasses with permission of the instructor,but does not submit assignments, writeexaminations or receive a grade for thecourse.

Corequisite - A course which must betaken at the same time as another course.

Credit - The weight value assigned to acourse. A course that normally meets for3 hours each week throughout theacademic year is worth 6 credits; a coursethat normally meets for 3 hours eachweek in one semester is worth 3 credits.Ensemble performance courses in Musicwhich meet on a regular basis throughoutthe academic year are worth 1 credit.

Cross-listed Course - A course listed forcredit under more than one discipline.The course may only be taken once forcredit.

Cumulative Grade Point Average - An average calculated by dividing thetotal number of grade points obtained(credit hours x grade points) by thenumber of credit hours attempted duringall academic sessions.

Discipline - A subject area or branch ofknowledge.

Elective - A credit course which is outsideof the specialization component of aprogramme.

Faculty - a) The academic teaching staff of auniversity and
b) A grouping of relatedacademic departments administered by aDean.

Full-time Student - A student enrolled forthe equivalent of 9 or more credits persemester.

Good Standing - An academic statusachieved by passing at least 18 credits ofwork in the previous academic year witha minimum Grade Point Average of 1.25.

Grade Point Average - An averagecalculated by dividing the total numberof grade points obtained (credit hours xgrade points) by the number of credithours attempted.

Honours Programme - A specializedArts, Commerce or Science degreeprogramme which must be completed atan above average academic level.

Interdisciplinary Studies - A group ofrelated courses from various disciplines.

Intersession - The academic session thatlasts from mid-May to the end of June.

Letter of Permission - An officialdocument granting prior approval to takea course from another university forcredit to a Mount Allison programme.

Major - The discipline(s) or area ofspecialization selected to fulfill part of therequirements for most Arts, Commerce or Science degrees.

Minor - A secondary discipline(s) or area ofspecialization selected to fulfill part of therequirements for most Arts, Commerceor Science degrees.

Prerequisite - A course or courses thatmust be completed before registration inanother course is permitted.

Registration - The process of choosing,enrolling in and paying fees for coursestaken in an academic session.

Sessional Grade Point Average - Anaverage calculated by dividing the totalnumber of grade points obtained (credithours x grade points) by the number ofcredit hours attempted during theacademic session.

Summer Session - The academic sessionthat last from the beginning of July tomid-August.

Transcript - An official document that liststhe entire academic record of a student atan educational institution.

Transfer Credit - Credit granted on adegree and/or certificate for workcompleted at another recognizedinstitution. Transfer credits are not usedin calculation of any Grade PointAverage.

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