This page provides a list of commonly used academic terms found in this calendar. The definitions provided are intended to help readers understand the outlines of academic regulations and programmes which follow.

Academic Dismissal - Denial of all registration privileges for a minimum of three academic years because of failure to meet academic standards.

Academic Distinction - A designation awarded to any student completing an undergraduate degree with an overall Grade Point Average of at least 3.7 on all courses attempted.

Academic Probation - Permission to continue registration, subject to meeting terms required for returning to Good Standing.

Academic Semester - Either the September to December or the January to April portion of an academic year.

Academic Suspension - Denial of all registration privileges for a specified period of time because of failure to meet academic standards.

Academic Year - The academic session which last from September to April.

Advanced Placement - Registration at an advanced level in a course because of previously acquired background knowledge. Unlike advanced standing, this permission is not granted with credits awarded for the previously acquired knowledge.

Advanced Standing - Registration at an advanced level in a discipline because of transfer credits granted for courses completed at another recognized institution.

Auditor - A student who attends a class or classes with permission of the instructor, but does not submit assignments, write examinations or receive a grade for the course.

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

Credit - The weight value assigned to a course. A course that normally meets for 3 hours each week throughout the academic year is worth 6 credits; a course that normally meets for 3 hours each week in one semester is worth 3 credits. Group performance courses in Music which meet on a regular basis throughout the academic year are worth 1 credit.

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

Cumulative Grade Point Average - An average calculated by dividing the total number of grade points obtained (credit hours x grade points) by the number of credit hours attempted during all academic sessions.

Discipline - A subject area or branch of knowledge.

Elective - A credit course which is outside of the specialization component of a programme.

Faculty - a) The academic teaching staff of a university and
b) A grouping of related academic departments administered by a Dean.

Full-time Student - A student enrolled for the equivalent of 9 or more credits per semester.

Good Standing - An academic status achieved by passing at least 18 credits of work in the previous academic year with a minimum Grade Point Average of 1.25.

Grade Point Average - An average calculated by dividing the total number of grade points obtained (credit hours x grade points) by the number of credit hours attempted.

Honours Programme - A specialized Arts, Commerce or Science degree programme which must be completed at an above average academic level.

Interdisciplinary Studies - A group of related courses from various disciplines.

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

Letter of Permission - An official document granting prior approval to take a course from another university for credit to a Mount Allison programme.

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

Minor - A secondary discipline(s) or area of specialization selected to fulfill part of the requirements for most Arts, Commerce or Science degrees.

Prerequisite - A course or courses that must be completed before registration in another course is permitted.

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

Sessional Grade Point Average - An average calculated by dividing the total number of grade points obtained (credit hours x grade points) by the number of credit hours attempted during the academic session.

Summer Session - The academic session that last from the beginning of July to mid-August.

Transcript - An official document that lists the entire academic record of a student at an educational institution.

Transfer Credit - Credit granted on a degree and/or certificate for work completed at another recognized institution. Transfer credits are not used in calculation of any Grade Point Average.
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