College Terminology C-D

After completing all degree requirements, learners qualify for graduation. The ceremony in which students receive their diplomas and celebrate their achievements.

• Degree award ceremony
• Commencement

• Graduation rehearsal
• Diploma Party

Within programs that cover a wide array of information, this allow students to specialize their knowledge in a particular area.

• Generalization
• Diversification
• Broadening
• Concentration

Allows graduates to stay up to date on industry knowledge by participating in short courses that cover recent innovations or changes in the field.

• Professional development workshops
• Continuing education units (CEUs)
• Online certification programs
• Industry conferences

Within a degree program, this refers to the classes that students must pass in order to graduate. Electives typically complement core classes.

• Elective classes
• Optional courses
• Supplementary subjects
• Core classes

A metric used to determine the intensity/length of a course.

• Credits

• Course syllabus length
• Course completion rate
• Course content overview

Refers to the specific lessons and subjects students learn in a course. It can also refer to the general array of courses offered by an entire school.

• Syllabus
• Curriculum
• Textbook
• Lecture Notes

Serve as the leaders of academic and student life departments. They oversee faculty and students, set departmental goals, and handle other administrative tasks.

• Student advisors
• Administrative assistants
• Department heads or deans
• Course coordinators

The document awarded to a student upon completion of a higher education program. Associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral credentials are all different levels.

• degree
• credential
• diploma
• certificate

Colleges divide academic disciplines into this to help with organizational management and encourage networking among students in similar majors.

• departments
• courses
• programs
• faculties

A long paper consisting of original research about a unique academic topic. Completing this is a common graduation requirement for doctoral students.

• thesis
• research paper
• academic essay
• dissertation