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The Language of FSU

(Adapted from "It's All Academic," a publication of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, 3200 University Center)

Part of the challenge of being successful at FSU is learning the "language" of the campus. The following is a list of words and phrases you will be expected to know:

• Adviser: a person who can help you plan your educational program so that you may graduate in a reasonable length of time. Your advisor helps you interpret the rules, regulations, and requirements of the university.
• Bachelor's degree: a typical degree earned after four years of college; often called the baccalaureate degree. (At Florida State, students can earn Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), and Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.).
• Bulletin: the official "contract" between the student and the university. The Bulletin is a guide to university policy and academic programs, including information on all courses taught at the university.
• CLAST: a statewide examination that undergraduates must take by the time they earn 60 semester hours of college credit. The CLAST tests students' abilities in Reading, Writing, Essay and Computation.
• Course Load: the number of courses a student takes in any one semester.
• Credit Hours: Every course taught is assigned a number of credit hours. This is an indication of how much the course counts toward graduation. The number of credit hours for a given class roughly reflects the amount of time per week spent in class.
• Dean: the head of a school or college is called a dean. This person is often required to approve a request for any special academic procedure.
• Dean's List: a list of students, registered for a minimum of 12 hours of course work, who achieved a 3.5 grade point average or higher.
• Directory of Classes: also called the Schedule of Classes. This booklet, published each term by the Registrar's Office, is a list of all the courses offered for the term. It contains all the instructions about how and when to register, deadlines for payment and many other useful things. Note: The General Bulletin describes the courses, but the Directory tells you when and where the class will be offered. Several weeks before registration begins, copies are available at the Registrar's Office (A3900 University Center / 644-1050) or the Information Center in the Oglesby Union (644-3434). http://www.registrar.fsu.edu/dir_class/
• Drop/Add: a limited period of time when students can change their schedule of classes without penalty, that is, drop (or delete) a class that they had registered for and add a different class to the schedule. The Directory of Classes contains all instructions and deadlines.
• Electives: are courses that are not required for a certain major but the credits count toward the number needed for graduation.
• Forgiveness Policy: Twice during your FSU undergraduate career, you may make up for a course in which you earned an "F" or a "D" grade by taking it again. Read the General Bulletin and talk with your advisor for more information about rules and procedures.
• GPA (Grade Point Average): is a numerical average of grades assigned the following values:
  A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0
  In general, a student must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA to continue at Florida State.
• Graduation:
  • Hours required: for a Bachelor's Degree, a student must complete a minimum of 120 hours of credit. Some majors require more than the minimum.
  • Graduation Check: is a review of your academic record to see if you have met the requirements for graduation. Students must request the review of general university requirements from the Registrar's Office two semesters before you plan to graduate. Also, one semester before you graduate, your academic dean's office must check to see that you have fulfilled all the requirements of the school or college.
• Late Fees: The Directory of Classes lists registration deadlines and the fees that will be charged if students do not meet these deadlines. For example, there is a $100 fee charged for late registration or late payment of tuition and fees.
• Liberal Studies: are required courses in Mathematics, English Composition, History, Social Sciences, Humanities, Fine Arts, and the Natural Sciences designed to give students a broad exposure to the world of knowledge. Undergraduates must meet these requirements (a total of 36 semester hours) before graduation.
• Major: The area of knowledge in which you plan to specialize. Specific courses and a certain number of hours in the major (plus Liberal Studies requirements and electives) are required for graduation.
• Minor: a area of concentration, but less extensive than your major. Requirements vary.
• Prerequisites and Co-requisites: courses that a student must complete before or at the same time as other courses which require the skills and knowledge gained in the lower level courses.
• Residency status: determines whether one pays in- or out-of-state tuition rates. All international students pay out-of-state tuition rates.
• SASS (Student Academic Support System): is a computerized report that shows undergraduates what courses you have taken, what requirements these courses satisfy, and what requirements you have left to complete. Reports are available from your advisor each semester.
• S-U Grades: In certain cases, students can opt to take classes on a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" rather than a grade basis. Graduate credit is given for passing the course ("s") but it is not computed as part of one's grade point average. Rules for electing courses under this option as listed in the Bulletin.
• SUSSAI (State University System Student Assessment of Instruction): allows students to evaluate their professors. Every semester, each class with more than ten students will rate their instructor. Results are reviewed by the professors and are available in Strozier Library.
• Semester: The academic year at Florida State is divided into three parts called "semesters" or "terms. Fall and spring semesters last approximately 15 weeks; summer terms last from 6 - 13 weeks.
• Syllabus: a detailed outline of course objectives, content, required supplies, and grading standards for a course. Faculty at Florida State are required to provide a syllabus which serves as the instructional "contract" between the instructors and students.