2009/2010 - Office of the Registrar - McMaster University

GLOSSARY
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GLOSSARY
Mature Student has not attended secondary school or college
on a full-time basis for at least two yeacs; and hhs not previously
attended university. ,
Academic Probation , which may be assigned to students Minor is an option available to students enrolled in four- or five- _
whose CA is at least 3.0 but less than 3.5, will allow a student\,to level programs. A Minor consists of at least 24 units - of which
continue at the University for one reviewing period.
normally no more than six units may be from Level 1 -that meet the
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Advanced Standi WlCredit may be granted to an*a~~licantwho requirements set out in the program description, of that Minor.
has completed work at another-university or college or who has Part-time Student (for academic purposes), is a'n undergraducompleted
a CertificateIDi~loma Program at McMaster, subject ate student who is rkgistered in fewer than 24 units in the Fall/
to the applicant having met the minim~m requirements pre- Winter session, including Extra Courses.
scribed by the University.
Post-Degree Student is a university graduate or a person with
Antirequisite is a course which cannot be taken for credit profes3ional qualifications who is not proceeding to an advanced *
before, after, or at the same time as the course with which it is
degree, but wishes to take one Qr more graduate courses.
listed.
Prerequisite is a requirement to be fulfilled before registration
Bursaries are granted based upon demonstrated financial needl
in a course is permitted. This is usually the successful
a mihirnilm expectation of academic accomplishment and, in some
;
cases, otherformsofearned merit.
of another course.
may vary in mOneta~valuel
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Program is a specific
of courses that fulfils the
,based upon the level of financial jeed demonstrated. ,
Continuing Student is a university graduate who is tiot proceed-
for a degree=
ing to an advanced degree, but wishes to take ore or more
Program Probation which may be assigned to students whose CA
undergraduate courses.
falls within the probationary band below the minimum CA required
corequisite is a course
be taken together with ' .' to remain in, the program in good standing, will allow a student to
another course. continue in hislher program for at least one reviewing period. (See
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Course Numbers (emgm 1~03) can be interpreted as follows: the the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.)
initial digit indicates the,Level of fhe course; the letter(s) in the Readmission See Readmission in the Admission. Requiremiddle
identifies the specific courses within the Level; and the 'menfs section in this Calendar.
final digit(s) defines the number of units of credit associated with Registration is the Process whereby a student enrols in a
the course. H program .of study andlor courses and pays, or .makes acceptable
Cross-listed Course is a course which is fisted under two or ' arrangements to pay, all fees.
I more subjects.
Reinstatement See Reinstafement in the General ~cademic
Cumulative ~verage (CA) is a weighted average based on the ' Regulations section in this Calendar.
grades obtained in all courses taken.
Required Courses are those courses which are specifically
Degree is conferred when ,a student completes a program of designated for inclusion iii a program.
study (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Kinesiology, Master of Requisite is an academic requirement that must be met to -
- Science, Doctor of Philosophy). register in a course. A course requisite may comprise Prerequi-
Department is a subdivision of a Faculty, responsible for a - sites, Corequisites and- Antirequisites.
particular subject or group of subjects (e.g. Department of Chem- , Result of Session is the statement of th'e academic standing of
istry, Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics). a student at the end of a reviewing period. May continue in
Elective Courses are those courses taken by a student which are program; May ngt continue and Clear. to graduate are three
not specifically designated in a-student's program, but which form examples.
pad of the total number of units required to complete the program. Review is an assessment of a student's performance to deter- '
Extra Courses are those courses designated at the time of ' mine eligibility to continue in a program or tokgraduate.
regi~tration as "Extra", which are not included as units toward Reviewing Period is the time beheen two reviews for a student.
completion of a student's program. The grddes obtained in ~ c h Reviews will take place in May and August,. provided the student
' courses will not be included in the computation of the Cumulative I- An .
Average. However, they will be included in the computation of the
~ ~ U ~ ~ d U m n t s - o f w o r v u' Is
Sessional Average and the Full-load Averag'e.
Session is a period of study within the academic year. For
is a and teaching unit the example, the Fall/Winter.session runs from September to April.
for programs and courses relating to
Sessional Average (SA) is a average based on the
. common fields of study 0' academ'c disci~lines (e.g. Faculty of
Humanities, Faculty of Engineering).
grades attained in a session. Overload courses and Extra courses
Fllll Load is the number of units specified in the Calendar for an are in the Sessional Average.
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individual level of a program (6.g. Commerce, Level 11: 30 units).
Term is 'a period of study within a session. he ~alllwinter ,
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If the Calendar does not specify the program requirements by session, for example, contains three terms, Term 1 runs from
individual levels, divide the total units for all levels by the number Se~temberto December; Term 2 runs from January to April; Term
of levels, discarding the remainder. 3 runs from,September to April.
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Full-load Average (FA) is based on the sGccessful completion Transcript is an official document ~ummarizing the entire' aCaof
a full load of course units (see Full Load definition), and demic record of a student at a particular educational institution.
.
includes only courses taken in the Faillwinter session. Overload Tuition is fees paid in consideration for enr0~~ent in a program
units (those above Full Load) and Extra Courses taken during the of Study and selected Courses.
FallNVinter session are included in ,the FA.
Undergraduate Student is a student enrolled in a program of study
Full-time Student for academic purposes is an undergraduate leading to a bachelor's degree or to the degree Doctor of Medicine.
student who is registered in at least 24 units in the FallANinter , Units define the number of credits associated with a course. A
session, including Extra Courses. Full-time status for students unit is roughly equivalent to one lecfure-hour per week for one term
in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Co-op programs is' or two hours of laboratories or seminars per week for one
granted to those students registered in at least 12 units in Term term.~hree-unii courses are usually one term in length. Six-unit
1 or Term 2 of the Faillwinter session. courses are usually two terms, or one session.
Letter of Permission is a formal document which allows a Weighted Average is calculated by multiplying the grade points '
McMaster stuaent to take one or more courses at another univer- achieved in each course by the number of units in each course,
sity for credit towards a McMaster degree.
-totalling these results, and then dividing this result by the total
, Levelisusedto.describeast:dent3s ~rogressionthrougha numberofcourseunits. (SeeexampleunderGradingSystemin
program.
the General Academic Regulations section in this Calendar.)
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Loans are monetary 'xhnces granted to students currently Withdrawal is the formal process ofdiscontinuing studies in a
registered, based upon a demonstrated means and promise of pa,jicular course or program.
repayment.