Glossary
Academic Credentials
Approval Process: Undergraduate and graduate certificates are formally approved by either the Vice Provost/Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education or the Graduate Dean.
Credit Requirements: Undergraduate certificates require a minimum of 12 credits and graduate certificates requires a minimum of 9 credits. The number of discipline-specific credits required for a certificate should not exceed those required for a major.
Credentials: Certificates are recorded in student records and displayed on transcripts upon completion. University-approved certificates are designated on official (diploma-like) documentsÌý(includingÌýartist diplomas).
Definition: A credential awarded to a student upon successful completion of a program of study (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Doctor of Philosophy).
Credit Requirements: Generally, minimum credits are required for each degree type (e.g., 120 credits for a bachelor's degree, 30 for a master's degree, etc.).
Credentials:ÌýEach degree earned is designated on a separate diploma and transcript block.
A subsequent (second) bachelor's degree earned after theÌýstudent has already graduated with a bachelor's degree from 91¸£ÀûÉç. College, school or program restrictions and requirements (e.g., residence credit requirements) for additional degrees may apply.
Two unique degrees from the same college, school or program (e.g., BA and BFA from the College of Arts and Sciences) or two degrees from different colleges, schools or programs that are earned/awarded concurrently outside of an approve dual-degree program (see Dual Degree).ÌýStudents must meet all requirements for each degree.ÌýEach degree earned is recognized with a separate diploma.
An approved combined or integrated curriculum for two degrees (typically at the graduate or professional levels) in complementary fields of study. These may be offered by two or more CU colleges, schools or programs.ÌýTypically, students earn both degrees in less time than if each degree is pursued individually.ÌýEach degree earned is designated on a separate diploma.
An approved specialized degree program that prepares students for a particular profession based on accreditation or licensure requirements and/or has a more practical/applied focus.
A secondary area of study or concentration in a discipline beyond the student's primary major that complements, enhances or supplements their primary major. Additional fields of study are approved for select majors only.
An approved educator preparation program leading to state licensure in an initial teacher licensure or teacher added endorsement. The licensure or endorsement is transcripted, but is not designated on diplomas.
Definition: A curriculum within a discipline and degree offered by a college, school or program (also referred to as anÌýacademic plan, program of study or degree plan).
Credit Requirements: It may be comprised of prescribed and/or student-selected major requirements, core/general education requirements and electives.
Credentials:ÌýA major is associated with a degree and is typically designated on the diploma after the degree or reflected as part of the degree title.
An additional (typically second) major within the same college, school or program as the student's primary degree/major. Both majors are completed concurrently and designated on the same diploma.
Definition: A short program that allows students to gain industry-relevant skills and/or other competencies. A micro-credential is aÌýnon-degree credential that is generally a subset of learning achievements or outcomes that is less than a full degree or certificate.
Credit Requirements: Micro-credentials may be for credit or noncredit, and may be proposed by any unit on campus.ÌýThey are smaller than certificate programs, which require a minimum of nine semester credits at the graduate level or 12 credits at the undergraduate level.
Credentials:ÌýA digital badge is issued upon successful completion of a micro-credential program.
An approved undergraduate academic plan within a specific discipline that typically requires a minimum number of 15 credits (and maximum of 21 credits). Minors are transcripted and may only be earned in conjunction with a degree. Minors do not display on diplomas.Ìý
Academic Programs
Definition: A major, minor orÌýcertificate.
Designation: In Campus Solutions, academic plans are represented by a four-letter department code andÌýtwo- to four-letter plan code (e.g., AAAH-BA isÌýthe Department of Art and Art History's BA in Art History major).
Definition: AÌýpublished concentration of courses within a particular major (also referred to as an option, emphasis or track).
Designation: In Campus Solutions, subplans are directly tied to plans and are represented by a three-letter subplan code (e.g., BIA is the Bioastronautics subplan forÌýgraduate-level Aerospace Engineering Sciences majors).
Credentials: Academic subplans may be used for advising purposes only, or may be included on student transcripts along with a degree and major.
Class Types (Components)
Definition: Definition: Participation in client and client-related services that are an integral part of an academic program. Clinical instruction occurs in or outside an institutional setting and involves work with clients who receive professional services from students serving under direct supervision of a faculty member and/or program director.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: An original investigation required for graduation at the doctoral level that shows mature scholarship and critical judgment, and demonstrates knowledge of research tools and methods.
Expectations: Dissertation credits should correlate with the scope and level of research or written work. The faculty member is required to keep records.
​Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Courses of study involving instructional activities conducted by the faculty and designed to supplement and/or extend an individual course or classroom experience.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.
​â¶Ä‹Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two-and-a-half times that of a lecture (2.5:1 ratio).
Definition: Courses of study where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research or independent study instruction in which the faculty member interacts with and directs student projects or other required activities with minimal associated direction.
Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Credit hours for placement at an approved business and/or industry environment that offers degree-seeking students professional-level experience and responsibility. An applied and supervised field-based learning experience where students gain practical experience following a negotiated and/or directed plan of study.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically three times that of a lecture (3:1 ratio).
Definition: Instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýTypically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A faculty member is responsible for delivery and discussion of learning material and related instructional activities.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýStandard 14-week semester requirements are below. Weekly contact time must be equivalent but prorated for classes scheduled in shorter special sessions. Credits are calculated with respect to contact time and out-of-class work (1:1 ratio).
Credits Awarded | MinimumÌýContact Time (1 Week) | MinimumÌýContact Time (15 Weeks) | MinimumÌýOut-of-Class Work (1 Week) | Minimum Out-of-Class Work (15 Weeks) | Total Instructional Contact Time & Out-of-Class Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 50 minutes | 700 minutes | 100 minutes | 1,400 minutes | 2,100 minutes Ìý(35 hours) |
2 | 100 minutes | 1,400 minutes | 200 minutes | 2,800 minutes | 4,200 minutes (70 hours) |
3 | 150 minutes | 2,100 minutes | 300 minutes | 4,200 minutes | 6,300 minutes (105 hours) |
4 | 200 minutes | 2,800 minutes | 400 minutes | 5,600 minutes | 8,400 minutes (140 hours) |
All other Class Types are defined with a comparison or ratio to the minimum contact time per credit hour to that of a Lecture.
Definition: Stand-alone labs involving instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit:ÌýTypically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Nonstandard course offerings that do not match the description of any other class or instructional type.
Expectations: Should the course meet outside of the standard contact time or involve outside student work, contact time and requirements must be established and documented. The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).
Definition: Practical student work under the supervision of a faculty member or under supervision of a professional in the student's field with regular consultation with a faculty member.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A smaller course or section of a larger course, designed for group discussion, content review or presentation of additional course content.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).
Definition: Student projects or other required activities with minimal faculty-associated direction where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research.
Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).