Glossary of Terms
Articulation - the process of communication and interrelation between institutions of higher education that allow for the transfer of coursework and credit. Once a course is "evaluated" and determined to be "equivalent," the course is said to "articulate" as GEN 1XX.
Articulation Agreement - a formal agreement between a 2-year college and a 4-year college that outlines policies and specific courses for students to complete at a 2-year college in a specific program to allow for a seamless transfer to a 4-year college within a specific program. Articulation agreements are active for a determined amount of time and must be renewed between the two colleges as policies and programs change.
Associate's of Applied Science (AAS) - a two-year degree program, which requires approximately 60-65 credits to graduate, that is usually designed to prepare students for direct entry into a career. AAS programs are typically not designed to prepare students to transfer into a bachelor's program. While some courses may transfer to meet degree requirements for a bachelor's program, most credits will transfer as elective credit. Students who transfer with a completed AAS degree should expect to take additional lower-division coursework.
Associate's of Science (AS) or Associate's of Arts (AA) degree - a two-year degree program, which requires 60-65 credits to graduate, that provides students a liberal arts and sciences foundation. Many courses within AA/AS programs are designed to transfer into bachelor's programs.
Bachelor's Degree: Completion of a minimum of 120 credits of coursework that encompasses major specific courses, general education courses, and all-college degree requirements. Cortland offers four types of bachelor's degrees: Bachelor's of Arts (BA), Bachelor's of Science (BS), Bachelor's of Science in Education (BSEd), and Bachelor's of Fine Arts (BFA). The type of bachelor's degree earned is determined by your chosen major. In some majors, students can choose between a BA or BS degree, which will require slightly different requirements.
CAPP - Curriculum Advising and Program Planning. Also known as a degree audit, CAPP tracks all the course requirements necessary in order to graduate within a certain major. The CAPP will list program details, courses required for the major/minor/concentration, and all general education requirements. Students use CAPP with their academic advisor to plan for course selection each semester and to track progress toward graduation. CAPP is accessible to all accepted/paid students online via myRedDragon.
Catalog (may also be referred to as a College Bulletin at other campuses) - Published yearly (or bi-yearly at certain colleges), the catalog outlines all college policies, procedures, programs, and requirements to complete a degree. The catalog provides a list of all courses, including course descriptions. Students enter Cortland within a particular "catalog year" and are responsible for understanding and following the outlined requirements of that catalog until graduation. SUNY Cortland's undergraduate catalog is no longer printed in hard copy format, but is available online.
Concentrations - A concentration is an approved program of study that provides a particular set of options within a given major or minor. Concentrations may be embedded as part of the requirements of a major, or added as a separate option to a major. A concentration must have a minimum of 12 hours that are independent and distinct from the major requirements. Students cannot earn a concentration in the same area as the minor.
Course descriptions - brief synopsis of the content and purpose of a course, including number of credits. Course descriptions can be found in each college's catalog or bulletin and are used in transfer course evaluation.
Department - faculty and administrators within a specific discipline (e.g. the Mathematics Department). Each department may house several majors.
Evaluation - process by which the academic department chair, in conjunction with the transfer credit coordinator, reviews transfer courses to determine its equivalence to a SUNY Cortland course based on similar content, learning outcomes, level, and earned credits.
Equivalent - equal in value; a course that has been evaluated and has been determined to meet the required outcomes of a similar course on Cortland's campus; credit is then granted for the Cortland course
Faculty Department Chair - head of an academic department; has leadership and administrative responsibilities for the department, including evaluation of transfer coursework to determine Cortland equivalency
Lower division coursework - general, introductory level coursework usually comprising the first two years of a bachelor's degree. Lower division coursework is indicated by course numbers of 100s or 200s (e.g. HIS 101 or 201)
Major - A major is an approved program of study leading to a bachelor of arts (B.A.), bachelor of science (B.S.), or bachelor of science in education (B.S.Ed.). Majors require a minimum of 30 credit hours of discipline-specific courses. Majors must have a minimum of 15 credit hours of discipline-specific courses at the 300 level or above.
Minor - A minor is an approved program of study, not leading to a degree, in an area outside the major. A minor comprises a minimum of 15 credit hours; half of these credit hours must be taken at SUNY Cortland. Students cannot minor in the same area as the major or concentration. Likewise, students cannot earn a concentration in the same area as the minor.
Regionally Accredited Institution - institutions that are reviewed by associations within the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and recognized as having strong "academic quality and ongoing improvement in courses, programs, and degrees" and meeting certain standards. Accreditation ensures the rigor of the academic program from which students transfer.
SUNY General Education Transcript Addendum (GETA) - document that accompanies official transcripts from a SUNY institution being sent to another SUNY institution that outlines which general education categories students fulfilled through their coursework. SUNY Cortland will honor that a student "met" the learning outcomes of the category if determined by another SUNY institution and will indicate so on the CAPP report. Students are encouraged to have transcripts sent directly from the previous institution's registrar's office to ensure a GETA is sent; hand-delivered transcripts from students may not include the addendum.
Transcripts - official vs. unofficial - record of a student's attempted and completed coursework at a college or university, indicating grade point average, degrees awarded, and total credits earned. An "official" transcript is the document used to grant transfer credit and should be sent directly from the registrar's office of the transfer college to Cortland and arrive in a sealed envelope. A transcript is deemed "unofficial" if the sealed envelope is opened by anyone other than a college official; a faxed transcript is also deemed "unofficial."
Transfer Credit Coordinator - staff member in the Office of Advisement and Transition who works with faculty department chairs and the associate deans in the evaluation of transfer credit and communicates with students about transfer credit policies and services.
Transfer Student Support Coordinator - staff member in the Office of Advisement and Transition who works closely with transfer students through their transition to campus and serves as a resource for transfer students on a variety of issues. The coordinator offers informational workshops and publications throughout the year as well as opportunities for transfer students to connect socially.
Transition Seminar - a day-long program to orient new transfer students to the services, policies, and procedures at SUNY Cortland. Transition Seminars are offered in the month of July for fall transfers and in January for spring transfers. New students meet with an academic advisor and schedule their courses through their transition seminar.
Upper division coursework - in-depth, focused courses that usually comprise the last two years of a bachelor's degree. Upper division coursework is indicated with course numbers in the 300s or 400s (e.g. SOC 340 or 420).
Writing Intensive coursework - courses offered above the level of freshmen writing (CPN 100 and 101) throughout all academic departments at Cortland to ensure students receive writing instruction and experience. Students are required to complete a minimum of six (6) credit hours of writing intensive coursework, of which three (3) credits must be completed within the major. Writing intensive coursework cannot be transferred in and must be completed at Cortland.
