2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

Glossary of Terms

The following definitions will help you interpret college regulations and understand academic requirements:

Course credit: 1.0 course credit at Concordia is equated as four semester (or semester-hour) credits, or six quarter credits. A full course, which is worth 1.0 course credit, is designed to occupy about one-fourth of a student’s schedule per semester. Courses bearing 0.5 credit and 0.25 credit fill correspondingly less time.

Block: a block is equal to a half semester. Some departments divide their semester into two blocks and offer courses over eight weeks rather than 16 weeks.

Grades: Grades are indicated by letters; they are the traditional method of describing the quality of work in a course. See the chart below for how letter grades are interpreted in terms of quality and grade points. Policy for assigning grades is at the discretion of the individual instructor. A student who wishes to appeal a grade may petition the department chair who, in consultation with the faculty member and two other faculty members agreeable to the petitioner, will determine whether the grade should be changed. Petitions should be submitted no later than midsemester following the semester in which the grade was assigned. Students seeking an appeal of the department/program decision may bring a petition to the dean of the college or their designee.

Grade points: Grade points are the numerical measure of the quality of work. Each grade received is assigned the value indicated on the chart below. 

Grade point average (GPA): is determined by dividing total number of grade points by the number of course credits attempted. A GPA of 2.0 is the same as a C average, 3.0 as a B average, etc.

Major: In order to graduate from Concordia, students must complete a specified amount of work in an approved major area of study and must maintain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in these courses. Transfer students must maintain a C average in major courses completed at Concordia. The major should be selected by the end of the sophomore year. Each major must contain at least six distinct course credits regardless of the size of the major. Each minor must contain at least three distinct course credits. A student cannot double major or major and minor in two areas with the same programmatic prefix.

Minor: A minor, like a major, is in a concentrated field but requires fewer course credits. Minors are available in most areas where a major is given and in some areas for which a major is not offered. Requirements for minors are also listed in the department entries. As with a major, at least a C average must be maintained. Transfer students must maintain a C average in minor courses completed at Concordia. A minor is not required for graduation.

Senior College Credit: This is credit given for a course numbered 300 or above.