Terminology
Colleges and universities use special academic language or terms. Learn more about the terms that we use.
Also, there are special terms that we use in the International Student Programs office related to international students regarding visas and government requirements.
For a full list of academic terms, please view the Highline College Academic Catalog Glossary.
Academic Terminology
Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
A degree designed for students in professional-technical programs.
Associate of Arts (AA)
A liberal arts degree fulfilling the general requirements taken by college freshman and sophomores. Students must complete 90 quarter credits in courses numbered 100 or above and meet specific distribution requirements.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A degree earned from a college or university upon completion of at least 180 college level quarter credits in a specific major. A Bachelor of Arts may also be referred to as a bachelor’s, or undergraduate degree.
College Grade Point Average (GPA)
The college GPA is a calculation based only on college-level courses (numbered 100 or higher) attempted at Highline and includes courses with passing grades, failing grades, incompletes and classes where no credit was earned.
Course/Transfer Equivalency Guide
A guide listed on the website of many of the universities that outlines how Highline courses transfer into their institutions. Not all universities publish this guide.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
The cumulative GPA is a calculation based on all courses attempted at Highline and includes courses with passing grades, failing grades, incompletes and classes where no credit was earned. The cumulative GPA takes into consideration, all college-level (numbered 100 or higher) as well as pre-college courses (numbered below 100).
General Education Requirements/General University Requirements
Refers to courses in the social sciences, humanities, globalism/diversity, communications and the sciences. Students must take a set number of courses from each of the listed areas before graduating with the bachelor’s degree.
Major
An area of subject specialization that is required to complete within a bachelor’s degree such as business, history, economics, among hundreds of other majors. A major is usually only offered at a baccalaureate institution and is normally aimed at an intended career.
Minor
A minor is a secondary field of study that can be taken while completing a major. The extra set of classes required to complete a minor is substantially less compared to a major. Minors are optional and not required for graduation.
Official Transcript
A record of all classes completed (including GPA) at Highline that must be submitted to the baccalaureate institutions when a student applies for admission. Students must also submit transcripts showing courses completed at other institutions, besides Highline.
Pre-Major
Pre-major status applies to specific majors that require students to fulfill prerequisites or meet department requirements before being admitted to the major.
Prerequisites
Courses that must be completed before you can enroll in a higher-level course or a course that relies on your knowledge from other courses.
Quarter
Term of instruction, usually 10–11 weeks except in the summer when it is 8 weeks long.
Semester
Most Washington colleges and universities are on the quarter system but a few use the semester term which is about 15 weeks in length. There are usually two semesters in an academic year (fall term: August–December; spring term: January–May).
Transferable Courses
These are courses that can usually be applied toward graduation at the baccalaureate institution. They are numbered 100 level and above and generally parallel the courses offered at the university.
International Student Terminology
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
CBP is responsible for border patrol, inspecting persons and vehicles entering the U.S., and customs services.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DHS is a large department of the U.S. government that manages many agencies and units, such as USCIS, CBP and other immigration and customs enforcement units. DHS is responsible for managing U.S. border security, federal law enforcement, immigration and visa services, and other U.S. protection services. The bureaus and agencies below are all part of DHS.
Designated School Official (DSO, PDSO)
The school employee responsible for creating a Form I-20. A PDSO is a Principal Designated School Official, who has additional responsibilities for ensuring the school follows strict regulations for admitting and enrolling international students in their school.
Duration of Status
The period of authorized stay granted to an F-1 student while pursuing a full course of study at an educational institution.
F-1 Student
F-1 refers to the type of visa that is granted to international students who are studying full time at a college or university in the U.S. F-1 students are required to maintain their student status in order for their visa to be valid.
Form I-20
An I-20 is a legal document that is issued by a school official (DSO) when an international student completes the application process and is admitted to a school. The I-20 is the document that allows a student to apply for a visa and, along with the visa, legally enter the U.S. as an international student.
Form I-94
The I-94 number is issued to international students when entering at the U.S. border. This form serves as the student’s arrival and departure record.
Grace Period
The amount of time a student is given to depart the U.S. after completing or withdrawing from a program of study, or completing OPT. The grace period is typically 30-60 days, but can vary or be shorter, depending on an individual student’s circumstances. It is important for a student to know their grace period; staying in the U.S. beyond the grace period is called “overstaying” and can lead to deportation and cause problems with entering the U.S. again in the future.
I-901 Fee (SEVIS Fee)
The I-901 Fee, also called the “SEVIS Fee,” is the fee that a student must pay in order to schedule a visa appointment.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
ICE is the bureau responsible for immigration investigations, detention and SEVIS.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. For more information, visit the U.S. and Immigration Services OPT for F-1 Students website.
Status
“Status” refers to an international student’s visa status. A student is “in status” when they are attending their classes, adhering to all regulations, and enrolled in 12 or more credits at their school. A student is “out of status” when they have too many absences, drop below 12 credits, or otherwise violate the terms of their visa. Students who go “out of status” risk losing their visa.
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
SEVIS is an online system that holds records of international students and visitors before and during their stay in the United States. SEVIS tracks and monitors non-immigrant students and exchange visitors. It is managed by the SEVP.
Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP)
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program that administers the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It ensures that government agencies have essential data related to non-immigrant students and exchange visitors to preserve national security. SEVP provides approval and oversight to schools authorized to enroll F and M non-immigrant students and gives guidance to both schools and students about the requirements for maintaining their status.
United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS)
USCIS processes international student applications. When you apply for a student visa, request a visa renewal or petition for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization, you are applying to USCIS. USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
Visa
The visa is the page in a passport that allows the passport holder to enter the country.
Visa Stamp
The visa stamp is the stamp on or near the visa, in a passport, that shows a student legally entered the country with their student visa.