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Return to: General Information
Community College Terms
Advisor
A faculty member or other designated individual who assists students in planning their program of study and navigating the educational process.
Advisory Committee
A representative group of individuals from a specific career field who provide input and guidance on career and technical education programs. Required for all career and technical programs.
Assessment
The process of gathering student information-via standardized tests, academic transcripts, surveys, and interviews-to assist in developing educational plans.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
A degree designed to prepare students for direct entry into the workforce.
Associate of Arts (A.A.)
A general education degree granted by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), typically designed for transfer to a four-year institution.
Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.)
A flexible degree consisting of general education and elective courses. Students can tailor the degree with a mix of liberal arts and career/technical courses based on individual educational goals.
Associate of Science (A.S.)
A general education degree granted by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, typically intended for transfer to a four-year institution.
Bachelor’s Degree
A four-year degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts [B.A.] or Bachelor of Science [B.S.]) granted by colleges and universities.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Programs approved at the state and federal levels that are designed to prepare students for employment in specific fields.
Certificate
A state-approved group of courses designed to prepare students for employment. Certificates may range from two courses to one year in length.
Class Schedule
A term-specific listing of courses, including meeting times, instructor names, and room assignments.
Clock Hour
The actual time spent in classroom, laboratory, or shop instruction.
College Prep Courses (Remedial Courses)
Courses designed to help students build necessary skills to succeed in college-level work.
Credit
The standard unit used to measure educational achievement. Credits represent the successful completion of coursework.
Credit Course
A course that awards credit toward a degree or certificate.
Developmental Education Courses
Courses intended to improve basic academic skills and prepare students for college-level coursework.
Electives
Courses selected by the student that do not fulfill specific degree requirements but still count toward the total credit requirement for graduation.
Full-Time Student
A student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per term. To complete an associate degree in two years (excluding summer), students are encouraged to take 15 or more credits per term.
General Education
A group of core courses required for all degree-seeking students, typically transferable to four-year institutions.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A numerical average of a student’s final grades, typically on a 4.0 scale.
Independent Study
An opportunity for students to study a specialized topic under the guidance of a faculty member.
Learning Communities
Programs that group students together in linked courses to promote academic and social support. Faculty collaborate to align course themes and assignments.
Liberal Arts Education
A broad-based education focused on humanities, sciences, and social sciences. See Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees.
Lower Division
The first two years of college coursework, including freshman- and sophomore-level classes. Community colleges only offer lower-division courses.
Major
A student’s primary field of academic study.
Open-Entry
Programs that allow students to begin coursework at multiple points during the term.
Open-Door (Open Admissions)
A college policy that allows broad access to enrollment. Entry into specific programs or courses may require additional qualifications.
Option
A specialized area of focus within an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program.
Placement
The process of placing students in appropriate courses based on test scores, academic history, and other measures.
Prerequisite
A course or requirement that must be completed prior to enrolling in a more advanced course. Prerequisites are listed in course descriptions.
Program
A formally approved curriculum or area of study leading to a degree or certificate.
Semester Term
An academic term lasting 15 weeks in fall and spring, and 10 weeks in summer.
Semester Credits
Credits earned under a semester system. One quarter credit equals 0.66 semester credits. All courses in this catalog are listed using semester credits.
State Guaranteed Transfer Courses (GT Pathways)
Courses approved by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education that are guaranteed to transfer between Colorado public colleges and universities. Identified with a “GT” prefix in the catalog.
Transcript
An official record of a student’s academic history, issued by the Registration and Records Office.
Upper Division
Junior- and senior-level college coursework. Community colleges do not offer upper-division courses, and these are not generally accepted in transfer at Aims Community College.
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