Glossary of Terms

The University employs the following terms and usages to describe John Carroll academic programs.

Academic Program: A combination of courses and related activities organized for the achievement of specific educational objectives as defined by the University. This may include programming at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and consists of degrees, majors, concentrations, minors, and certificates.

Academic Transcript: The comprehensive document that details the entire permanent academic record of a student at the University. The official transcript is a formal document that can be obtained only by the student through the Office of the Registrar. Unofficial transcripts, accessed from BannerWeb or the Office of the Registrar, are intended as reference documents only.

Certificate Program: A structured set of courses in an applied area of focus normally requiring completion of 12 to 18 credit hours. The certificate is awarded to students demonstrating mastery of skills and knowledge in a specific area or discipline and is not normally part of other programs leading to a degree.

Concentration (formerly called “track”): A structured, specialized plan of study within a major. The number of credit hours for a concentration varies, and is included within the credit hours for the major. The concentration appears on the academic transcript once the degree is awarded.

Degree: A credential that the University awards to a student who has satisfactorily completed a degree program. Degree requirements are established by the University and are approved by the University and the Ohio Board of Regents. John Carroll University awards degrees at the Bachelor’s [undergraduate], Master’s [graduate], and post-Master’s Specialist levels. The degree awarded appears on the academic transcript.

Degree Program: An approved, academic program of study that leads to a degree which John Carroll University is authorized to offer. Degree requirements are typically stated in terms of numbers of credit hours and specific courses at university, college/school, and discipline levels, as referenced in the official bulletins of the University.

Degree Type: Each degree level has multiple degree types. At John Carroll University, the bachelor’s degree includes the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N), the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), and the Bachelor of Science in Economics (B.S.E.).

The master’s degree includes the Master of Arts (M.A.), the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Education (M.Ed.), and the Master of Science (M.S.). In addition, the University offers the post-Master’s level Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.).

Diploma: A ceremonial document naming a degree that has been conferred by the University.

Major: The student’s primary field of undergraduate study. The major course of study may be discipline-specific or interdisciplinary. The major requires completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours. The major appears on the academic transcript once the degree is awarded.

Minor: An optional, secondary field of study at the undergraduate level. A minor is a structured plan of study requiring completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours and normally no more than 29 credit hours. No student may declare a major and a minor in the same discipline or field. The minor appears on the academic transcript once the degree is awarded.