Glossary

Academic Credit Hour

Credit Hours - USF Policy 10-065
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy10-065

PURPOSE & INTENT

Academic credit provides the basis for quantifying the amount of engaged learning time expected of a typical student enrolled in traditional classroom settings, laboratories, studios, internships and other forms of experiential learning, and distance and Correspondence Education.

This Policy is intended to ensure that all credit-bearing courses and programs offered by the University of South Florida (USF) meet the requirements of the Federal definition of a credit hour and the Credit Hours Policy Statement issued by the SACSCOC.

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Credit hours are a measure of learning, and support a wide range of activities, including the transfer of students from one institution to another, awarding financial aid, and credentialing for employment. Because of the significance of awarding credit hours, an institution is obligated to ensure that credit hours for courses and programs conform to the commonly accepted standards of higher education, as stated in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Policy Statement on Credit Hours and Principles of Accreditation 10.7 (Policies for Awarding Credit), 10.8 (Evaluating and Awarding Academic Credit), and 10.9 (Cooperative Academic Arrangements).

Federal Definition of a Student Credit Hour: A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates the following: (1) not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in item (1) above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, cooperative education, practica, studio work, independent research, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Academic Load

The maximum load of an undergraduate student is 18 hours (Fall & Spring semesters) and 14 hours (Summer term), unless approval is received from the dean or an authorized representative of the student’s college.

In the Fall or Spring semester, 12 hours is the minimum load for a student to be considered as full-time.

Full-time Undergraduate Student Definition - Summer term

• Sessions “A” & “B” (6 weeks)
• For Academic purposes: 6 hours or more each session
• For Financial Aid purposes: must enroll for 12 hours (undergraduate) in any combination of Sessions “A,” “B,” or”C”

Session “C” (10 weeks)

• For Academic purposes: 9 hours or more
• For Financial Aid purposes: must enroll for 12 hours (undergraduate) in any combination of Sessions “A,” “B,” or “C”

Students receiving Veterans’ Affairs benefits should confirm their Summer term enrollment with the Office of Veterans’ Services or Veterans’ Coordinator.

Undergraduates may not enroll in 6000-level courses or higher without approval of the college/department in which the course is offered.

Academic Major

Academic Curricular Offerings - USF Regulation 3.038
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation3038

A major represents a degree-seeking student’s primary field of study and is often referred to as a “program of study.” A major shall be reasonably associated with the academic discipline within the degree program under which it is offered and shall share common core courses with any other majors within the same degree program.  The majors appears on the diploma and on the official transcript.

Academic Minor

Academic Curricular Offerings - USF Regulation 3.038
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation3038

An academic minor is an optional complement to a bachelor’s degree in a particular field, leading to specific educational goals. A student may declare a minor at any point during the first term of enrollment and thereafter as a degree-seeking student, but is expected to declare it as early as possible but prior to applying for graduation. Students should obtain prior approval with the specific requirements and forms from the college and department in which the minor is offered. The department may require the same admission or retention standards as required for the major. Minors are recorded on the transcript.

Each academic minor conforms to these University requirements:

• A minor is a minimum of 12 semester hours.
• Students must complete a minimum of 6 credits (two courses) exclusive to the minor that will not count toward the student’s major or other minors. These credits/courses must be completed at USF and must be upper-level courses.
• A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the minor coursework must be completed in residence at USF.
• USF coursework for a minor must have a minimum GPA of 2.00; some minors have higher minimum GPA requirements.
• Only an undergraduate, degree-seeking student at USF is eligible for a minor.
• A minor can be applied for and awarded only in conjunction with applying for and receiving a baccalaureate degree.
• A maximum of 3 credits of S/U coursework may be counted toward the minor.

Academic Residency

Any credits transferred into the University of South Florida must be processed as transfer credits from an institution accredited by either the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the New England Commission of Higher Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Candidates for graduation must have completed at least 30 hours of the last 60 hours of their undergraduate credits in courses offered by USF. Individual colleges and programs may have more stringent requirements, approved by the University, such as the number of specific courses in the major that must be completed. Exceptions to the above rules may be made for students who are enrolled at other universities in USF approved exchanges, study abroad programs or co-op training programs. CLEP credit does not count toward academic residence.

Students must successfully complete at least 50 percent of the required courses in the major in courses offered by USF. In cases of hardship or lack of course availability, individual exceptions may be approved by the respective college Dean or designee to help ensure timely graduation.

Academic Standing

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain a 2.00 or higher cumulative USF grade point average (GPA). Students are in good standing if they meet the minimum GPA standards based on GPA hours. A student must be in good academic standing in order to graduate. A student must be in good academic standing in order to graduate.

Students on probation or suspension are not considered to be in good academic standing.

Canvas

Canvas is a learning management software that enables you to complete class assignments, read course documents, post discussions, communicate with classmates, and check your grades for each assignment, and access your email. Virtually all professors use Canvas as a way to communicate noteworthy information to their students. You can access Canvas through MyUSF.

Class Standing

The classification of a degree-seeking student is based upon the number of semester hours earned. A student’s class is determined by the number of credits they have earned without relation to their GPA.

Concentration

Academic Curricular Offerings - USF Regulation 3.038
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation3038

A concentration is a structured plan of study which is offered as part of a major and enhances or complements the degree to be awarded in a manner which leads to specific educational or occupational goals, and/or from different disciplines that provide an interdisciplinary focus.

The number of credit hours for a concentration varies, but cannot equal or exceed the number of credit hours established for the major at a degree level - i.e., the number of credit hours for a concentration must be a subset of the credit hours required for the major. The concentration appears on the official transcript.

Each undergraduate concentration conforms to these University requirements:

1. At least 50 percent of the required coursework must be earned from the USF institution awarding the concentration.
2. USF coursework for a concentration must have a minimum GPA of 2.00; some majors/concentrations have higher minimum GPA requirements.
3. Only an undergraduate, degree-seeking student at USF is eligible to pursue a concentration.

A concentration can be applied for and received only in conjunction with applying for and receiving a baccalaureate degree.

Continuous Enrollment

Continuous enrollment is defined as enrolling as a degree seeking student at least one term each twelve (12) month period. Therefore, students cannot choose a USF catalog published prior to or during an academic year in which they did not maintain continuous enrollment. Each catalog is considered to be published during the academic year printed on the title page.

If a student does not maintain continuous enrollment, the student becomes inactive and must reapply.

If the student cannot meet all of the graduation requirements specified in the catalog of their choice due to decisions and policy changes by the University, course offerings, etc., appropriate substitutions will be determined by the department chairperson of the student’s major.

USF’s policies are subject to change and apply to all students regardless of their choice of catalog. If the student’s graduation requirements are affected by changes in University policies, appropriate arrangements will be made to not penalize the student.

Course Requisites

A prerequisite is a course in which credit must be earned prior to enrollment in another course. A corequisite is a course that must be taken concurrently with another course. A co-prerequisite may be taken either prior to or at the same time (concurrently) as another course.

It is the student’s responsibility to review prerequisite and co-requisite information as stated in the course description. Transient and Visiting Students should follow these outlined steps to receive permission to register for a course with requisites.  All other non-degree students should contact the academic department for permission to enter any course that requires a prerequisite or co-requisite. USF reserves the right to drop a student who does not meet the course requisites from the appropriate course(s). A student whose registration is cancelled will receive an email notification from the Office of the Registrar to the student’s USF email account.

Degree Program

A degree program is an organized curriculum leading to a degree in an area of study recognized as an academic discipline by the higher education community, as demonstrated by the assignment of a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code by the National Center for Educational Statistics (https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55) or as demonstrated by the existence of similar degree programs at other colleges and universities.

Each degree program shall have designated faculty effort and instructional resources and shall be assigned a CIP code and included in the State University System Academic Degree Program Inventory. Each degree program shall include at least one program major but may have multiple majors.

Degree Works Academic Audit

Degree Works is a web-based degree audit and tracking system helping students and academic advisors monitor progress toward degree completion. It provides academic information related to degree progress and displaying courses required and completed in the student’s degree program. Access Degree Works using the student’s activated USF NetID.

Note: Graduate, professional, and non-degree seeking students do not use Degree Works at this time.

Double Major

Students pursuing a double major are receiving only one degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) but are completing requirements for two majors. For example, a student may be earning one Bachelors of Arts degree with majors in Anthropology and History. Students wishing to pursue a double major must work with their advisor to ensure they can finish both majors in time and that both majors are declared and tracked appropriately.

Dual Degrees

Students pursuing dual degrees are receiving two degrees (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science or two Bachelor of Arts degrees). They must complete at least 150 credits (120 credits for the first degree and at least 30 additional credits for the second degree). For example, a student may be earning a Bachelors of Arts degree in Anthropology and a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology. Students wishing to pursue dual degrees must work with their advisor to ensure they can finish both degrees in time and that both degrees are declared and tracked appropriately.

Grade Point Average

The university uses the quality points in the Grading System. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of quality points by the total hours attempted at USF. The total quality points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits assigned to each course by the quality point value of the grade given. Credit hours for courses with grades of “I, IU, M, N, S, U, W, WC, Z” and courses that have a repeat indicator of “E” on the academic transcript are subtracted from the total hours attempted before the GPA is calculated.

Credit hours for repeated USF coursework will be awarded only once per course unless the course is an university-approved repeatable course. “D, F, FF, IF and MF” grades, however, for repeated USF coursework will be counted in the computation of the student’s GPA as many times as those grades for that course are recorded. If a student originally earns a “C” or higher in a course that may not be repeated for additional credit, and then earns a “C” or higher on a subsequent enrollment, the new grade is not computed in the GPA unless Grade Forgiveness  is applied.

Grading System

USF faculty may use a plus/minus grading system to assign student grades. The use of the plus/minus grading system is at the discretion of the individual faculty member.

A student’s measure of academic achievement is recorded on the academic record based on the following grading system:

Note: The grade of “C-” will satisfy specified minimum requirements for the State Mandated Communication and Computation Requirements courses, General Education, and the common prerequisites unless otherwise specified in the Catalog.

MyUSF

USF’s Portal (https://my.usf.edu/Pages/Home.aspx). MyUSF is the window to all of your technology needs including access to Canvas.

NetID and USF E-mail Address

Almost all online activity at USF including MyUSF, Canvas and student email requires your USF NetID. Create a student NetID to activate your official USF student email account via MyUSF.

Network Access

Before you begin using the USF network, your computer or mobile device must be registered. Once registered, you are able to surf the USF network. The following items are needed:

• A valid USF email address
• Computer’s network adapter address (also known as physical address or mac address)
• A non-USF email address
• A valid phone number

For any University technology questions or concerns, contact the Information Technology Help Desk (https://www.usf.edu/it/services/client-support) at (813) 974-1222.

OASIS

Student self-service access via MyUSF. OASIS provides online access to your personal student information and self-service functionality. In OASIS, you can register, pay tuition and fees, and see midterm and final grades.

Second Baccalaureate Degree/ Post-baccalaureate Degree

A student who has already graduated from an accredited four-year institution (including the University of South Florida) must earn a minimum of an additional 30 semester hours of USF undergraduate courses to apply toward their second baccalaureate degree. Students must also meet the University’s regular graduation requirements, as well as the requirements of the College awarding the degree and the residency requirements. Students should meet with their Academic Advisor to review graduation requirements (https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/students/advising-offices.aspx).

Semester System

USF operates on a semester system. Fall semester begins in August and Spring semester begins in January. Summer sessions begin in May and July. See the Important Dates & Deadlines at https://www.usf.edu/registrar/calendars/index.aspx.

Undergraduate Certificate

Academic Curricular Offerings - USF Regulation 3.038
https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation3038

A certificate is an organized set of courses offered as a distinct area of study that leads to specific educational or occupational goals. Certificates may consist of courses that are part of a major or courses that are created outside of a major. The number of credit hours for a certificate shall be set by the university. The credential is the “certificate” (i.e., the student does not earn a degree).

Each undergraduate certificate conforms to these university requirements:

1. Students must be admitted as undergraduate, degree seeking or non-degree seeking to be eligible to receive an undergraduate certificate.
2. A minimum of 12 semester hours of credit used to satisfy the requirements of a certificate must be from USF courses; at least 50 percent of the required coursework must be earned from the institution awarding the certificate.
3. USF coursework for a certificate must have a minimum GPA of 2.00; some undergraduate certificates have higher minimum GPA requirements.
4. In pursing a certificate, the student should consider the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge (https://www.usf.edu/registrar/resources/excess-hours/index.aspx) required by the State for excess credit hours; courses that lead to professional certification may be excluded from excess hours, but certificates on their own are generally not excluded from excess hours.