Academic Glossary

A staff member who guides you through the college application process and helps you explore your fit at Arcadia.

Advanced Placement courses and exams offer college-level learning in high school and may earn you college credit, depending on your scores.

Arcadia’s core curriculum designed to help you think across disciplines, build critical skills, and connect learning to real-world experiences.

Arcadia’s Campus Tour is a guided visit that gives you a firsthand look at Arcadia’s campus, classrooms, and student life.

A trained Arcadia student who can help you build your résumé, prep for interviews, and explore career options.

A single application used across higher education. It’s where you’ll complete most of your application materials for Arcadia.

A structured set of courses and requirements for a particular academic program.

An offer of admission to a specific major or program when you’re accepted, without needing to apply separately later.

Your classification as a full-time or part-time student based on the number of credits you’re taking.

The Exploratory Studies program is a flexible option that lets you explore different majors before deciding on the right path for you.

Your First-Year Seminar is where your Arcadia experience begins. It’s a small, discussion-based class where you’ll explore a unique topic and get to know your classmates. Every first-year student takes one in their first semester, and many seminars include trips to places like museums, theaters, parks, or other off-campus spots connected to what you’re learning.

A first-generation student is someone whose parents or guardians have not completed a four-year college degree.

Through Arcadia’s First-Year Study Abroad Experience, students can study abroad in London, England for the entire second semester of their first-year. You’ll take courses just as you would on the Glenside campus, and earn credits toward your Arcadia degree. FYSAE provides extensive support from Arcadia faculty, overseas staff, and student mentors to engage you throughout the experience.

The Gateway to Success program provides holistic, personalized academic support to students who do not meet Arcadia’s traditional admissions requirements, but who demonstrate the potential to succeed. As part of this tight-knit community, you’ll be supported from enrollment to graduation (and beyond).

Your GPA (grade-point average) is calculated by dividing your total grade points by the number of credits you’ve taken. You need at least a 2.0 cumulative and major GPA to graduate from Arcadia University. Pass/fail and “S” grades don’t affect your GPA, and transfer credits usually aren’t included—except for courses taken through SEPCHE or Arcadia Abroad.

IEP (Individualized Education Program) and 504 Plan are formal plans developed in K–12 education for students with documented disabilities. An IEP includes specialized instruction and services, while a 504 Plan provides accommodations to support access to learning.

A hands-on learning experience where you gain real-world skills in a professional setting related to your interests.

A student who is attending Arcadia University on a visa and is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

A broad education that helps you develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills across a range of subjects.

Your primary area of academic focus and the main subject you’ll study during college.

A secondary area of study that complements your major or lets you explore a different interest.

The student community, named the MyKnight Portal, is a tool designed to provide a space for students to connect, ask for help, find answers, and manage key elements of your journey at Arcadia.

Residential accommodations for students located outside of university-owned property. You can visit the Living and Commuting page for more information on housing options.

Orientation is your first step into life at Arcadia University. It’s designed to introduce you to campus resource and understand academic expectations.

A financial award granted to a student based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria to support their education without repayment.

Your chance to take courses in another country while earning credit toward your degree at Arcadia. Through Arcadia Abroad, you’ll explore new cultures, gain global perspective, and make your education an international experience—all while staying on track academically.

An official record of all the classes you’ve taken and the grades you’ve earned.

Transfer credit is granted for college-level work completed at another accredited institution if the course content is comparable to that offered at Arcadia University or appropriate for the degree program.

A student who previously attended another college or university and is continuing their education at Arcadia.

A free, student-accessible version of your academic record that isn’t used for official purposes.

Adjustments or support services that help ensure equal access to learning for students with documented disabilities.

A faculty or staff member who assists students plan their coursework and academic goals, and explore academic pathways and options that are best for students based on their needs, interests, and goals.

Arcadia’s Academic Calendar lists important dates related to academic programing, opening and closing dates, and other official information for the semester and year.

A personalized outline of the courses and requirements you’ll follow to complete your degree.

The add/drop period at the beginning of the semester is the time in which students may make schedule changes without incurring a failing grade.

Building on a tradition of over 75 years of leadership and innovation in international education and research, Arcadia Abroad provides undergraduates access to approximately 100 programs abroad in Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Wales, Mexico, Latin America, Southern Africa, and the United States. Students from more than 200 colleges and universities participate in Arcadia Abroad’s programs abroad each year. Arcadia continuously strives to provide the highest level of support and service to its program participants wherever they are in the world.

Through its community of practice, Arcadia’s CABR initiative works to bring awareness to and to combat issues and challenges facing members of its University community and the greater community.

A credential awarded for completing a specialized program of study, often shorter than a degree.

The Civic Scholars program is a training ground for students who are passionate about social change, impact, and innovation. Civic Scholars engage in internships geared toward social impact and lead community service and advocacy initiatives.

A cohort is a group of students with common interests or connections that bring this group together.

Designed to support new students in making connections between academics and future professions, the College2Career Scholars program provides access to enhanced career exploration exercises and networking opportunities. Students who complete all activities will receive a $500 grant to be applied to their tuition.

Commencement is the formal name of the graduation ceremony held each May.

Arcadia University offers unique programs designed to help you succeed, called Community Learning Experiences. Each program is tailored to meet the specific goals of Arcadia students to hone your skills, explore careers, and broaden your perspective with a cohort of other students.

Oversight of all on-campus and off-campus university-authorized research (funded and non-funded) that involves human participants and animal subjects is exercised by the Committee on the Protection of Research Subjects (COPRS). COPRS consists of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This oversight is applicable to all research, research training, experimentation, biological testing, psychological testing, and related activities involving human participants or animal subjects. If you will be conducting research involving human participants or animal subjects, you must contact COPRS.

The mission of Arcadia University Counseling Services is to assist students through personal challenges that may interfere with academic success. Counselors provide a safe, confidential place in which students have an opportunity to identify their problem areas and find creative solutions. Counseling Services also provides educational programs, consultation, and outreach to the larger campus community regarding prevention and overall emotional health and wellness. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that is respectful to the diversity of our students.

The U.S. Department of Education uses the “credit hour” as a measure of ensuring consistency both within and between institutions of higher education. This is necessary for ensuring the transferability of a “credit hour” and demonstrating that a course maintains sufficient academic rigor, content, and depth. Each institution is required to establish and enforce a definition of “credit hour” as a requirement for eligibility for federal funding. The current “Credit Hour Policy” recognizes the inherent differences of teaching and learning formats and/or delivery modality. Arcadia University has adopted a variant of the traditional “Carnegie Unit” as a measure of the academic experience associated with a “credit hour.” The Registrar’s Office utilizes this policy in the scheduling of courses each semester

Associated with meal plans to be used at the Dining Hall, the Chat, Easton Cafe of The Global Cafe.

The highest level of academic degree, earned after completing advanced study and research beyond a master’s.

A program allowing students to earn two distinct degrees simultaneously, often in related fields.

Prior to declaring a major a student would be considered undeclared. Being undeclared can allow a student to explore various subjects to count toward electives in a major while also completing the general education credits that each degree program will include. Check out the Exploratory Studies page to learn more.

Quick, drop-in advising sessions to help you with immediate academic questions or schedule changes.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, popularly known as “FERPA” or the Buckley Amendment, is the federal law that governs the rights of students and the corollary responsibilities of institutions of higher education with respect to student education records. The law applies to all colleges and universities that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. The materials listed below provide detailed information regarding FERPA and how student education records are managed at Arcadia University.

When you’re enrolled in at least 12 credits in a semester, which qualifies you as a full-time student.

Global Field Study consists of semester-long courses with a global focus and are open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Some courses may admit sophomores; see course descriptions for more information

A numerical average of your course grades, typically on a 4.0 scale, that reflects your academic performance.

Handshake is an online hub for Arcadia students and alumni to apply for internships or jobs, publish your resume, & sign up for on-campus interviews, career events, and career consultations.

Your go-to resource for tech support, including login issues, Wi-Fi help, and software access.

Honors Convocation at Arcadia celebrates the scholastic achievements and academic excellence of the University community. Students are recognized for Dean’s List and Distinguished Dean’s List Honors and are inducted into national honor societies, and departmental awards are presented. The highly esteemed Provost’s Prize, presented to the sophomore who has attained the highest cumulative GPA for three semester of study at Arcadia, and the President’s Prize, presented to the junior who has earned the highest cumulative average for five semesters of study at Arcadia, are also awarded. Faculty awards including the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Advising and Mentoring and the Adjunct Faculty Award are also presented.

The Honors Program offers highly motivated students unique research, mentoring, and co-curricular opportunities. Students with strong academic profiles are automatically considered.

A temporary, supervised work experience that provides practical training in a professional setting.

Looking for something to do on Friday and Saturday nights? Well, check out the Late Knight programming series of events happening on the weekends.

The Living Our Values Experience Program brings students, faculty, and staff together to do antiracist work and study and develop practices and interconnections between structural systems of discrimination and oppression, including bias, stereotype, prejudice, microaggressions, privilege, and power.

The Learning Resource Network is where you go if you need tutoring for your classes or general academic support.

A graduate-level academic degree earned after completing advanced coursework in a specific field.

Early feedback from professors to show how you’re doing in your classes before final grades.

A secondary academic concentration requiring fewer courses than a major.

Students may enroll on either a full-time (12 or more credits) or a part-time (0 to 11 credits) basis.
Part-time students take 0 to 11 credits during each regular semester.

A supervised, hands-on learning experience in a professional setting, allowing students to apply academic knowledge in real-world practice.

Arcadia University offers many tracks that satisfy the course requirements for admission to graduate schools or dual bachelor’s degree programs in fields like healthcare, medicine, law, engineering, etc. Pre-professional tracks can be completed in conjuction with a student’s undergraduate degree to prepare them to pursue further education beyond Arcadia’s bachelor’s degree program. Examples of pre-professional tracks include pre-medical, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-nursing, pre-enginerring, and more.

A unique, 2-credit spring term class with a field study travel over spring break in March. Preview the World courses change every year and are announced early in fall term for the following spring. You can prepare for Preview by applying for your passport at travel.state.gov. There is a fee for Preview, which covers airfare, lodging, programming, some meals, and airport transportation.

The Registrar office manages your academic records, course registration, transcripts, and graduation requirements.

Resident Assistants are upperclassmen who have been selected to serve as resources, role models, and mentors for residential students. The RA is the most immediate link with students living on their floor. The RA works under the direction of an area coordinator.

Arcadia’s online platform ScholarWorks is where you can access and showcase student and faculty research, creative work, and academic projects.

Arcadia’s online portal where you can register for classes, view your schedule, check grades, and manage your student account.

The Senior Capstone Project is the opportunity for you to bring four years of coursework and academic and personal experiences together by engaging in an extended project in your major. What you do for your Senior Capstone Project depends on both your chosen field of study and your own personal interests. Each major department designs the parameters of the project to help you develop an expertise and synthesize the learning you’ve done at Arcadia. And you select the focus of your research, scholarly or creative activities. Then when you’ve completed your Senior Capstone Project at the conclusion of your final year, you tell the world about your work during our campus-wide celebration of senior projects. Faculty members, family, and friends come out to learn about and enjoy the product of your academic labors. Art and Design majors host an exciting group exhibit. Majors in some departments give oral presentations describing their research and engage in lively discussion sessions. And those in other departments create visual displays of their work for interactive public poster fairs

Arcadia University’s Student Government Organization (SGO) is dedicated to serving Arcadia’s undergraduate population and providing an outlet for student voice. SGO encourages active participation within the university’s community and also promotes self-advocacy for all students. We are focused on enhancing the Arcadia experience through positive changes to campus. The organization aims to encourage student leadership through collaboration between Arcadia staff, faculty, and the student body.

Through Arcadia’s Second-Year Study Abroad Experience (SYSAE), you have the option to study abroad with Arcadia during the fall semester of your sophomore year. While earning credit toward your degree, you’ll have opportunities to explore new cultures, gain international internship experience, learn outside the classroom, and become part of local communities in which you study

The Chat is where you go for a quick bite to eat. Located in the Commons, you’ll find both grab-and-go and made-to-order options.

A federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funding.

If a course is at capacity (full), students can request to be put on the waitlist (via email to registrar@arcadia.edu). Undergraduates need advisor permission via email, send with their email request. This does not guarantee a seat but if someone were to drop a seat may become available depending on where they are on the waitlist.

Withdrawal refers to the process of formally removing a student from a single class or from all classes for a semester. Established procedures must be followed as seen in the Undergraduate Catalog. Withdrawals may have financial implications depending upon the date(s).

The Writing Center is a support service at Arcadia that offers free help with working on any writing assignment, for any course. Most of the help the Writing Center provides is through one-on-one appointments, where a peer who has been highly trained to help with most writing questions (called “consultants”) will work with just you and your writing. Consultants can help you at any time during the writing process, including questions about how to start a writing assignment. Students often work with consultants on things like organizing writing, understanding the purpose of an assignment, practice writing clear sentences and paragraphs, grammar, citation, thesis statements, focus, tone, and more. The Writing Center is located in the Lower Level of the Landman Library, but also offers online appointments, if you’re not physically on campus.

A financial aid program that provides part-time employment opportunities for students to help cover education expenses.

A federal student loan you borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education to help pay for college.

A need-based financial award provided by the U.S. government to support higher education expenses.

Federal Work-Study is a federally funded program. The purpose of this program is to assist full-time undergraduate students that are determined to have financial need, according to the FAFSA Form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), in contributing toward their educational expenses. If a student is eligible for Federal Work-Study their financial award offer will indicate this. Students need to apply for a position and are paid for the hours they work.

Funding sources, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study, that help students pay for college.

A financial award for education that does not require repayment, often based on need or merit.

What you actually pay for college after scholarships, grants, and financial aid are applied.

An online tool that gives you an estimate of your actual cost to attend Arcadia based on your financial situation.

When you take more than the typical full-time course load, usually more than 18 credits in a semester.

Students may enroll on either a full-time (12 or more credits) or a part-time (0 to 11 credits) basis. Part-time students take 0 to 11 credits during each regular semester.

A way to break your tuition and fees into smaller, manageable monthly payments.

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student’s expected family contribution (EFC); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.

The federal requirement that students maintain specific academic standards to remain eligible for financial aid. SAP is evaluated annually and includes both quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitatively, students must successfully complete at least 70% of all attempted credits in the prior academic year (e.g., 24 of 34 attempted credits). Qualitatively, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.75 with fewer than 27 credits toward graduation, and 2.0 once 27 or more credits are earned. Federal aid eligibility is limited to 150% of the standard time required to complete a degree (e.g., 12 semesters for a 4-year program). SAP requirements may differ by aid type. Learn more on the Arcadia University Satisfactory Academic Progress page.

A financial award granted to a student based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria to support their education without repayment.

The cost of instruction at a college or university, typically charged per credit hour or semester.

A financial aid program that provides part-time employment opportunities for students to help cover education expenses.