:: Glossary G-N
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GPA—Grade Point Average; an average of grades earned, weighted by the number of credit hours earned.

grades—Professors give letter grades to show the quality of a student's work. The grade tells how well the student is performing on tests, research papers, and class participation. Most colleges or universities require that students maintain a minimum grade point average to continue their studies. Here are the grades and the grade point averages:

graduate degree—a degree earned after completing the bachelor's degree. Examples include master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.'s).

graduate level— Graduate applicants are expected to have completed 16 years of primary-secondary-tertiary education and to have earned a university first degree. Students without a background equal to this cannot be accepted for graduate study, regardless of the name of any first degree they may hold.

graduate student—a student, usually working toward a master's or doctoral degree, who has already completed a bachelor's degree.

Hoosier—slang for a resident of Indiana.

immigration—the act of coming into a country to live where one is not a native resident.

in-state (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to Indiana residents; also known as resident tuition fee. Residents of other states or countries pay out-of-state tuition. (See out-of-state.)

loan— money lent (usually by banks or the U.S. government) to be paid back with interest. (Note: Most U.S. banks will not give loans to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents without a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signing on the loan.)

major— an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization.

mandatory fees—required costs charged by the university in addition to tuition: examples include student activity fee, student health fee, technology fee, and transportation fee.

master's degree— Students who have excelled as undergraduates may wish to continue their education at the graduate level. Generally application to a graduate or professional school is made during the final year of a bachelor's program or after completion of the degree. Students entering graduate study often study the same subject as their undergraduate major. Students who choose a new major may be required to complete undergraduate courses in the new major without graduate credit to make up deficiencies in their background. Depending on the field, a master's degree requires from one to three years to complete. Two years are most commonly required.

merit-based scholarship—money awarded to students to attend college. It is usually based on a student's academic or athletic achievements.

minor— an academic subject chosen as a secondary field of specialization, less than a major.

minority—a person who is a member of an ethnic group that is small in proportion to other groups.

miscellaneous fees—extra costs charged by the university for services such as transcripts, admission applications, and independent study.

mile—a unit of distance equal to 1,609 meters.

need-based scholarship—financial aid granted to a student who lacks money to attend college based on income.

neighborhood—a district or section with distinct characteristics in which a group of people live; at BSU, this refers to a grouping of two or more residence halls on campus.

non-degree study Only under special circumstances are students from overseas admitted to non-degree study. Acceptance in non-degree status does not guarantee subsequent admission to a degree program. Courses taken in non-degree status do not generally apply toward degree requirements if a student is later admitted to a degree program.

nonresident (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to students whose permanent residence is outside of the state of Indiana; also known as out-of-state tuition fee.

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