A.A. - Associate in Arts. A general degree offered at PC in a variety of majors.

A.S. - Associate in Science. A degree in a math/science-related major offered at PC.

Advisor - Someone who assists students in developing a program of study within a major of his/her expertise.

Assessment - Tests in reading, writing, and math used for placement.

Bachelor’s degree - A degree granted by four-year colleges and universities.

Catalog - Official Porterville College publication with information about majors, regulations, and policies.

Certificates of Achievement or Completion Certificates - are awarded after completion of requirements in a specific technical or vocational area of study.

Class schedule - A listing of courses offered each term. It includes class hours, instructors, and room assignments. It is published each term.

Closed/Open classes - Closed class: no seats left - enrollment has reached capacity. Open class: seats remaining - enrollment has not reached capacity.

Community Service classes - Fully feefunded classes that carry no college credit value.

Counselor - A professional staff member assigned to assist students with personal, career, and educational planning and development.

Credit by Examination (challenge a class)- To receive credit without having to take the class.

Credit/No-Credit grading - A grading system allowing a course to be taken for a grade of credit/no credit, rather than for a letter grade of A,B,C,D,F.

Electives - Courses taken by the student which do not fulfill any specific requirement but provide units toward graduation.

Full-time student - A student enrolled in 12 or more credits.

General Education or Breadth - Certain groups of courses required of all degrees regardless of major.

Lower Division - The first 2 years of college work, i.e. freshman, sophomore. Only lower division work is offered at a community college.

Major - The major field of study a student plans to pursue, i.e. Business, Criminology. Major requirements are listed in the college catalog.

Prerequisite - A requirement which must be completed prior to enrollment in a course. If required, it is listed in the course description in the catalog.

Transcript (record) - Offi cial copy of a student’s record produced by Admissions and Records.

Transfer course - Courses numbered 100- 299 are transferable. At the end of each course description in the catalog it will note if the course is transferable to a UC or CSU.

Waiting List - You can request to be placed on a waiting list for a closed class. Waiting list students must show up for class the first day to be considered.