Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City

Understanding College Terminology

CREDIT HOUR

  • Courses taken in college are measured in terms of credit hours. To earn one credit hour, a student must attend a class for one classroom hour (usually 50 minutes) per week for a whole semester.


FULL-TIME/PART-TIME STATUS

  • Students who are enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hours during a fall or spring session or enrolled in six or more semester credit hours during a summer session are classified as full-time.
  • Student who are enrolled but do not meet the definition of full-time status are classified as part-time.


GPA

  • Grade Point Average
    • All letter grades are assigned a point value. The letter grade point value multiplied by the number of credit hours a course is worth determines quality points earned for a class.
      • A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0
    • To calculate GPA, calculate the sum of quality points and divide by the sum of credit hours attempted.

For example: You are enrolled 4 classes, totaling 12 credits. Grades earned are 2 A’s, 1 B and 1 C. By referring to the numerical equivalent listed above, calculate quality points earned as follows: (4x3) + (4x3) + (3x3) + (2x3) = 39 total quality points. GPA for the semester is 39 quality points divided by 12 credits: 39 ÷ 12 = 3.25 grade point average.

Developmental (zero-level) courses are not for college credit courses and grade earned will not calculate into the grade point average.


CUMULATIVE GPA

  • The cumulative grade point average is calculated using the sum total from all semesters of all college-level courses attempted at all accredited colleges/universities.

CUMULATIVE GRADUATION/RETENTION GPA

  • Cumulative Graduation/Retention Grade Point Average
    • The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education set the minimum standard for retention, which is a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
      • The difference in cumulative and cumulative graduation/retention grade point average is in how academic forgiveness may is applied. For those students receiving academic forgiveness by repeating courses or through academic reprieve or renewal, the cumulative graduation/retention grade point average is recalculated to exclude forgiven courses/semesters. A forgiveness form may be obtained in the Registrar’s office.


MATRICULATE

  • To enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree (degree-seeking).
    • Matriculation policy states that students making normal progress toward graduation with continued enrollment in successive fall and spring semesters follow degree requirements published at the time of first enrollment.
    • Students who fail to continue enrollment in classes pertaining to their degree in successive fall and spring semesters are considered to have broken matriculation and upon return are held to the degree requirements of the most current degree program.


PREREQUISITE

  • A course or placement test score that is required prior to enrollment in a specific course.


PROBATION

  • Academic probation occurs when the cumulative graduation/retention grade point average of a student with 30 or more attempted credit hours falls below the retention standard of 2.0. Students in probation status must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average for current semester grades. Less than a 2.0 grade point average for current term would result in an academic suspension. Academic probation status is automatically removed once a student’s cumulative graduation/retention grade point average reaches 2.0.
  • Financial Aid probation occurs when students do not meet the minimum requirement of at least 75% completion of attempted enrollment hours with at least a C average and/or a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0.


SUSPENSION

  • To cause to stop for a period; students who fail to meet the conditions of academic probation will be automatically suspended for one 16-week semester following the date of suspension.
  • Students who have been suspended twice from OSU-OKC must attend another school and may reapply for admission once their cumulative graduation/retention grade point average is 2.0 or better.