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A Glossary of Academic Terms
Audit: To take a course for informational purposes only and not to receive a grade.
Core Curriculum: Our school requires students to take some courses that reflect the mission of the university. See the catalog for a more detailed description.
Course Load: The number of the classes a student takes per semester. In order to keep your full time student status, you have to take at least 12 credits (about four courses) per semester. You cannot exceed 18.5 credits unless you pay $500 for every extra credit and your adviser agrees to such a course load.
Credit: Numerical value assigned to each course depending on its academic demands. In order to graduate from ULV you need to complete at least 124 credits and to maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
Dean's List: All students that have completed at least 12 credits and have maintained a GPA of 3.5 will be part of a list recognizing academic excellence.
Grade Point Average: GPA is the average of a student's semester grades starting from the Freshman year. At ULV you need a GPA of 2.0 to graduate. The letter grades translate into point values as shown:
| Grade | Point Value |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
Liberal Arts: A program of study that strives to develop a general intellectual ability and cultural concern.
Matriculation: Enrollment in a college or university.
Prerequisite: A course that a student must complete in order to be permitted to take another.
