Transfer Glossary

Admission GPA to block transfer

Admission GPA—the grade point average used to determine acceptance to a program. May include a certain number of credits or certain courses.

After-degree—after you complete an undergraduate degree, you may choose to further your education in a more specialized area. For example, an after-degree in education.

Applied Degree—normally a four-year degree which includes one year of practicum; offered through colleges and technical institutes; work experience is part of the program; generally less expensive than going to a university; Example: Bachelor of Applied Science; may limit options for graduate studies (master‘s level).

Bachelor's degree (undergraduate degree)—normally taken as a four-year (120 credit) program at a university or university-college; some institutions offer three year  degrees, particularly in arts.

Block or Program Transfer—normally a diploma that is accepted as a block into a university degree; also referred to as 2 plus 2 degree or post-diploma degree program.  
For example:  Lakeland College’s environmental diploma wildlife and fisheries major graduates may receive up to 2 years (60 credits) when they transfer to Athabasca University, Royal Roads University, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge and University of Minnesota.

Certificate to credits

Certificate—generally a one-year, specialized program; sometimes offered on a part-time or full-time basis, daytime or evening; may ladder into diploma programs.   

Competitive GPA—the required GPA recommended by the receiving institution in order to be considered for admission. The minimum GPA to apply to a program may be 2.5, but if many students apply each year, the competitive GPA may be 3.0.   

Coop Programs—generally available in the third or fourth year of a university degree; cooperative education options may be available in which a student works in a related field as part of the degree requirements.   

Core Requirements—courses required in order to meet graduation requirements at the college or university.   

Credential—the document issued by the post-secondary institution in recognition of completion of a required set of courses. Examples are certificate, diploma and degree.   

Credits—the numerical value assigned to a course by a post-secondary institution based upon the number of contact / classroom hours per week.

Diploma to electives

Diploma—normally taken full time over two years as a package of courses (canned program); can be pursued on a part-time basis; may contain work placements. Lakeland examples: Animal Science Technology, Business Administration, Early Learning & Child Care and  Interior Design.

Direct-entry program—programs to which students may be admitted directly from high school. (also see Non Direct Entry Program).

Electives—courses chosen by students for credit towards their programs.

Grades to junior level courses

Grades—may be assigned as percentages, letter grades, number grades; Lakeland College uses the 4-point scale.  

Grade Point Average (GPA)—the student’s average based upon number of credits and marks. GPA may be used to determine such thing as admission to a program, suspension and Dean’s List.  

Graduate Degree—continuation of study upon completion of an undergraduate degree in a specialized area of study and at an advanced level, such as a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree/Ph.D.

High School Prerequisites—high school courses required in order to be admitted to a certificate or degree program. For example, many Lakeland College programs require 30-level English and math for admission; high school courses required to take a university-level course in the same or similar field. Example: CHEM 30 from high school is required in order to take any university-level chemistry courses.

Junior Level Courses—normally 100-level courses; introductory and broad in nature; provide the prerequisite for higher level courses; may be restrictions as to the number of junior-level courses allowed in order to meet graduation requirements.

Multiple mini interview (MMI) to overall GPA

Multiple mini interview (MMI)—an interview format to assess candidate’s soft (interpersonal) skills. The MMI sees groups of candidates go through a circuit of interview stations. Since it was developed by McMaster University Medical School in the early 2000s, it is now used by medical, dental, pharmacy and veterinary schools as well as other professions including medical lab technology, physiotherapy and dental hygiene.

Non-direct entry program—programs to which students cannot be admitted directly from high school. They may require 30-60 credits of coursework in order to be admitted; specific courses may be required for admission; or the first and second year of requirements may be called "pre-professional" studies; Example - 'Pre-Pharmacy". (see also Direct-entry program).

Overall GPA – a student’s total grade point average on all courses.

Pre-professional year to residency requirement

Pre-professional year—a general year of courses (normally taken in Arts, Sciences or a University Transfer program) which are used to determine admission to a specific program or faculty. For example: Students cannot go directly from high school into pharmacy, so they take at least one year of pre-professional studies before applying to a pharmacy program.  

Prerequisites—courses required in order to be eligible to take subsequent courses.  

Post-Secondary Prerequisites—university-level courses required before taking higher level courses. For example SOC 100 is a prerequisite for 200-level sociology classes.

Receiving Institution—the institution (i.e. university) the student transfers to in order to receive a credential; transfer credits are awarded by the receiving institution.

Residency Requirement—the percentage of course work a student must complete at the degree-granting institution in order to receive a credential; at most institutions, residency requirement is 50% which means that students must spend two years (60 credits) of a four-year degree (120 credits in total) at the university.

Sending institution to specified credit

Sending/Transfer Institution—the institution where the student first completes courses.  

Senior Level Courses—normally 200, 300, 400-level courses; higher level and more specialized; normally, prerequisite courses are required; transfer students must check the university (receiving institution) calendar regarding senior-level requirements and course prerequisites.

Shelf Life—some institutions have time limits on the granting of transfer credit, especially in areas where up-to-date curriculum is essential (such as business, nursing, computer science). 

Specified Credit—when transfer credit is awarded for an exact match. For example HIST 266 = HIST 351.

Transfer agreements to unspecified credit

Transfer Agreements—agreements between two institutions (a sender and a receiver) that specify how the sending institution's course or program will be accepted for credit at the receiving institution.  

Transfer Credits—course credits may be awarded for matching courses at different institutions; minimum grades to transfer may be in effect; may be recognized through formal agreements or may be awarded only after the student has applied to the receiving institution and submitted official transcripts.

University Transfer program—the first one or two years of a degree-level program taken at a college before transferring to a university or private college with an accredited degree program.

Unspecified Credit—when transfer credit is awarded but the course is not deemed an exact  match. For example HIST 266 = HIST 3xx.