Glossary

Certificate

An undergraduate certificate is a structured set of professionally-oriented courses designed to provide recognition that the student has completed coursework in an applied area of focus.  Undergraduate certificates may be offered to non-degree and/or degree-seeking students.  Undergraduate certificates require between 12-24 credit hours and at least two-thirds of the coursework for undergraduate certificates must be comprised of upper level courses (300 level or above). Certificates appear on transcripts.

Comprehensive Major

A series of courses prescribed by an academic department which result in an area of specialization. The comprehensive major is an alternative to the selection of a major and minor or two majors in meeting baccalaureate degree requirements.

Concentration

A concentration develops competencies and learning within a specific subject area in an approved major/degree. Concentrations require a minimum of 15 hours of coursework and are limited to degree-seeking students. Concentrations are typically associated with educational endorsements. Concentrations may appear on a transcript.

Degree Audit

An analysis of a student's progress toward meeting degree requirements. The Audit provides a summary of institutional requirements, General Studies and major/minor program requirements. Students can access their degree audit through MyBLUE.

Double Major

A student with a double major completes the requirements of two distinct majors. Students in double-major programs must fulfill all of the requirements for both majors and all of the general education requirements for the degree. In some cases, this may require the student to complete more credit hours than are required for the degree. Students completing a double major will receive one degree upon completing the program, and their academic transcript will list both majors.

Dual Degrees

A dual degree refers to a student simultaneously completing the requirements of two distinct undergraduate degree programs (such as a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts).  The University does not award the same degree twice.  For example, it is not possible for a student to be awarded two Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees with majors in Biology and Political Science or two Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAED) degrees with endorsements in English Language Arts 7-12 and Art K-12.

Students in dual-degree programs must fulfill all of the requirements for both degrees. The student must also fulfill the general education requirements for both degrees.  In addition, the student must complete at least 30 semester hours beyond the minimum required for the first degree and a minimum total of 150 semester hours.

Dual-degree students will be awarded two separate degrees upon completion of their programs.

Elective

A course in the curriculum in the choosing of which a student has some options, as opposed to a required course. The term free or unrestricted elective denotes that the student either has complete choice in the selection of a course or choice among courses in several different fields. A restricted elective is one limited to a certain discipline or group of disciplines, such as an English elective or a social science elective.

Emphasis

An emphasis develops competencies and learning within a specific subject area in an approved major/degree.  Emphases require a minimum of 21 hours of coursework and are limited to degree-seeking students.  Emphases appear on transcripts.

Endorsement, Teaching Field Endorsement

A field of study in a broad area which qualifies a person for graduation and eligibility for certification to teach in the State of Nebraska. The field endorsement will normally qualify a person for teaching two or more subjects, i.e., Social Science includes the subjects of History, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Endorsement, Teaching Subject Endorsement

Study in a specific subject area leading to teacher certification.

Major

A major is a sequence of courses and activities leading to a degree in an academic discipline or subject area.  The NU Board of Regents adopted a 120 credit hour maximum for all undergraduate degree programs beginning Fall 2012 (Regents Policy 5.1.4). Majors consist of a minimum of 30 hours of coursework.  The major may fall within a single department of instruction or may overlap several departments. In the latter case, the major is described as a combination or interdisciplinary major. Majors/degrees appear on transcripts

Matriculation

The first registration following admission as a classified student.

Minor

A minor represents additional value for developing students' competencies and learning within a program of student.  Minors require between 18-24 credit hours of coursework and are limited to degree-seeking students.  Minors appear on transcripts.

Option

An option within a major/degree program are two or more paths to complete the program.  Students may complete coursework before declaring the option that aligns with the coursework.  Options do not appear on transcripts.

Senior Check

A Senior Check is a final listing of the degree requirements remaining for the student to complete. The Office of the Registrar will follow the Senior Check for graduation checkout. Students may request a Senior Check once they have reached 95 or more earned credit hours and two semesters prior to when they expect to graduate.

Supplemental Endorsement

A supplemental endorsement is obtained by completing the approved program requirements.  Supplemental endorsements can be added to an existing teaching certificate or, in some cases, may be added concurrently with a subject or field endorsement to an initial certificate in accordance with Nebraska Department of Education requirements. Supplemental endorsements appear on the transcripts if they are part of a degree program. A supplemental endorsement cannot be used to meet graduation requirements in teacher education.

Transcript

A copy of the permanent academic (educational) record at an institution of higher education. It becomes an official transcript when the seal of the institution is affixed and the signature of the Registrar is appended.