Accreditation

LaGuardia Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the middle states region, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several locations internationally.

AA Degree

The Associate in Arts degree (A.A) is awarded to students who have completed a two- year course of study, which covers the core requirements needed to complete the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. Typically, an AA degree requires about 60 credits comprised of general education requirements (or core requirements), major requirements and elective requirements. AA majors include Childhood Education, Communication Studies, Education Associate: The Bilingual Child, Human Services: Gerontology or Mental Health, Liberal Arts: Social Sciences and Humanities (Deaf Studies Option, History Option, International Studies Option, Labor and Community Organizing Option, Latin American Studies Option, Media Studies Option, Psychology Option, Theater and Communication Option), Philosophy, Secondary Education, Spanish-English Translation, Writing and Literature.

AAS Degree

The Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS) is awarded to students who have completed a two-year course of study, which covers the core requirements needed to complete the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. The AAS is a terminal degree, meaning that it is the highest level of instruction offered in a given field; therefore, the AAS is not meant to transfer, but to begin a career. If students choose to continue to a four-year college, they should be aware that a good number of credits may not transfer. Typically, an AAS degree requires about 60 credits comprised of general education requirements (or core requirements), major requirements and elective requirements. AAS majors include Business Management (Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Option or International Business Option), Commercial Foodservice Management, Commercial Photography (Digital Photography Option or Fine Arts Photography Option), Computer Operations (Computer Network Administration and Security Option), Computer Technology (Telecommunication Option), Emergency Medical Technician/ Paramedic, Industrial Design, Music Recording Technology/ Joint with Institute of Audio Research, New Media Technology, Nursing, Paralegal Studies, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Programming and Systems, Radiologic Technology, Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, and Veterinary Technology.

AS Degree

The Associate in Science degree is awarded to students who have completed a two- year course of study, which covers the core requirements needed to complete the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. Typically, an AA degree requires about 60 credits comprised of general education requirements (or core requirements), major requirements and elective requirements. AS majors include Accounting, Biology, Business Administration (Aviation Management Option), Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Dietetic Technician, Engineering Sciences (Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering), Environmental Science, Fine Arts (Design Studies Option), Liberal Arts: Mathematics and Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and School Foodservice Management.

Articulation Agreement

The agreement between colleges and universities that courses have essentially the same goals; similar content, rigor, standards, names; common course numbers where possible; and equal amount of credits for transfer. Schools review standards of skills and content to assure that students who complete the coursework are prepared to successfully complete upper-division coursework. See our articulation agreements.

Bachelor’s Degree

A diploma awarded to a student upon successful completion of the four-year degree requirements. Typically, a bachelor’s degree requires about 120 credits comprised of general education requirements (or core requirements), major requirements and elective requirements.

Basic Skills

Pre-college-level courses designed to improve basic skills for academic success such as reading, writing and math (below the 101 level).

Catalog

The LaGuardia Community College Catalog provides program information, general education information, course descriptions and administrative information to assist students.

Common Application

The Common Application is an online and print admission application that students may submit to more than 400 member colleges. The transfer application consists of the application, instructor evaluation, college official’s form, midterm report, and secondary school final report. Some colleges also require college-specific supplements.

CUNY (City University of New York)

The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university serving more than 480,000 students at 23 colleges and institutions in New York City. The University’s 23 institutions include 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, the Graduate School and University Center, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies, and the CUNY School of Public Health.

CUNY BA Baccalaureate Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies

CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies (CUNY BA/BS) is a University-wide individualized bachelor’s degree where students work one-on-one with faculty. With an annual enrollment of 500, this degree is intended for self-directed, academically strong students who have well-formulated academic and career goals. Most are working adults.

CUNY Online BA

The CUNY Online Baccalaureate is an internet program which allows students to have flexible time and convenient ways to complete their baccalaureate degree. The online BA now offers two majors: an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture and an online Bachelor of Science in Business.

Graduate Degree/Student

A graduate degree is obtained after a student has received a bachelor’s degree. It is awarded by an institution of higher education beyond the undergraduate level.

GPA (Grade Point Average)

The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points (grade points) earned by the number of hours attempted for which grades of A, B, C, D and E were earned and then rounded off to two decimal places. Each semester, the GPA for that semester and the cumulative GPA are indicated on the transcript. For more information, see the Catalog under Grade Point Average.

Liberal Arts

General education courses focus on communication, creativity and critical thinking, along with the substance of the course’s information, an appreciation of the aesthetics of the area of study and its connection to the larger social web. Students become educated through making connections of such varied information with the different methods of organizing human experience that are practiced by different disciplines.

Major

A major is a specific area of study focusing on one defined discipline that includes a related set of academic courses.

Merit-based Scholarship

Merit-based scholarships are given to students who have excelled in a specific field. It can be given to students who have outstanding community service, for special talents in art, music, dance, drama and writing, and for a high grade point average.

Minor

Part of a degree program in a defined discipline, including a related set of academic courses. Its requirements are distinct from the major and require fewer hours. Needs-based Scholarship
This scholarship is given to students who demonstrate financial need, due to their parents being in a lower-middle income bracket and may not have the funds to pay for college, but they make too much to qualify for government grants and other assistance primarily for students at or below the poverty level.

Pathways

Pathways is a Fall 2013 CUNY-wide initiative that establishes a new system of general education requirements and new transfer guidelines. Students must fulfill the common core, flexible core and the college option through courses in eight categories. It is important for students to be aware of curriculum requirements at LaGuardia and the senior colleges.

Prerequisite

A course or requirement that is to be completed prior to the next one. Many catalogs list requirements alphabetically by number; rarely is this an indication of the order of courses to be taken. Prerequisites indicate the curriculum building blocks to get to the advanced courses. Some departments will block registrations if prerequisites have not been met. Students who bypass prerequisites may jeopardize their learning. Faculty will not go back to cover material that was to be taken in a previous class.

Private School or Institution

Private schools are not run by the government, and funding comes from tuition, investments and private donors, although many receive public subsidies. Examples of private institutions in New York are New York University, Columbia University, Pace University, Vassar College, School of Visual Arts and Marymount Manhattan College.

Repeat Courses

A student may repeat a course in which a low grade has been received. Upon completion of the repeat, a repeated course form must be completed at SLCC Enrollment Services. The original grade remains on the transcript, but is marked as a repeat and removed from the GPA calculation. Some four-year majors have a specific limit on how many times a course can be repeated. Some colleges/universities use the second repeated course grade even if the first grade was higher when considering transfer of courses and GPA.

SAT/ACT

The SAT and ACT are standardized tests for admission into colleges. They test math, writing and analytical skills. When looking at the CUNY application or other admission applications, please don’t confuse the ACT with the CUNY-ACT test, which measures readiness for English 101.

Semester

A term which includes 12 weeks each for Fall I and Spring I and six weeks each for Fall II and Spring II.

SUNY (State University of New York)

The nation’s largest and most comprehensive state university system, SUNY’s 64 geographically dispersed campuses bring educational opportunity to virtually all New Yorkers. SUNY’s campuses are divided into four categories – University Centers/Doctoral Granting Institutions, University Colleges, Technology Colleges, and Community Colleges – and include colleges such as Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY Downstate, Binghamton, New Paltz and Empire State College.

Student Complaint Resolution

The Division of Student Affairs, Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities/Advocacy (OSRR/A) provides students with information on academic and non-academic matters and advocacy services on behalf of the student body in a fair, equitable and objective manner. Many of the issues presented are addressed through dispute resolution and mediation services. View the Student Complaint Resolution.

Syllabus/Syllabi

A syllabus contains specific information about the course, such as: information on how, where and when to contact the instructor; an outline of what will be covered in the course; a schedule of test dates and the due dates for assignments; the grading policy for the course; and specific classroom rules. If a student plans on transferring, keeping syllabi is a good practice in case he or she needs to make a case for a course being equivalent.

Traditional Student

Generally, students who begin college immediately after high school or shortly thereafter (ages 18-22) and who are full-time students are considered traditional students.

Transcript

A copy of a student’s permanent academic record. Official copies are required for transcript evaluation and transfer of credits to a four-year school. You will need official transcripts sent from every school of higher education you have attended. Unofficial copies may be used for advising while the official evaluation is pending. Learn how to view your unofficial transcript.

Transfer Student

The process of going from one school to the next. A transfer student to a four-year institution typically has earned his/her associate degree. Generally, students will need at least 24 credits to transfer to a four-year CUNY/SUNY school and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Please note that some schools have higher GPA requirements. Students seeking to transfer with less than 24 credits generally have higher GPA requirements and will be required to submit high school information as part of the admissions process.

University Application Processing Center (UAPC)

Transfer applications, which are only online, are processed by UAPC.

Undergraduate Degree

The degree granted to students upon completion of undergraduate courses (usually a bachelor’s degree).