Academic Definitions

A degree, which is an award signifying a rank or level of educational attainment and which is conferred on students who have successfully completed a degree program, is represented by the official degree designation (e.g., A.S. – Associate of Science, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, etc.). The degree program completed would be listed on the student’s diploma.

A degree program is defined by the combination of its degree designation (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) and a program title that represents the overarching area of study (e.g., English, History, Graphic Arts). Degree programs are approved by the institutional Board of Governors (BOG) and Higher Learning Commission and listed on the official West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission inventory of degree programs. The degree program completed would be listed on the student’s diploma.

A major is a field of study within an approved degree program having its own curriculum. A degree program may have more than one major. Typically, an undergraduate baccalaureate major includes a minimum of 30 credit hours. The major must include an upper division courses and a writing-intensive course. An institution may elect to include the major(s) on the student’s diploma.

A concentration or ‘area of emphasis’ means a specific specialized area of study which has defined course offerings within an approved degree program and major. Normally, a minimum of 12 and no more than 18 hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within a baccalaureate degree program and a minimum of six and no more than 12 credit hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within a graduate degree. Typically, a minimum of six and no more than nine credit hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within an associate degree program. Areas of emphasis completed would appear on the student’s transcript.

A track serves the purpose of structuring program requirements to allow students to select among different independent pathways within a single program (e.g., certification track/non-certification track; research /internship track). Tracks do not have program codes or CIP codes.

A minor is a secondary area of specialization beyond a college major that is earned in a specific subject area of study and must be composed of at least 12 credit hours of course work with a minimum of 6 hours at the upper division level (300 or above). A student may not earn a baccalaureate minor in a subject area in which he or she is earning a baccalaureate major. Each minor must have a minimum of 9 unique credit hours distinct from any other academic credential. Minors are only available at the undergraduate level.

An undergraduate certificate program (as distinguished from the one-year Certificate Degree Program offered by the community and technical colleges) is a coherent, specialized curriculum designed for students in search of a specific body of knowledge for personal or career development or professional continuing education. Normally, a minimum of (6) six and no more than (9) nine credit hours would constitute a certificate program at the associate level, and a minimum of 12 and no more than 21 credit hours would constitute a certificate program at the baccalaureate or graduate level.

A certificate program is not attached to a degree program, although credit hours earned in a certificate program may be applied to a degree if they are deemed appropriate by the institution. The awarding of a certificate upon completion of the program is not contingent upon completion of a degree program. The certificate appears on the student’s transcript and the institution may issue an official certificate of completion. Students who are pursuing an undergraduate certificate without also being enrolled in a bachelor's degree program will not be eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid.

A graduate certificate constitutes a coherent body of knowledge consisting of a minimum of 12 and no more than 21 credits of graduate course work. Graduate certificates may be linked to an existing Fairmont State degree program, or it may be unique and free standing. Credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a graduate certificate. Non-degree students intending to apply to a certificate program are required to apply for admission before they complete 12-credit hours. Students must be admitted to the certificate program to be awarded a certificate. See the graduate catalog for Graduate Certificate Policies and Regulations. The certificate appears on the student’s transcript and the institution issues an official certificate of completion.

A teaching specialization is a state-approved curriculum that prepares students to meet teaching certification standards in a specialized content area and at a specific programmatic level. A specialized content area pertains to the specific teaching, administrative, or student support specialization(s) listed on a professional license in accordance with W. Va. Code §18A-3-1. Teaching specializations may be a major, concentration, or endorsement obtained across grade levels.

A joint degree program is one common degree program offered jointly by two participating institutions in which the student takes courses from both institutions and, upon graduation, receives a degree listing both institutions on the diploma or certificate.

Education that uses one or more of the technologies listed below to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor or instructors and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor or instructors, either synchronously or asynchronously.

The technologies that may be used to offer distance education include:

1. The internet;
2. One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communications devices;
3. Audio conference; or
4. Other media used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in items 1–3 above.

For purposes of this definition, an instructor responsible for delivering course content must meet the qualifications for instruction established by HLC.