Articulation Agreement: An agreement between colleges and universities that simplifies the process of transferring credits by recognizing equivalency between certain courses offered at different institutions.
Associate degree: The first level of college degrees, earned after completing a minimum of 60 credit hours of academic work.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): A degree that includes modern language courses among its requirements.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.): A degree that typically focuses on science-related courses.
Bachelor’s Degree: The degree awarded to students who graduate from a four-year college or university, usually a prerequisite for pursuing a master's degree.
Community College: A local educational institution that offers a wide range of educational opportunities, including certificate programs and associate degree tracks.
Commuter Student: A student who lives off-campus and travels to campus for classes and other commitments.
Concentration: An area of specialization within a major, involving a focused set of classes in a specific field.
Credit Hour: A unit of measurement that indicates the amount of class time required per week for a course.
Early Action, Non-Binding Deadline: A non-binding early application deadline, allowing students to be admitted early without any obligation to enroll at ODU.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): A value calculated from the FAFSA that represents the amount a student or family is expected to contribute toward college costs.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, required to apply for need-based financial aid from the government.
Financial Aid: Support in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study programs to assist students in covering college expenses.
First-Generation Student: A student whose parents or guardians have not earned a four-year degree.
Final Transcript: A transcript showing the final grades of high school or transfer courses completed, required for admission after graduation or completion of the most recent semester.
Freshman: A first-year college student who has earned fewer than 30 credit hours.
Full-Time Student: An undergraduate student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours during the fall/spring semesters or nine hours in the summer.
Grant: Financial aid that does not need to be repaid.
Loan: Financial aid that must be repaid, typically borrowed from the government or private banks.
LEO Online: ODU's student and employee information system. It contains your official record, including personal information, grades, transcripts, employee payroll information and more.
Major: The primary field of study required to earn a degree, such as biology, where specific courses are focused on the chosen area.
MIDAS: A system granting secure access to email, designated computer programs, and other applications and services.
Minor: A secondary area of study pursued alongside a major.
MyODU: An online portal providing tailored information for students, faculty, and staff.
Off-Campus: Referring to students who live in apartments or houses near campus rather than in residence halls or with their families.
Orientation: A program held in summer and before school starts to welcome new students and families to the college.
Placement Tests: Tests used to assess a student's proficiency in a subject, determining the appropriate level of coursework or potential course exemptions.
Pell Grant: Federal financial aid for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, not requiring repayment.
Residence Halls: Buildings on campus where students live, eat, and engage in activities together.
Semester: The time period during which courses are offered, often referred to as a "term."
Transcript: An official record of a student's completed courses and grades at a college or university.
Transfer Credits: Credits earned from courses completed at another institution and transferred to be counted toward academic credit at the current college.
Transfer Student: A student who has completed courses at another college or university before enrolling at ODU.
Tuition: The amount paid to attend a college: The amount of money paid to attend college.
University Identification Number (UIN): Located on your offer of admission. This important ID number will enable various ODU departments (ex. Office of Student Financial Aid) to serve you more efficiently in the event you have any questions or concerns about your student record.
Undergraduate: A student who is actively working towards earning a bachelor's degree but has not yet completed the requirements for graduation.
Work-Study: A Federal financial aid program that offers part-time employment opportunities to students, taking into account their financial need. These jobs are typically available within the university and provide students with valuable work experience while helping to fund their education.