WSU Health Professions Student Center
New Student Glossary
New Student Glossary
| Buildings/Locations on Campus | |
| ASCC | Academic Success and Career Center; located in Lighty 160-180; provides career services for students as well as tutoring and accommodations for students with disabilities |
| The Bookie | The Barnes & Noble bookstore located in the CUB; contains textbooks, school supplies, and WSU apparel |
| Bryan Hall | The Clock Tower building |
| Chinook | Renovated from the Old Bookie building; new location on campus as of 2017; similar to the CUB; contains several amenities with the goal of improving the quality of life for WSU students |
| CougTech | Located in CUE 302; help with technology-related issues |
| CUB | Compton Union Building; the main hub for WSU students; contains food court, the Bookie; location of many student organization offices |
| CUE | Center for Undergraduate Education; AKA Smith Center |
| French | Holds offices for the university’s administrators, including the president, human resources and personnel department, the Registrar, and more; located on Wilson Road off of Stadium Way; connected to Light Student Services |
| Lighty Student | Hosts career services, student advising, Student Financial Services, Multicultural Student Services, New Student Programs, Student Affairs, and the Office of Admissions; located on Wilson Road off of Stadium Way; connected to French Administration |
| HPSC | Health Professions Student Center; located in CUE 502; location of all pre-health specialists |
| Johnson
Hall |
Located across from Martin Stadium |
| Johnson
Tower |
Located between the CUE and Todd Hall |
| MLC | Math Learning Center; Cleveland 130; provides tutoring for all math courses |
| MSS | Multicultural Student Services; located in several locations across campus including the 4th floor of the CUB; provide support for multicultural, first generation, and other underrepresented students |
| The Pit | Fulmer 226, lecture hall |
| Todd Aud | Todd 116, auditorium |
| Colleges | |
| College | A constituent part of WSU; academic and research programs are organized into colleges |
| CAHNRS | College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences |
| Carson COB | Carson College of Business |
| CAS | College of Arts and Sciences |
| COE | College of Education |
| CON | College of Nursing |
| COP | College of Pharmacy |
| CVM | College of Veterinary Medicine |
| Elson S. Floyd COM | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine |
| Honors | The Honors College |
| Murrow COC | Edward R. Murrow College of Communication |
| VCEA | Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture |
| Degrees | |
| Post-Secondary
Education |
College/university education after high school/secondary education; in the US, secondary education is typically grades 8-12, and primary education is K-7 |
| Undergraduate
Education |
Schooling that leads to earning either a two or a four-year degree |
| Associate Degree | Two-year degree |
| AA | Associate of Arts |
| AS | Associate of Sciences |
| CVT/LVT/RVT | Certified Veterinary Technician/Licensed Veterinary Technician/Registered Veterinary Technician; credentials depend on state regulations |
| LPN/LVN | Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse; credentials depend on state regulations |
| OTA | Occupational Therapy Assistant |
| Pharm Tech | Does most of the pill counting and label sticking; pharmacists check their work. Requires training at a community college for about 4 quarters, and state certification. Some chains, like Safeway and Walgreens, have a PharmTech training program of their own. |
| PTA | Physical Therapy Assistant |
| Bachelor Degree | Four-year degree |
| BA | Bachelor of Arts |
| BS | Bachelor of Science |
| BSN | Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
| RN | Registered Nurse |
| RN-BSN | Program for an RN that wants to earn the BSN degree |
| Post-Baccalaureate | Refers to a 2nd bachelor’s degree or to coursework for those who have already earned a first bachelor’s degree. Some students choose to participate in these programs to improve their academic record before applying to medical school; others may be changing careers. |
| Graduate School | Schooling that leads to earning a Master’s degree or PhD |
| PhD | Doctor of Philosophy; a doctorate degree; it is a research degree (typically four years post-baccalaureate). The highest academic qualification in American education. |
| Master’s Degree | Typically two years post-baccalaureate |
| MOT | Master of Occupational Therapy |
| NP | Nurse Practitioner |
| Professional
School |
Typically Post-Baccalaureate education that entails specialized training for a specific career (e.g., medical school) |
| DDS | Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| DMD | Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry |
| DO | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine; treat patients using holistic philosophies as well as modern technologies and medicine; licensing is equivalent to MD |
| DPT | Doctor of Physical Therapy |
| DVM | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
| MD | Medical Doctor; use remedies such as medications or surgery to combat diseases; licensing is equivalent to DO |
| OD | Doctor of Optometry |
| OTD | Doctor of Occupational Therapy |
| PA-C | Physician Assistant – Certified |
| Pharm D | Doctor of Pharmacy |
| Transfer | Typically an Associate degree that will allow you to transfer completed coursework from a community college to WSU or another 4-year university |
| AAS-T | Associate of Applied Science Transfer; your credits will be assessed on a course-by-course basis, you are not guaranteed junior standing, and you are still responsible for WSU UCORE classes |
| AS-T | Associate of Science Transfer; generally junior standing will be granted, you will be responsible for any UCORE classes that are not fulfilled by your degree, as well as a Roots of Contemporary Issues course [ROOT], a second course in [COMM] or [WRTG], a diversity course [DIVR], and a Integrative Capstone [CAPS] |
| DTA | Direct Transfer Agreement; associate degree that incorporates general education requirements similar to WSU’s, you’ll get credit for lower-division UCORE courses and will generally be given junior standing, you will still need to complete any upper-division UCORE courses as well as an Integrative Capstone [CAPS] |
| Certificate | An officially recorded document issued by WSU, displaying the WSU seal and president’s signature; issued to students who have completed a course of study that meets the guidelines and has been approved by the Faculty Senate |
| Occupational Titles | |
| CNA | Certified Nursing Assistant; may complete training programs after high school at community colleges, trade schools, or online |
| MA | Medical Assistant; may complete training programs after high school at community colleges, trade schools, or online |
| Occupational
Therapy Aide |
Not the same as an OTA; typically has a high school diploma or equivalent and receives on-the-job training |
| Pharmacy Assistant | Lowest on the totem pole in a pharmacy. Does what is needed by both the pharmacist and pharm-techs; may double as a cashier. Excellent position for students who want to gain experience with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. Requires an HIV/AIDS Training Course and state certification. |
| Physical
Therapy Aide |
Not the same as a PTA (see below); typically has a high school diploma or equivalent and receives on-the-job training |
| Veterinary Assistant | Typically has at least a high school diploma or equivalent and receives on-the-job training; can complete training programs online or at community colleges |
| Professional Tests | |
| DAT | Dental Admission Test; usually required for admission into dental school |
| GRE | Graduate Record Exam; the most commonly required admission test for graduate and professional schools |
| MCAT | Medical College Admission Test; usually required for admission into medical school |
| OAT | Optometry Admission Test; usually required for admission into optometry school |
| PCAT | Pharmacy College Admission Test; usually required for admission into pharmacy school |
| TEAS | Test of Essential Academic Skills; usually required for admission into nursing school |
| Educational Terms | |
| Dead Week | The last week of classes before final exams; no exams are allowed to be given |
| FAFSA | Free Application for Federal Student Aid; this form helps provide financial aid to college students all over the nation |
| FERPA | Family and Education Rights and Privacy Act; this protects the privacy of student education records |
| Finals Week | Full week where students take their scheduled final exams; no classes are held |
| Lab | Space in which students can perform certain functions in controlled situations that help them test and understand what is being taught in the lecture, can be led by a TA or the professor |
| Lecture | Class where instructor/professor lectures on class material |
| Major | Student’s chosen field of study |
| Midterms | Exams that test students on lecture materials; typically in the middle of the semester |
| Minor | Specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study |
| NEP | Nutrition and Exercise Physiology |
| Pre-Req | Prerequisite; this is a required course that must be taken in order to enroll into other classes or to get into graduate programs |
| SHS | Speech and Hearing Sciences |
| Syllabus | An outline of topics or subjects that will be covered in your course, it may also contain the professor’s expectations and policies on grading or attendance |
| Syllabus Week | The first week of classes; contrary to the name, professors do not typically spend more than 1 lecture at most going over their syllabus |
| Transcript | Permanent academic record of a student |
| UCORE | University Core Requirements; these are required to graduate from WSU |
| Extracurricular Activities Terms | |
| ASWSU | Associated Students of Washington State University; WSU’s student government body |
| CCE | Center for Civic Engagement; located in CUB L45 and L48; organization that holds volunteer events in the Pullman Community for all WSU students |
| DU | Down Under Recreation Center; an extension of the UREC located in the “down under” (basement) of the Stephenson complex |
| IM | Intramural Sports; recreational sports organized through the university |
| ORC | Outdoor Recreation Center; part of UREC; organizes outdoor adventure activities for students |
| RSO | Registered Student Organization; organization in which all student clubs are registered |
| SEB | Student Entertainment Board; student group that puts together fun events for all WSU students to attend |
| UREC/SRC | AKA “the Rec”; University Recreation/Student Recreation Center; facility on campus that houses exercise equipment and fitness classes |
| Online Portals | |
| CougSync | AKA “OrgSync”; your way to connect to university organizations and clubs, communicate with other members, and explore your community |
| myWSU | The website that provides all information regarding your WSU account; this is where you enroll for classes, check financial aid/status, and access a variety of WSU resources |
| People on Campus | |
| Advisor | School official assigned by your college who will help you choose classes and make sure you are taking the right courses to graduate |
| Alumni | Someone that has graduated from WSU |
| Chair | AKA Department Chair; the chief academic and administrative officer of the department; reports to the Dean of the College |
| Dean | Faculty member that is head of a college or department |
| Faculty | Teaching staff with the university, typically doctoral level |
| Instructor | College teacher ranking below assistant professor |
| OC | Orientation Counselor; guides future students through the Alive! Orientation |
| Pre-Health | Located in the HPSC, they will help you prepare yourself for professional school |
| Professor | Teacher of the highest rank in a college or university; usually has a PhD |
| RA | Research Assistant; participates in research in a lab on campus |
| Staff | University support personnel |
| TA | Teaching Assistant; usually in charge of instructing labs and assisting the instructor/professor |
| Residence Life Terms | |
| RA | Resident Advisor; a student who is responsible for supervising and assisting other, typically younger, students who live in the same residence hall |
| RDA | Residence Dining Account; account that allows students living in residence halls to purchase food and other necessities at many locations on campus |
| RED | Residential Education Director; a non-student responsible for the daily operations of the residence hall; supervises RAs |
| RHA | Residence Hall Association; a student-run residence hall governing body |