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 |