Glossary of Terms | Institutional Research & Analytics

Please email any questions regarding the definitions provided below or for information about a term not included in the glossary to [email protected].

Articulation (Transfer) Agreement

A pathway that clarifies how courses taken at another institution apply toward completion of a baccalaureate degree at UVA. These can be formed between a system and individual UVA schools (e.g., VCCS and School of Engineering; VCCS and College of Arts and Sciences) or between a specific school (e.g., Richard Bland College) and a UVA school (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences).

Go to Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

Branch Campus

A location geographically apart and independent of UVA’s main campus in Charlottesville that is:

Permanent in nature;
Offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential;
Has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and
Has its own budgetary and hiring authority.

Go to the Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

Certificate

Go to For-Credit Certificate Program and Non-Credit Certificate Program below.

Center or Institute

An organization other than an academic department or administrative unit within a school or a unit reporting to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP) created to enhance the educational, research, and/or service missions of the University. Organizations created outside a school or unit reporting to the EVPP are also considered an academic center or institute if their activities will involve academic faculty members and their mission is to enhance the educational, research, and/or service missions of the University.

Go to the Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

CIP Code

CIP Codes are the Department of Education’s national taxonomic system for reporting of institutional data. All degree programs and for-credit certificates are assigned a six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code, which is used to classify the degree or certificate for state and federal reporting. Under SCHEV requirements, an institution may only have one degree program and one for-credit certificate per 6-digit CIP Code at each level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral). A list of UVA’s current degree and certificate offerings and their assigned CIP Codes is available on the SCHEV Degree Inventory website.

For information on changing the CIP Code for an existing program, go to the Change Degree Program or Change Certificate Program guides.

Collaborative Program

An academic program offered by two or more UVA schools wherein each school assumes an equal role in the academic oversight of the program.

Go to the Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

Combination Degree

When two UVA schools partner to award two separate degrees from an overlapping course of study. Combination degrees often allow a shorter time for completion due to the “double-counting” of some coursework.

Go to the Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

Concentration, Minor or Track

Concentrations, minors, and tracks (C/M/Ts) are transcripted collections of coursework through which students gain specialized knowledge in a particular field or discipline. The minimum and maximum number of credits vary depending on the structure and coursework of the C/M/T, and should be in balance with and complement the total credits and related requirements of the ‘parent’ degree program.

Go to the Concentrations, Minors, and Tracks Guide for more information.

Degree Program

A defined, integrated course of study that leads to the award of a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree, which is listed on the student diploma. Per SACSCOC requirements, all degree programs must meet the following standards for the minimum total number of credits required for the degree:

Number of Credits Required for Degree
Degree Level	SACSCOC: Minimum Total # of Credits Required by Degree Level
Bachelor’s	At least 120 credit hours
Graduate	The first degree (usually the master’s) must be at least 30 credit hours. Any higher degrees should contain progressively more hours.

Per SCHEV requirements, every new degree program must include a common core of specific, individual courses that all students in the program complete. The required # of credits in the core is calculated by a set percentage of the total # of credits required for the degree:

Set Percentage of Total Number of Credits Required for the Degree
Degree Level	SCHEV: Minimum % for Common Core by Degree Level
Degree Level	SCHEV: Minimum % for Common Core by Degree Level
Bachelor’s	25% of total credits, excluding general education
Master’s	50% of total credits
Doctoral	25% of total credits, excluding dissertation

Go to the New Degree Program Guide for more information.

Delivery format

The manner/form in which a degree or certificate program is delivered. The University offers three delivery formats:

100% Face to Face: Students can complete the entire degree/certificate (i.e. the total credit hours required) in a traditional, Face to Face format with no online coursework.
100% online: Students can complete the entire program online, with no face-to-face coursework.
Hybrid: Students will be required or able to complete the program via a combination of Face to Face and Online courses

For information on adding to/changing the delivery format of an existing program, go to the Change Degree Program or Change Certificate Program Guides for more information.

Dual Academic Award

An agreement between UVA and an external partner institution designed to expedite/facilitate completion of two existing degree programs at each institution through some reciprocity of credits. The agreement results in separate program completion credentials each of which bears only the name, seal, and signature of the school/institution awarding the degree to the student.

Go to the Organizational Changes and All Other Actions Guide for more information.

For-Credit Certificate Program

A formal program of study that leads to the award of a transcripted credential (certificate), in which all instruction is offered on a for-credit basis. For-credit certificates require a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 credits (exceptions may be granted, in the case of curricular requirements established by a licensing board, state agency, or other oversight entity). For-credit certificates must have an admissions process and assessment plan, approved by the Office of Institutional Research and Analytics. There are three types (levels) of for-credit certificates at UVA:

Undergraduate: Curriculum is composed of undergraduate-level courses and is typically pursued by students who do not hold an undergraduate degree; Post-Baccalaureate: Curriculum is composed of mostly graduate-level courses and is typically pursued by students who already hold an undergraduate degree;

Graduate: Curriculum is composed of graduate-level courses and is typically pursued by students who already hold an undergraduate degree.

Go to the New Certificate Program Guide for more information.

Joint Degree

A degree program offered jointly by a UVA school and an external partner institution, which leads to the award of a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree that bears the names, seals, and signatures of each of the two (or more) institutions awarding the degree to the student.

See Organizational Changes and All Other Actions guide for more information.

Off-Campus Site

A location that is geographically separate from the University’s main campus in Charlottesville, VA, where instruction related to a credit-bearing degree or certificate program takes place. Per SACSCOC requirements, UVA is required to monitor the percentage of every degree program that is offered at an off-campus site, and notify SACSCOC and/or obtain their advance approval, in accordance with the following thresholds:

If 25-49% of a degree program will be delivered at an off-campus site, UVA must notify SACSCOC in advance of instruction taking place. If 50% or more of a degree program will be delivered at an off-campus site, UVA must obtain SACSCOC approval before instruction at the site may occur.

See Off-Campus Sites guide for more information.

Non-Credit Certificate Program

A formal program of study that leads to the award of a transcripted credential (non-credit certificate), for which no credit is earned for instruction or coursework.

See New Certificate Program guide for more information.

Program Length

The total number of credits required to complete a degree or certificate, as well as the time allowed for a student to complete the program.

For information on changing the length of an existing program, see the Change Degree Program or Change Certificate Program guide for more information.