COLLEGE VOCABULARY

Academia: The environment or community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship.

Sentence: She is determined to pursue a career in academia after completing her graduate studies.

Cohort: A group of students or individuals working together or sharing common characteristics.

Sentence: Our freshman cohort meets regularly to discuss group projects and share resources.

Dissertation: A long essay or research paper written by a candidate for a degree.

Sentence: She spent months researching her dissertation on climate change impacts on coastal cities.

Thesis: A statement or theory put forward to be supported or proved in an academic essay, often for a graduate degree.

Sentence: Her thesis on artificial intelligence applications in healthcare was published in a leading journal.

Prerequisite: A required course or condition needed before enrolling in another course.

Sentence: Biology 101 is a prerequisite for enrolling in the advanced biology lab.

Capstone: A final project or experience that serves as a culmination of a course of study.

Sentence: The capstone project for my engineering degree involved designing a sustainable energy system.

Tenure: A permanent post, usually for a professor or academic staff, after a probationary period.

Sentence: After years of research and teaching, he was granted tenure at the university.

Citation: A reference to a source of information used in a scholarly work, typically formatted in a specific style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Sentence: You must include proper citations for all sources referenced in your research paper.

Bursar: The university official responsible for managing financial accounts, tuition, and fees.

Sentence: The bursar’s office can help you with any questions regarding tuition payments and financial aid.

Fellowship: A scholarship or grant given to support advanced study or research, typically for graduate students.

Sentence: She was awarded a fellowship to conduct research on environmental policy.

Rhetoric: The art of persuasive speaking or writing, often studied in communication or English courses.

Sentence: The professor’s course on rhetoric teaches students how to craft compelling arguments.

Dean: The head of a specific college or department within a university.

Sentence: The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences announced a new initiative to improve academic advising.

Accreditation: The process by which an educational institution is evaluated and recognized for meeting specific standards.

Sentence: The university’s engineering program is accredited by a national professional organization.