How to Articulate Handbook - Appendix B: Glossary of Articulation Terms

Advanced Standing

Advanced standing is placement to a certain level, based on assessment of previous work, or on achievement in a placement test. In BC institutions credit is normally not granted for advanced standing, and credit for exempted courses (see Exemption) must normally be replaced by taking other courses.

Articulation

The process used by post-secondary institutions to determine which courses are equivalent to one another. Articulation is normally a course-to-course analysis or comparison, but it can also involve whole programs. By extension, articulation refers to the development and implementation of agreements that provide for inter-institutional movement of students or the connecting of two or more educational systems.

Assigned Credit

Transfer credit is "assigned" when a course is assessed as being equivalent to a specific course at a receiving institution. For example, UFV's Math 111 course is equivalent to UBC's Math 100 course. (See also Unassigned Credit.)

Block Transfer

Block transfer is the process whereby a block of credits is granted to students who have successfully completed a certificate, diploma or cluster of courses that is recognized as having an academic wholeness or integrity, and that can be related meaningfully to a degree program or other credential.

Cluster Credit

"Cluster credit" denotes situations where two or more courses must be combined, at either the sending or the receiving institution, in order to achieve equivalence

Course Outline

A description of the main content, organization and expected outcomes of a course, normally including the number of credits awarded for successful completion, hours of class time required, evaluation procedures, assignments, texts and readings.

Credit

The value assigned to a course. For example, many courses are valued at 3 credits. Most credentials specify the number of credits to be earned. (See also Unit.)

Exemption

The waiving of a requirement. A student may be excused from completing a course or program requirement if the appropriate institutional representative grants approval; usually exemptions are granted only to students who have proven that they have comparable learning. Although an exemption may be granted, the student is normally required to replace the exempted course with an alternate.

Level Credit

Some institutions assign "level credit" where a course does not have an equivalent at the receiving institution. e.g. CAP CHEM 205 (3) = UVIC CHEM (1.5) 200 lev. (See also Unassigned Credit.)

Lower Level (or Lower Division) Courses

Introductory courses, usually making up the first two years of a university degree, are considered lower level or lower division courses.

Preclusion

A preclusion indicates that a student will not receive credit if he/she takes the specified course later, as in "precludes credit for Anthropology 301."

Receiving Institution

The institution to which a student intends to transfer. In an articulation agreement, it is the institution which grants credit for course work completed at a sending institution.

Sending Institution

The institution from which a student is transferring. In a transfer agreement, it is the institution where the courses were completed.

Transfer

Transfer credit indicates the granting of credit toward a credential by one institution for programs or courses completed at another.

Unassigned Credit

Transfer credit is "unassigned" when a course is assessed as being of a university level but not equivalent to a specific course at a receiving institution. Example: VIU CHIN (3) 2nd yr.

Unit

Two institutions in BC use a unit rather than credit system: the University of Victoria and North Island College. Three semester credit hours = 1.5 UVic units. (See also Credit.)

Upper Level (or Upper Division) Courses

Advanced courses offered in the final two years of a university degree are considered as upper level or upper division courses.

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