Key Academic Terms for International Students

Bachelor: A degree earned after completing a 4-year university program, requiring 120-144 semester credits.

College: In the U.S., "college" refers to post-secondary education and is often the same as "university." In other countries, it may mean high school or post-secondary education.

Community College: A two-year school offering associate degrees, transfer programs to 4-year universities, and career-focused programs.

Conditional Admission: Admission given when a student needs to meet certain requirements, such as improving English or providing final grades.

Cost of an I-20: The total amount of money an international student must show to cover one year of tuition and living expenses in the U.S.

Credential Evaluation: A comparison of foreign education systems to the U.S. system. It can be general (overall equivalency) or detailed (specific courses and grades).

Credit: A unit used to measure coursework in U.S. postsecondary education. One credit hour typically represents one hour of classroom instruction per week, with additional time spent on homework and other preparation.

Domestic (or U.S.) Student: United States citizens, permanent residents of the United States (“Green Card” holders), asylees, refugees, parolees, undocumented students, or DACA students.

EducationUSA: A U.S. government service providing information for international students about studying in the U.S.

English Proficiency Documentation - This is a document submitted when applying to a degree program that proves the applicant's ability to use English. It shows that the applicant has either completed a recognized academic program in English, earned a qualifying score on an approved English test, or finished courses, degrees, or diplomas accepted by the institution.

Grade Point Average (GPA): A number showing academic performance, calculated by averaging grades and credit hours for courses.

Grading System: U.S. grades range from A+ (highest) to F (fail). Grades can also be shown as numbers in some cases.

Graduate: In the U.S., graduate programs are advanced studies after a bachelor’s degree (e.g., master’s or doctorate). In some countries, "graduate" means bachelor’s programs, and advanced studies are called "post-graduate."

Honors: A program for high-achieving students with more advanced and challenging courses.

Hybrid Learning: A mix of in-person and online learning, where students may join a class virtually or work on activities outside the classroom.

International Student: Students who entered or plan to enter the United States on a non-immigrant visa (e.g., F-1, J-1, H-1b, etc.) and maintain non-immigrant status (e.g. Temporary Protected Status (TPS)) throughout their study. This includes those who have submitted residency application documents to USCIS, but have not received formal approval verifying that they have become a permanent resident of the United States of America.

NACES or AICE: A U.S. association of organizations that evaluate foreign educational credentials.

Non-Degree Student: A student taking classes but not enrolled in a degree program.

Out-of-state Tuition: is the cost of attending a public college or university for students who do not have 'residency' in the same state as the school. It is more expensive because these students and their families do not pay taxes that help support the school.

Postsecondary: Education after high school, including universities, colleges, trade schools, or vocational training, often leading to a degree or certificate.

Recognition: Confirms that an educational institution is valid and allowed to offer programs in its country.

Regional Accreditation: A way to confirm that U.S. institutions are legitimate, granted by six regional agencies overseeing colleges and universities in specific areas of the country.

Room and Board Fees: The cost of living in campus housing (room) and eating meals through a university meal plan (board).

Secondary School: Education between elementary school and university. In the U.S., it is like middle school (lower secondary) and high school (upper secondary).

Transfer Students: Students who move from one school to another and bring their earned credits with them.

Transcript: A document showing a student’s courses, grades, and academic achievements.

Tuition Fee: The cost of attending a school, covering classes but not books or other supplies.

Undergraduate Study: Four years of education after high school, leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Academic Advising: A structured process where students receive guidance to select courses, plan their academic path, and achieve their educational objectives.

Blended Learning: An educational model combining in-person instruction with online activities, such as assignments and videos, which students complete independently.

Catalog or Course Catalog: An official resource detailing academic programs, course offerings, policies, and requirements at a college or university.

Cooperative Education: An educational program integrating academic studies with professional work experience, often extending the time needed to complete a degree but providing valuable career preparation.

Contact Hours: The amount of time a student spends in direct instruction with an instructor. For example, a 3-credit course typically involves 3 hours of class per week over a semester.

Concentration: A specialized focus within a broader major, allowing students to study a particular subfield in more depth.

Credit: A unit of measurement representing the workload of a course. Typically, one credit hour equals one hour of class time and additional study or preparation each week.

Elective: A course chosen by the student that is not specifically required for their degree program but contributes to overall credit requirements.

FERPA: (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) A U.S. federal law protecting the privacy of student educational records and regulating the conditions under which records may be accessed or shared.

Freshman: A student in their first year of high school or undergraduate study.

Full-time Student: A student enrolled in the minimum number of credits required for full-time status, generally 12 credits for undergraduate students and 6 credits for graduate students.

Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH): Housing designed to accommodate students of all gender identities and expressions in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Junior: A student in their third year of high school or undergraduate study.

Major: The primary academic discipline or field of study in which a student concentrates their coursework.

Minor: A secondary academic discipline requiring fewer courses than a major, allowing students to gain knowledge in an additional field of study.

Plagiarism: The act of using another person's intellectual property—such as ideas, words, or research—without proper acknowledgment, in violation of academic integrity.

Resident Assistant: A trained student leader who supports peers living in campus housing by providing guidance and fostering community.

Semester: An academic term lasting 15-16 weeks, forming part of a two-semester system in a typical academic year.

Semester Hours: A measure of the time allocated to study a subject, with most bachelor's degrees requiring 120 semester hours, equivalent to 30 hours per academic year.

Senior: A student in their fourth and final year of high school or undergraduate study, often preparing for graduation and post-graduate plans.

Sophomore: A student in their second year of high school or undergraduate study.

STEM: An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, encompassing disciplines central to innovation and technical advancement.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Curricular Practical Training is an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or other type of required internship or practicum that a sponsoring employer offers through agreements with a student’s school.

DS-2019: A Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. This document is necessary for obtaining a J-1 visa and maintaining J-1/J-2 non-immigrant status. The DS-2019 consists of two pages: Page 1 includes program and personal details, while Page 2 contains pre-printed instructions. Each dependent (J-2) accompanying a J-1 Exchange Visitor must have their own DS-2019 issued through SEVIS, identifying them as dependents.

Designated School Official (DSO): The person on campus who gathers and reports information on international students to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and assists international students in the visa and employment authorization process. An institution’s DSO will be listed on important immigration documents such as an I-20.

I-20: A Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status. This document is required to obtain an F-1 visa and maintain F-1/F-2 non-immigrant status. The I-20 has three pages: Page 1 includes program and personal details, Page 2 contains pre-printed instructions, and Page 3 provides space for employment and travel authorizations. Each F-2 dependent accompanying an F-1 student must have an individual SEVIS I-20 identifying them as a dependent.

I-94: A record created when an individual enters the U.S., serving as proof of their current immigration status.

Immigration Status: Refers to the legal authorization to be in the U.S. and is distinct from the visa itself, which is issued to request entry. Maintaining status means complying with the terms of a visa type and being legally in the country. Failure to comply with these conditions results in being “out of status,” which can lead to potential removal.

Non-immigrant: The U.S. government uses the term non-immigrant (or nonimmigrant) to refer to foreign nationals who are admitted to the United States temporarily for a specific purpose (eg. tourism, business, temporary work, or study). By contrast, the term immigrant refers to foreign nationals who wish to come to the United States permanently. Once a person has entered the U.S. in non-immigrant status, they are restricted to the activity or reason for which they were allowed entry. Most non-immigrant visas are issued only to applicants who can demonstrate their intentions to return to their home country.

Optional Practical Training (OPT): A temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

Principal Designated School Official (PDSO): Each SEVP certified school must have one PDSO. PDSO serves as the main point of contact for SEVP, updates, adds and deletes information from a school’s I-17, and files the school’s recertification package. Also has all the capabilities within SEVIS as a DSO.

Responsible Officer (RO): RO serves as a main point of contact for the Department of State (DOS). Each certifying school must have one RO. The RO is responsible for filing the Annual Report and Redesignation applications. The RO also has the same capabilities as an ARO within SEVIS.

Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP): A unit within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that administers SEVIS. SEVP provides oversight of U.S. institutions to ensure they remain in compliance with federal regulations.

SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System): A digital system used by the Department of Homeland Security to monitor international students and scholars with F, J, or M visas in the U.S. Payment of the SEVIS fee (also called the I-901 fee) is mandatory for these visa applicants.

Social Security Number: A Social Security Number (SSN) is a 9-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents, including international full-time students. Its primary purpose is to track individuals who earn income of any kind in the United States for taxation purposes.

SEVIS Transfer - The process of moving a student's record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) from one school to another. This allows the student to keep their SEVIS ID number and record history while changing schools in the United States.

STEM-Designated Degree Program: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List is a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields of study for purposes of the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension described at 8 CFR 214.2(f).

Visa: A document placed in a passport that permits a foreign national to request entry to the U.S. Visas are issued exclusively at U.S. Embassies or Consulates abroad and cannot be renewed or replaced while within the U.S.

Below is a list of common nonimmigrant statuses encountered when advising international students and scholars. For a full list of nonimmigrant statuses permitted to study in the USA please follow this link.

B-1/B-2: Business and tourist visitor statuses, respectively. Individuals with these statuses are not permitted to enroll in classes.

E-3: An employment-based visa status available to Australian citizens. It must be employer-sponsored and is intended for positions requiring at least a bachelor’s degree in a specialized field.

F-1: A student visa status primarily used by individuals pursuing degree programs. F-1 students must adhere to specific regulations set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as maintaining full-time enrollment. F-2 is the status for dependents (spouse/child) of F-1 visa holders.

J-1: An exchange visitor visa status. The Millersville University is authorized to sponsor five J-1 categories: Research Scholar, Professor, Short-term Scholar, Student-Intern, and Student. The first four categories pertain to individuals coming to the university for activities like research, teaching, or training, while the student category applies to those admitted to academic programs. The J-1 program's purpose, as outlined in the Fulbright-Hayes Act (1961), is “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.” J-1 visa holders must comply with regulations from both the Department of State (DOS) and DHS. J-2 is the dependent (spouse/child) status of J-1.

H-1B: A temporary, employment-based visa status for individuals working in a specialty occupation. Sponsorship by an employer is required, and the role must require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field. H-4 is the dependent (spouse/child) status of H-1B.

O-1: An employment-based visa status designated for individuals with extraordinary ability. O-3 is the dependent (spouse/child) status of O-1.

TN: A visa status for employment, available to citizens of Canada and Mexico under NAFTA/USMCA. TD is the dependent (spouse/child) status of TN.

TPS: 'Temporary Protected Status' is a temporary immigration status granted by the U.S. government to individuals from certain countries experiencing unsafe conditions, such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary situations. TPS allows eligible individuals to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation for a specific period, which can be renewed if the unsafe conditions in their home country persist. TPS does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship, but recipients can apply for these statuses separately if eligible.

WB/WT: Business and tourist visitor statuses for individuals from certain countries who are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a visa stamp in their passport.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Manages the ports of entry into the United States.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Previously known as the Immigration & Naturalization Service, DHS establishes regulations for non-immigrant visas. It includes three bureaus—CBP, ICE, and USCIS—that collectively handle immigration-related responsibilities.

Department of State (DOS): Responsible for implementing U.S. foreign policy and issuing all immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. DOS also designates exchange visitor program sponsors and oversees the regulations and policies for the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 Visa).

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Focuses on investigating and enforcing laws related to border security, customs, trade, and immigration. ICE also manages the SEVIS database.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Handles lawful immigration to the United States, determining eligibility and adjudicating most applications for immigration benefits.