Important Definitions

Terms and Phrases to Know

• Advisory

  An advisory is a recommendation (not a requirement) that will help you prepare for the course you're considering. For example, a particular course may be listed in the catalog with an advisory that recommends taking another course first. (See also Corequisite and Prerequisite.)

• Apply

  You must apply for admission before you can register for classes. If you took classes at De Anza before, but didn't attend in the previous quarter, you'll need to submit a new application. 

  (If you've taken classes at Foothill College, but didn't take classes at De Anza in the previous quarter, you must submit an application for admission to De Anza.) 

  Applying is not the same as to registering. See the definition for "Register" below.

• Assessment

  Assessment is the process of determining a student's level of knowledge and skills in a particular subject, so the student can be placed in the right course to pursue their goals.

  At De Anza, this often refers to assessment in English and Math. Most students can be assessed on the basis of their U.S. high school transcripts or through Guided Self-Placement. Assessment is sometimes referred as “placement.”

  Visit our Assessment Center to learn more.

• Associate Degree (AA or AS)

  These academic degrees include Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees in various subjects. Both generally require a minimum of 90 quarter units, including

  • Specific courses required for a particular major
  • General Education courses
  • Elective courses

  It usually takes at least two years of full-time study to meet these requirements. (See also "Associate Degree for Transfer")  

• Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)   

  An Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) is a kind of associate degree that provides priority admission consideration to the California State University system, but not always to a specific campus. These can be either an Associate in Science for Transfer or an Associate in Arts for Transfer degree.

  Students should consult the college catalog or a counselor to be sure they understand the requirements and conditions of an ADT.  

• Career Training  

  Career training programs prepare students for a wide range of high-wage, in-demand careers – including Administration of Justice, Business and Accounting, Child Development, Design and Manufacturing Technologies, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Phlebotomy and others.

  These programs are designed for students who want to enter the workforce immediately, start a new career or upgrade their job skills. Many programs include hands-on learning and can help prepare students who want to transfer into four-year degree programs at universities.   

  You can learn more about these programs by visiting our Career Training website.

• Catalog

  The college catalog lists courses, certificates, degrees, fees, policies, programs and services for De Anza. De Anza's catalog is available online.

• Certificate or Certificate of Achievement

  The Certificate of Achievement and Certificate of Achievement-Advanced are issued to students who have completed specialized programs in a variety of fields. These programs vary in length but often require less than two years of full-time study to complete.

  A Certificate of Achievement usually requires 18-26 academic credits, while a Certificate of Achievement-Advanced usually requires 27-45 credits. Students should consult the catalog, a counselor or their academic department when planning what courses to take. 

• Community College 

  A community college offers lower-division college courses and awards certificates and associate degrees. It's considered a "two-year" school although students may take longer to complete their programs.

  Some community colleges also offer bachelor's degree programs that generally take four years to complete. De Anza will offer a bachelor's degree in Automotive Technology Management, beginning in 2025.  

• Corequisite 

  A corequisite is a requirement that must be completed at the same time that you are taking a particular course. For example, a particular course might have a corequisite course that you must complete in the same quarter. (See also Advisory and Prerequisite.)

• Course Registration Number (CRN)

  The Course Registration Number or CRN is the identifying number for a particular section of a course. (The college may offer multiple sections of the same course in each quarter, with different times or instructors.) You can find the CRN for each section in the schedule of classes, and use it when you register.

• Dismissal

  Students can be dismissed from college for poor academic achievement or for excessive course withdrawals.

• Double Counting

  Some courses can count toward the requirements for both a major and general education. 

• Dual Enrollment

  Dual enrollment allows students to take college credit courses while they are attending high school or an eligible adult school, with permission from an appropriate school administrator or counselor. (High school students also need permission from a parent or guardian.)

• Freshman

  A freshman is a first-year student or one who has completed fewer than 45 quarter units for college credit.

• Full-Time Status

  Students are considered "full-time" if they are enrolled in at least 12 units during a given quarter.

• General Education (GE) Requirements  

  General Education requirements (sometimes called "Breadth Requirements") are courses that are required for all degrees, in addition to specific requirements for a particular major.

  These are intended to give students a well-rounded education that prepares them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.

• Lower Division

  Lower-division courses are taken during the first two years of college, typically including General Education courses and prerequisites for upper-division courses that are required for your major.

• Major

  A major is an academic discipline that a student specializes in. It can also be called a "concentration" or an area of study.

• Part-Time Status

  Students are considered "part-time" if they are enrolled in 11 or fewer units during a given quarter.

• Prerequisite

  A prerequisite is a requirement that you must meet before you can take a particular course. For example, you might be required to take one or more courses, in a certain order, before you can enroll in a more advanced course. Once you have met the requirement, the prerequisite is considered to be "cleared." See also Advisory and Corequisite.

• Probation

  Probation is an academic status that indicates a student has done unsatisfactory work and needs to improve. Probation can lead to dismissal or loss of financial aid. Two types of probation – academic and progress – are described on the Probation webpage.

• Quarter

  An academic quarter is usually 12 weeks. De Anza and other colleges observe  an academic calendar that includes fall, winter and spring quarter, plus a summer session. Other colleges and universities use a calendar of two semesters, plus summer, per year.

• Register or Registration

  Registration is the process you follow to register or sign up to take a particular class. You must first apply for admission to De Anza before you can register.

  If you took classes at De Anza before, but didn't attend in the previous quarter, you'll need to submit a new application. (Also, if you've taken classes at Foothill College, but didn't take classes at De Anza in the previous quarter, you must submit an application for admission to De Anza.) 

  Registering is also sometimes referred to as "enrolling" in a class.

• Schedule

  The college schedule of classes is a list of all courses offered in a quarter, with their dates, times and locations. Your individual schedule consists of the courses in which you have registered for a quarter or summer session.

• Sophomore

  A sophomore is a second-year student or one who has completed 45 or more quarter units for college credit but has not yet earned a degree.

• Transcript

  Your transcript is an official record of the courses you took and grades you received. You can order a transcript from the Admissions and Records Office or online through MyPortal.

• Transfer

  "Transfer" is often used as a short way of referring to the process of transferring from a community college to a university. This usually involves applying and being accepted for admission by the university AND completing courses at the community college that will be accepted for credit toward a four-year degree granted by the university. 

• Units

  Units (or credit units) are earned for completing a course. They can be applied toward requirements for a certificate, degree or transfer.

• Upper Division

  Upper-division courses are taken during the third and fourth year of college. These generally are not offered by community colleges.

• Withdrawal

  Withdrawal is the official term for dropping a class. If you want to stop attending, it's your responsiblity to complete the formal withdrawal process, by logging into MyPortal and following the online procedure to drop a class.

  For a standard, 12-week class, you can drop during the first two weeks of the quarter and have no grade recorded. However, if you drop after that, you may still receive a W, I or other undesirable grade. A W grade doesn't affect your GPA, but it will apply toward the number of times you can take a class, which is generally limited to three attempts.

  The deadlines to drop a class and have no grade recorded will vary for summer classes and other classes that are less than 12 weeks.