Terms & Acronyms

Foundation Requirements

  • FW – Written communication (ENG 100, ESL100, or ENG 190
  • FS or FQ – Symbolic reasoning (Mathematic courses)
  • FG – Global multicultural perspective
  • FGA* – Global multicultural perspectives in group A (Pre-history to 1500 CE)
  • FGB* – Global multicultural perspectives in group B (1500 CE to Present)
  • FGC* – Global multicultural perspectives in group C (Pre-history to Present)

*Need 6 credits from 2 categories (different time periods) to fulfill the General Education requirement

Diversification Requirements

  • DA – Diversification course in Art**
  • DH – Diversification course in Humanities**
  • DL – Diversification courses in Literature**
  • DB – Diversification courses in Biological Sciences
  • DP – Diversification courses in Physical Science
  • DY – Diversification courses in Laboratory Science
  • DS – Diversification courses in Social Sciences (need 6 credits from 2 different departments)

**Need 6 credits from 2 categories

Focus

  • H or HAP – Hawaiian, Asian & Pacific course
  • E or ETH – Contemporary Ethical Issues course
  • O or OC – Oral Communication course
  • W or WI – Writing Intensive course
  • HSL – Hawaiian or Second Language courses

Class Standings

  • Freshmen – Students who have earned fewer than 25 semester credit hours.
  • Sophomores – Students who have earned 25-54 semester credit hours.
  • Juniors – Students who have earned 55-88 semester credit hours.
  • Seniors – Students who have earned 89 or more semester credit hours.

Other

Transfer Applicants – Students currently or previously enrolled at a college or university OTHER than UH Manoa; this includes other University of Hawaii System Schools.

Core Requirements – Foundation Requirements and Diversification Requirements

Special Graduation Requirements – Focus Requirements and Hawaiian or Second Language Requirement

CLEP – College-Level Examination Program.  Students should consult the Counseling and Student Development Center at UHM to apply, pay the fee, and take the corresponding subject examination.

AP – Advanced Placement Examination.  They are administered in high school by the Educational Testing Service for the College Entrance Examination Board for students who have completed specific college-level courses in high school.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Test required of students whose first language is not English.

Backtracking – Completion of a lower-level or prerequisite course after (or while) taking an advanced course.

Full-Time Students – Enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester (undergraduates) or 8 or more credits per semester (graduates).

Part-Time Students – Enrolled in fewer than 12 credits per semester (undergraduates) or fewer than 8 credits per semester (graduates).

Introductory Courses – All 100-level courses and those 200-level courses without explicit college course prerequisites.

Lower Division Courses – Courses numbered 100-299

Upper Division Courses – Courses numbered 300-499

Major – The area of academic concentration or specialization in which the degree was conferred.

Minor – Limited concentration of courses in an area other than the major and relating to an approved baccalaureate degree.