Glossary of Terms

Before you can register for courses, you must be admitted into a program. In order to be considered for admission you must submit an application to VIU, pay the application fee, submit the required academic documents, and submit any other items that may be required for admission to a specific program (questionnaire, portfolio, resume, etc.).

University Vocabulary

See also “Admission Criteria”
 

Admission Criteria: A set of criteria an institution uses to determine a potential student’s eligibility to enter a program.

Entrance Requirements: A set of criteria stipulating education and other types of training or experience for eligibility to enter an educational program. May include minimum levels of achievement and/or scores on examinations.

Admission Requirements: The minimum standing you must have completed in order to qualify for entry to a VIU program. 

Policy 93.03 – Admission Requirements
Policy 93.04 – Admission Requirements – University and Career / Technical Programs
Policy 93.05 – Admission Requirements – Trades and Applied Technology Programs 
Policy 93.06 – Admission Requirements – Unclassified Students 
Policy 93.07 – Mature Student Category 
Policy 93.08 – Admission Requirements – Career and Academic Preparation Programs

Anti-Racist: being critically aware of the existence of racism and understanding how it is systemic. An anti-racist person actively seeks to acknowledge the impacts of racism.

HR EDI Foundational Terms and Concepts

Special Purpose Degrees (e.g., Bachelor of Education) are Bachelor’s degrees wherein the discipline falls outside that of the Standard Degrees. Special Purpose Degrees are focused on a specific professional practice or career and require lower- and upper-level coursework focused in the area of specialization. This option requires completion of a minimum of 30 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the field of study.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

Research that identifies solutions to real-world problems. 

Research at VIU

Articulation: Assigning credit for courses taken at another institution by reviewing course outlines (syllabi) and determining if they are a match with a course offered at VIU.

Assigned credit is provided for courses that match up with a course taught at VIU. Unassigned credit is provided for courses that do not match up with any courses offered at VIU.

VIU website

Blended Synchronous: Delivery is split between face-to-face and online; students are required to attend both components at scheduled times.

Blended Asynchronous: delivery is split between face-to-face and online; students engage in the online component on their own schedule.

Registration Guide: Course delivery mode definitions

Breadth Requirement: All Bachelor’s degrees must meet the University’s Breadth Requirement as outlined in Procedure 33.13.001:

1. Degree English Requirement (Policy 97.15)
2. At least 6 credits from each of three disciplines (total 18 credits)
3. Courses must be drawn from at least three faculties

This requirement cannot be met by courses of less than three credits each. Credits taken to meet the requirement in the second bullet (discipline requirement) may also be counted toward the requirement in the third bullet (Faculty requirement).

Concentration: A wide range of secondary specializations characterized by varying names, purposes, number of credits and recognition, such as stream, focus, option, track, etc.

Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Concentration: A secondary specialization within the existing Associate Degree Framework (e.g., Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Economics). Courses in the concentration must transfer as assigned course credits in the concentration subject area at a public research university.

Graduate Concentration: A secondary specialization within the graduate field of study (e.g., Master of Arts in International Relations with a Concentration in Global Security). Due to the focused nature of graduate degrees, graduate concentrations always occur within the field of study, though they are characterized by varying names and number of credits. Normally, the range for a graduate concentration is 20‐50% of the program credits.

Undergraduate Concentration: A secondary specialization within the primary specialization of the degree (e.g., BSc in Geography with a Concentration in Resource Management). Normally, the range for a concentration is 12‐15 upper‐level credits.

Regular Faculty Member: The term "regular" shall refer to a faculty member with an ongoing appointment and may be part-time or full-time.

VIU Collective Agreements

Course: A single unit of study offered by an educational institution.

Upper-Level Course: Courses numbered 300 to 499.

University Vocabulary

The University measures the workload of students by assigning semester hours of credit. In general, one credit is defined as the equivalent of one hour a week of classroom instruction (labs, seminars, etc., are not included). Most University courses carry three (3) semester hours of credit. The credit value of a full-time program, which extends over one semester, is normally 15 credits or more.

Link to: General Regulations

The learning outcomes for a course.

The umbrella term for of learning outcomes, engagement, materials, resources and opportunities for a program or an academic credential.

VIU website

Associate Degree: A minimum of 60 academic credits adhering to requirements set by the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each course, as well as meeting the additional requirements for each associate degree.

VIU Associate Degree Requirements

Policy 97.13 VIU Credential Types

Bachelor’s Degree (Baccalaureate Degree): Generally, this is a first degree in an undergraduate program. At VIU, it normally takes 4 years to complete if you are studying as a full time student (4 years of classes from September - December and January - April). This typically means that you are registered in 5 courses per term, as you will need a minimum of 120 credits to graduate with a VIU bachelor's degree. 

Learning Matters Glossary

University Vocabulary

In total, a minimum of 120 credits is required. 

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

Master’s Degree: Completion of an approved graduate-level master’s degree program.

Procedure 97.13.001 Programs and Credentials

Policy 97.19 Directed Studies and Procedure 97.19.001 Directed Studies

The term Directed Studies at VIU has two distinct applications:

1. Directed Studies Course

Directed Studies Courses are approved courses with a name such as “Directed Studies” and a unique Course Code. Directed Studies Courses may also be referred to as directed studies, special projects, independent studies, or senior projects. These are, generally, senior level courses that allow students to pursue a specific research interest with mentoring from their faculty.

2. Directed Studies Delivery Format

Directed Studies delivery format is a method of delivering a course that is listed in the calendar but is not available to a student due to the following restrictions:

1. there is insufficient demand for a regular section of a course, yet it is needed by a small group of students. In this case, up to give students will each be working through the required course materials independently and the instructor will arrange a schedule to meet with each student to guide him or her through the learning outcomes;
2. a student requires a specific course in order to graduate and that course is either full or will not be offered again prior to graduation; or, 
3. a student cannot fit a required course into his or her timetable.

The course may be delivered using a directed studies delivery format by agreement of the instructor and the Dean.

An academic discipline is the subject of study within an academic department. Could not find. 

University Vocabulary 

In the institutional context diversity refers to the presence and inclusion of students, staff and faculty belonging to varying social identity groups.

Procedure 21.04.001 Diversity and Educational Equity

Includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. Diversity includes race, gender identity, ancestry, age, national origin, religion, ability, sexuality, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. In addition, diversity can include differences in thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. It's important to recognize that individuals have multiple intersecting identities and that there is diversity within groups.

HR EDI Foundational Terms and Concepts

Double counting is defined as applying a course and its credits toward the requirements of two different degree options (Principal, Supplementary, or a combination thereof).

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements currently under review.

The concept of equity goes beyond equal treatment (where everyone is treated the same) to fostering a barrier-free environment where everyone has the opportunity to benefit equally. It recognizes that some people or groups of people may require unique approaches.

Procedure 21.04.001 Diversity and Educational Equity

Equity is the condition that would be achieved if one's identity no longer predicted, in a statistical sense, how one fares. Equity work includes work to address root causes of inequities, not just their manifestation. This includes eliminating policies, practices, attitudes and cultural messages that reinforce differential outcomes or fail to eliminate them. 

HR EDI Foundational Terms and Concepts

Academically Qualified Faculty: A faculty member is considered academically qualified if the person: 

1) holds a doctorate in the program with: 

a) a graduate level specialization in the field in which they are teaching, or 
b) professional certification in the field of teaching, or 
c) five or more years of current professional experience in the field of teaching, or 

2) holds an out of field doctorate with: 

a) demonstrated content knowledge of the field, such as a professional certificate in the field, and
b) demonstrated teaching effectiveness, and
c) demonstrated scholarly evidence considered as expert work or significant professional practice experience.

Academically Qualified Faculty: VIU, in practice, follows the Ministry.

Experientially Qualified Faculty: A faculty member is considered experientially qualified if the person: 

1) is A.B.D. (completed all coursework toward a doctorate and passed all qualifying and comprehensive exams to attain candidacy status) with a specialization in the field in which they are teaching; or 

2) holds a master’s degree in a related field with a specialization in the field in which they are teaching or a professional certification in the field in which they are teaching; or 

3) holds a master’s degree in the field in which they are teaching, and: 

a) has extensive and documented successful teaching experience in the area they are teaching in and demonstrated involvement in meaningful research; or 
b) has five or more years of current professional and management experience in the field in which they are teaching; or 
c) is recognized by professional peers as exemplary in the profession. 

4) has documented experience of at least 10 years or more in the field teaching and is recognized by peers as exemplary in the field (e.g., an outstanding fine arts practitioner teaching in a fine arts program); or 

5) is recognized by their community for the wisdom, spiritual and cultural knowledge, and skills that they hold (e.g., Indigenous Elders and KnowledgeKeepers). 

See also “Academically Qualified Faculty”.

Experientially Qualified Faculty: VIU, in practice, follows the Ministry.

Graduate Student: A student who has received a bachelor's degree or equivalent and who is enrolled in a program leading to a master's or doctoral degree.

University Vocabulary 

Completion of an Honours program signals an intense focus in the subject area and is open only to students with high academic standing. This option requires completion of a minimum of 42 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the field of study. These credits must include significant instruction in research methods sufficient to support a capstone requirement such as a graduating essay, thesis, or major project (where such courses and projects are not already required for the subject area Major). Students must maintain high academic standing to graduate with an Honours degree.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements currently under review.

A commitment to creating environments in which any individual or group is and feels respected, supported, valued and able to participate fully. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. It's important to note that while an inclusive group is by definition diverse, a diverse group is not always inclusive.

HR EDI Foundational Terms and Concepts

Face-to-Face: Delivered at a scheduled time with instructors and students in the same physical space.

Registration Guide: Course delivery mode definitions

Related: Policy 93.04 Admission Requirements, University and Career/Technical

Graduation from a B.C. secondary school or equivalent with a minimum “C” grade in English 12 or equivalent;

Equivalencies and Advanced Placement Program

Learning outcomes help students know what is expected of them. You can set outcomes at both the program and course level. A learning outcome is a statement of what students will be able to do because of that they learned in your class. To be effective, outcomes should be precise, specific and measurable. The best learning outcomes will point to a skill or knowledge students will learn from your course and be able to use beyond your course.

CIEL website

Major: A primary area of focus that a student selects within a Standard Degree. This option requires completion of a minimum of 30 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the field of study.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

A Combined Major integrates courses from two distinct, complementary fields of study into a single Major. This option requires completion of a minimum of 42 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the two fields of study, of which a minimum of 21 credits must come from each. The options for Combined Majors are limited to certain Senate-approved subject area combinations.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

Double Major: Students may complete a second Major to achieve a Double Major. A Double Major comprises completion of all requirements of two Majors, including the total credit requirements of each Major. This option requires completion of a minimum of 60 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the two fields of study, of which a minimum of 30 credits must come from each.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

Minor: Represents a less intensive focus of inquiry into an area of study compared to other degree options. This option requires completion of a minimum of 12 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the field of study.

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

A Double Minor comprises completion of all requirements of two Minors, including the total credit requirements of each Minor. This option requires completion of a minimum of 24 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the two fields of study, of which a minimum of 12 credits must come from each. Both Minors must be associated with the same Standard Degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts).

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

A Special Purpose Minor is a Minor affiliated with a Special Purpose Degree program but is available only to students not pursuing the Special Purpose Degree. This option requires completion of a minimum of 12 upper-level credits specifically aligned to the field of study. A Special Purpose Minor cannot be combined with another Minor to fulfil the requirements of a Double Minor. 

Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements

Online synchronous (you are required to attend a virtual component at a specific time each week) 

Online asynchronous (you are not required to attend a virtual component at a specific time but can complete online course materials on your own schedule). 

Code as “W” for web/online course intake code. No coding or tracking at the program level. 

Registration Guide: Course delivery mode definitions

Prerequisites are specific requirements - usually another course or courses - which must be completed before you begin a course. 

Registration Guide

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) involves faculty evaluating the knowledge and/or skills an individual may have gained through non-formal education/training or experience and granting of appropriate credit by Vancouver Island University. Skills, knowledge, and competencies that have been acquired through work experience, unrecognized education or training, self-study, volunteer activities, hobbies, and other life experiences can all be assessed for credit.

Policy 97.02 Prior Learning Assessment

Credit will be granted when the faculty assessor determines that the knowledge and/or skills acquired through prior learning are:

• at the post-secondary level
• current
• consistent with the required objectives and outcomes of Vancouver Island University programs and courses, and
• demonstrated at the appropriate level of achievement

Credits received through the recognition of prior learning will be so identified on the student’s transcript.

Procedure 97.02.001 Prior Learning Assessment

See also General Regulations

The series of courses of study organized to fulfill the requirements for a particular degree. For example, the Bachelor of Business Administration is a program.

Link to: University Vocabulary 

Procedure 97.13.001 Programs and Credentials:

All credit programs have the following requirements: 

1. All programs have a codified matrix of required and optional courses designed to provide a cohesive set of skills and knowledge. 

2. All programs are subject to University policies on Admission, Registration, and other Academic Regulations. 

3. A system of evaluation (with clearly stated minimum standards which may include attendance and participation) is used to assess student achievement and to assign either letter or passing grades.

The principles underlying an effective, and integrated, quality assurance policy include:

• Assessment of the relevance, value to community, regional needs and institutional capacity; 
• A clear commitment to and demonstrable support for high quality instruction; 
• Ongoing assessment of instructional quality and achievement of learning outcomes; 
• Opportunities for improvements through reflection, formative program reviews, and summative program assessment; 
• Systematic collection and review of evidence from a variety of sources; and, 
• Decision-making based on transparent and accountable practices

Policy 31.15 Educational Quality Assurance

The objectives of [quality assurance] are to ensure that existing credentialed certificate, diploma, and degree programs are educationally sound, consistent with the values and goals of the discipline, and aligned with VIU’s mandate.

Procedure 31.15.022 Program Review

Registration is the action of enrolling in a course. 

Registration Guide

Policy 97.04 Residency Requirement

Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor degrees, and Master degrees: Fifty percent of all credits used towards each of these credentials must be completed with VIU courses. For each credential type, additional unique requirements apply.

VIU follows the Ministry’s definition and guidance on applied research for teaching institutions (Applied Research Guidance for Teaching Institutions).

VIU’s definition of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity is:

Scholarly or creative activity is defined as the process of research leading to scholarly or creative products and the active participation in one’s discipline or in interdisciplinary work.

Strategic Plan for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity

VIU’s definition of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity is:

Scholarly or creative activity is defined as the process of research leading to scholarly or creative products and the active participation in one’s discipline or in interdisciplinary work.

We recognize and celebrate that scholarship at the University looks different among the disciplines but that the following principles identify activity  as scholarship or scholarly activity3 1) it contributes to the creation, dissemination, or exchange of knowledge or creative activity within one’s teaching, one’s discipline, or the academy; or, it contributes to the development of new concepts of discipline or inter-/ multi-discipline; 2) its results are publicly available or displayed, and therefore subject to peer review; 3) it employs the professional expertise of the faculty member, and  4) methods and approaches are professionally rigorous and appropriate to the field.

Strategic Plan for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity

The terms ‘course outline’ and ‘syllabus’ are used interchangeably at VIU.

The course outline provides information about course content, evaluation, course delivery, and other matters. It communicates expectations for the course, on behalf of both the instructor and the student. Under normal circumstances a course outline would not be altered during the semester. 

A course outline can also present the opportunity for a creative and personal statement of teaching philosophy and style, and it is the intention of this policy to allow scope for such qualities. 

The course outline is also used for purposes of articulation, and consequently must contain sufficient information to enable the receiving institutions to assign transfer credit accurately.

Policy 94.08 Course Outlines
VIU website

 Limited Term Contract faculty:  

1. The term “Limited Term Contract” Instructor shall refer to a faculty member with an appointment to an instructional position for a period of time of one (1) semester or greater, and equal to or less than three (3) consecutive years in duration that replaces a regular faculty member.

(VIUFA Collective Agreement 4.1.2.1)

VIU Collective Agreements

An official transcript is a complete record of academic performance and must be certified by the Registrar. Official transcripts are issued only at the formal request of students.

Policy 94.05

Transfer Credit: Credit applied to a student record recognizing knowledge, training or expertise acquired at another institution.

Policy 93.02
VIU website

Undergraduate degree: The first level of degree a student can receive at VIU is a bachelor's degree (ex. BA, BSc). A bachelor's degree normally requires a minimum of 120 credits of coursework.

University Vocabulary

Equity-deserving groups: 

The four designated groups (FDGs) as identified by the Employment Equity Act due to their underrepresentation in the Canadian labour force are women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and racialized peoples. VIU recognizes that groups other than those in the Employment Equity Act have historically met barriers in the workplace that limit their full and active participation, such as persons who identify as belonging to a minority gender identity and/or sexual orientation group. VIU considers all of the above groups as equity-deserving groups.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Work-integrated learning is a form of experiential education that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with work experience within their fields of study. 

CEL Website

Work-Integrated Learning allows you to earn credit toward your degree while getting real work experience. You can learn new skills, meet people in your future career field, and get ready for life after university. 

WIL Student Hub