Information pertaining to the following definitions is provided in greater detail throughout the sections of this catalog.

589   Designated course number for professional development credit-bearing courses offered by Extended Campus.  These credits do not count toward any degree at MSU Billings.

Accredited Institution  A college or university accredited by, or a candidate for accreditation from, one of the following list of recognized regional accrediting commissions.  Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. As such, all college-level coursework from institutions accredited by the following list of agencies will be received and applied toward graduate degree requirements as applicable.

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Commission of Higher Education
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• WASC Senior College and University Commission

Admission Test   Students intending to enroll in a graduate program at Montana State University Billings may need to take a standardized admission test as part of the admission requirements.  The type of test which needs to be completed and the minimum score requirements necessary to gain admission depend on the specific program.

Advising   A service provided by a graduate faculty member to guide students through career issues, academic questions, problems, and/or coursework to plan and complete a degree program.

Advisory Committee   A committee consisting of at least three faculty members (at least two of which are graduate faculty) selected to assist graduate students electing the thesis or Interdisciplinary Studies options in a graduate program.

Clinic   A clinic provides an opportunity for students to explore and develop advanced skills working with individuals in Human Services settings.

Clock hour  A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students, also referred to as contact hour. Courses such as clinicals, student teaching, practicums, internships, and others will normally have a weekly clock or contact hour  associated with the course as directed or determined by the course instructor for in-person practical or professional training.

Co-Convening vs. Cross-Listing Courses   Co-Convening is offering and convening undergraduate (400) and graduate (500) level courses together in the same room and at the same time or in the same learning management system course shell.  Only 400 and 500 level courses can be co-convened. When co-convening a course, there must be two course syllabi that clearly differentiate between expectations for the 400- and 500- level course. Individual courses must be approved through the formal curricular process however the co-convening of courses must be also approved by the Academic Senate.

Cross-Listing is merging courses to offer one course at the same time. A variety of combinations may occur, but courses should be either the same course level or similar course titles.

• Merging courses from the same department with multiple sections due to the utilization of the same learning space
• Merging courses from two separate departments
• Merging courses in same department to create "enhanced" sections

When cross-listing a course, there should be two syllabi utilized for both cross-listed courses and it should display course information (rubric, number, and title) on the syllabus as well as indicated that it is a cross-listed course and the course with which is it paired. Cross-listing courses must be approved by the department and dean.

Comprehensive Examination   Some programs require a student to pass an oral and/or written comprehensive examination before the degree can be awarded.

Concentration   Courses with a specialized emphasis within a major and/or option.

Credit Hour - The credit hour is used as a unit of instruction to quantify student learning. The credit hour is typically related to seat time, as a minimum of three class work hours (60 minutes of classroom instruction and an additional two hours of out-of-class student work) each week during a 15- week (minimum) semester. Using a seat-time approach, one credit of instruction should be approximated by 45 hours of combined direct instruction (counting a 60-minute class as 1 hour of instruction) and student work.

If the learning experience is offered in a different time frame (e.g., eight-week summer session), the student time required to complete the course should reasonably approximate 45 hours of combined direct instruction and student work per credit.

If direct instruction is not the principal mode of learning for an academic experience (e.g., laboratory courses, internships, studio work, some on-line courses), the student time required to complete the course should reasonably approximate 45 hours of student work per credit.

Financial Aid   Financial aid is intended to assist students in financing their education.  Forms of financial aid available at Montana State University Billings include: loans, work-study and part-time employment, graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, fee waivers, and scholarships.

Full-Time Course Load   For financial aid purposes, a full-time course load is defined as nine credits in a graduate degree, certification, licensure, or fifth-year program.

Full-Time Graduate Student   A full-time graduate degree student at Montana State University Billings is defined as one carrying nine or more semester hours in a regular semester.

Graduate Assistant   A graduate assistantship may include research, scholarly activity, professional service or assistance with some campus programs.  Graduate assistants receive stipends and may be recommended for a partial tuition waiver each semester.  A 10-15 hour weekly workload is expected.  A student must take at least six credits to be eligible for an assistantship.  

Graduate Courses   Courses generally reserved for Graduate students and numbered at the 500 level and above.

Graduate Student   A Graduate Student has earned a baccalaureate degree and is pursuing post-baccalaureate studies.

Human Subjects Research Protocol   Research projects, including thesis work, involving human subjects must conform to Montana State University Billings human subject research protocol.  Policy guidelines and protocol forms may be obtained from the Office of Grants & Sponsored Programs.

Independent Study   Students enroll for independent study as a 591 course.  Such study requires an application and involves tutorials, directed and independent readings, and research, as well as other individualized activities designed to involve students in a learning process to fit the needs of the chosen graduate program.  Generally, independent study course credit is available only for students with an approved program plan.  A maximum of six semester credits of independent study may be used on an approved program plan.

Internship   An internship is a supervised arrangement, normally with an external agency or institution.  A minimum of forty-five hours are to be spent on-site for every semester credit earned, some programs require more.

Interdiciplinary Study Option   Formerly the Self-Designed Option, Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to design a unique program of graduate study to meet their specific interests or intentions within guidelines of the graduate programs at Montana State University Billings.

Modality - Describes how (delivery mode) and when (convening method) a class will meet. Common modalities include:

• In-person: This class is delivered synchronously and in-person, with regular in-person attendance necessary. Students and faculty participate in person at assigned physical locations at specific times. (Course registration codes begin with -00)
• Online: This class is delivered asynchronously and remotely, using MSUB’s Learning Management System (LMS.) Students and faculty interact regularly but students cannot be required to participate synchronously. (Course registration codes begin with -80)
• Blended/Hybrid: This class is delivered partially online in an asynchronous format and partially through face-to-face (F2F) interaction, typically in the classroom. There may also be some synchronous remote requirement. Both online and F2F interactions are required for the course. This delivery is characterized by the expectation of reduced F2F class meeting time when compared to the equivalent credit in-person course. (Course registration codes begin with -60)
• HyFlex: This class allows fully flexible participation for students. Students may choose to participate fully online, fully in-person or a combination of both and may change their participation mode at any time. HyFlex courses must comply with the MSUB Core Principles of Quality for Online Courses. Synchronous participation is not required. (Course registration codes begin with -70)
• Limited On Site: Course in which 80% or more of the required instruction (but not all) can be completed via online delivery. Instruction not provided through online delivery must require only concentrated, short-term, on-site experiences and/ or internship, clinical, or practicum experiences that may be completed near a student’s location. (Course registration codes begin with -80)
• Synchronous Remote: This class section offered through scheduled (synchronous) video conferencing. A course delivered through synchronous remote delivery may have a F2F classroom location where students may choose to attend. (Course registration codes begin with -67)

Normal Load   A normal load (see also Full-Time Student) for a graduate student is 9 to 12 semester hours.  Maximum load is 15 semester hours without special approval.  Six hours is a normal load for any summer session.  No more than 9 credits may be taken in a given time period during summer or 15 credits for all sessions combined.

Option   An option is a defined series of courses within a degree program that prepares students for a specific branch of a profession.  Options are found within degree programs broad enough to accommodate a variety of professional applications.

Oral Defense/Thesis Defense   All students completing a thesis must schedule an oral defense of their research project with their project advisory committee no later than two weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student intends to graduate.  The oral defense is open to members of the Montana State University Billings community.

Professional Core   All graduate degrees in the College of Education require that students take two courses designed to provide a common foundation for graduate study in specific disciplines within the field of education and human services.

Professional Practice Option  A degree program in the College of Education that does not require a thesis.

Program   A program is a unified, complementary series of courses or learning experiences that lead to a degree, certification, licensure, or endorsement.  An option may be included within a program.

Program Plan of Study   A plan prepared by a student which indicates all coursework the student expects to complete for a degree.  It is developed in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Prospectus   Before a student begins a thesis, the student’s advisory committee and the dean must approve a prospectus which outlines objective and procedures of the research project in which the student plans to engage.

Semester Hour - Normally one semester credit hour represents 60 minutes of classroom instruction each week for one semester.  Credit in a laboratory, independent study, or internship may require a longer period.  A three-credit class will meet for three 60-minute or two 90-minute sessions each week for the entire semester.  A semester hour is the basis of college credit at Montana State University Billings.  A semester hour is the credit received for passing a subject taken one hour a week for one semester.  Laboratory courses require two or three hours a week for each semester hour of credit.

Seminar   A seminar engages a small group of students in advanced study concentrated on each student’s original research or important recent advancements in a field.  Seminars are organized under the direction of a faculty member.

Specialization   A particular line of research or study restricted to a special branch or field of activity within a profession.  In education, it involves the area or areas in which a student is certified to teach or to serve in supervisory roles.

Teaching Assistant   A teaching assistant works with faculty in planning, delivering, and evaluating instruction.  Teaching Assistants receive stipends, and teaching assistants may be recommended for a partial tuition waiver each semester.  A 15 hour per week workload is expected.  A student must take at least six credits to be eligible for an assistantship.  

Thesis   The thesis is a formal paper written to describe and report on the research program the student has completed.  Students selecting the thesis alternative commit themselves to a program of research and are expected to demonstrate a certain claim or perspective in relation to the research evidence and professional literature on the subject.

Workshop   A workshop is a highly practical, participatory course designed for advanced students or professionals in a discipline.  It provides experience or instruction in a new technique, theory or development.