ACA122 Final Exam Guide

Co-requisites

Courses that must be taken at the same time as another course.

Pre-requisites

Courses that must be successfully completed before enrolling in a higher-level course.

General Education

Core foundational courses required for a degree across various disciplines (e.g., math, English, humanities).

Elective Courses

Courses chosen by student interest to fulfill credit requirements beyond general education or major requirements.

Central Piedmont Student Support Areas

Academic Learning Center, Advising, Career Services, Disability Services, Library, Counseling, and Financial Aid.

Competitive Majors/Programs

Programs with strict or selective admission standards due to limited space, such as Nursing at CPCC or Business/Engineering at universities.

Transfer Credit Appeal Process

The official process to request a re-evaluation if a receiving university rejects a community college course for transfer credit.

SMART Goal Setting

A framework for effective goal setting: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Standard required to maintain financial aid eligibility, which requires maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and completing 67% of attempted courses.

UNC System Transfer Guides (Baccalaureate Degree Plans)

Degree pathways published by universities that show exactly which community college courses satisfy specific major requirements, helping students plan ahead without losing credits.

Factors in College Cost

Tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, meals, transportation, and personal expenses.

Grants, Scholarships, and Work-Study

Grants are need-based gift aid; scholarships are merit/need-based gift aid; work-study provides campus jobs to earn aid. None of these have to be paid back (unlike student loans).

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid; it must be submitted every academic year to remain eligible for financial assistance.

NC Transfer Admissions Requirements

Admissions criteria vary by institution; transfer applicants typically focus on college GPA and transferable credit hours rather than SAT scores or high school essays.

Role of D Grades in Transfer

Courses with a grade of "D" generally do not transfer to university programs under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (a grade of "C" or better is required).

6 Attributes of a Successful College Student

Self-awareness, self-motivation, emotional intelligence, personal responsibility, effective time management, and interdependence/collaboration.

4 Steps of Decision-Making Process

Identify the decision, gather information, evaluate options and consequences, and make a choice followed by reflection.

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's work, ideas, or words as your own without proper acknowledgment or citation.

MyCollege and MyConnect

MyCollege is CPCC's portal for registration, grades, and financial accounts; MyConnect is the platform used for scheduling advising, academic alerts, and success tracking.

Ways to "Test Out" a Career

Job shadowing, informational interviews, internships, volunteering, and part-time work in the field.

Company Culture

The values, work environment, ethics, and mission of a company; researching it ensures alignment with personal work values and fit.

Professionalism Behaviors

Punctuality, strong communication, reliability, adaptability, positive attitude, professional attire, and ethical conduct.

Handshake

An online career network for college students that connects them with employers, job postings, and internship opportunities.

Course Sequence

The recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for a specific program, found in the college catalog or website to keep students on track for graduation.

4 Career Research Websites

O*NET, Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), CFNC, and College Central Network (or NC Tower/Handshake); CFNC and NC Tower show region-specific NC/Charlotte data.

Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA)

A statewide agreement between NC Community Colleges and UNC System universities guaranteeing seamless credit transfer for AA and AS degrees.

Reverse Transfer

A process enabling students who transferred to a four-year university before completing their associate degree to combine earned credits and receive their associate degree from the community college.

Discretionary Income

The money left over after paying for essential expenses such as taxes, housing, food, and basic necessities.