at Otago - School of Business, University of Otago, New Zealand ...
at Otago - School of Business, University of Otago, New Zealand ...
at Otago - School of Business, University of Otago, New Zealand ...
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Uni Speak 101<br />
Even before you arrive <strong>at</strong> <strong>Otago</strong> you’ll encounter a new type <strong>of</strong> language th<strong>at</strong> is used on a daily basis<br />
on-campus. It’s English, but it can sometimes be confusing to understand if you’re new to the <strong>University</strong><br />
environment. Within this booklet you’ll read about majors, minors, undergradu<strong>at</strong>e, postgradu<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
prerequisites and many more terms you’ll need to understand.<br />
Below are some common terms and phrases<br />
associ<strong>at</strong>ed with studying <strong>at</strong> <strong>Otago</strong> th<strong>at</strong> are used<br />
throughout this booklet. Further terms and<br />
explan<strong>at</strong>ions can be found on page 52-53.<br />
100- 200- 300-level<br />
Levels identify how advanced a course is. A<br />
100-level paper is an introductory course and<br />
is where all first year students begin. You then<br />
progress to more advanced study <strong>at</strong> 200- and<br />
300-level. If for example you are a third year<br />
student you can complete papers <strong>at</strong> 100- 200-<br />
or 300- level provided you have completed the<br />
appropri<strong>at</strong>e prerequisites.<br />
Degree<br />
A degree is the qualific<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> most students<br />
complete while <strong>at</strong> <strong>University</strong>. If you are<br />
completing your first business qualific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
then you will complete a Bachelor <strong>of</strong><br />
Commerce degree (BCom). The BCom is an<br />
undergradu<strong>at</strong>e degree th<strong>at</strong> usually takes three<br />
years to complete when studied full-time.<br />
More advanced business qualific<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
are referred to as postgradu<strong>at</strong>e degrees.<br />
Essentially this means you will need to have<br />
already gradu<strong>at</strong>ed with a BCom degree<br />
before undertaking advanced study – hence<br />
postgradu<strong>at</strong>e.<br />
Double degree<br />
A programme <strong>of</strong> study leading towards<br />
completing two degrees, e.g. a BA and BCom.<br />
Two full-time three-year degrees would<br />
normally take a total <strong>of</strong> six years if you studied<br />
them consecutively. By studying the two<br />
degrees as a double degree you can cross-credit<br />
points and complete both <strong>of</strong> them in four and<br />
a half or five years (full-time).<br />
Major<br />
A subject chosen as the main area <strong>of</strong> study for<br />
your bachelor’s degree (i.e. your chosen area<br />
<strong>of</strong> specialty such as Accounting). A major is<br />
studied up to 300-level.<br />
Double major<br />
Two subjects chosen as main areas <strong>of</strong> study in<br />
the same degree. For example, you complete a<br />
BCom and you major in Accounting and also<br />
Finance. Choosing two specialty areas instead<br />
<strong>of</strong> one does not increase the amount <strong>of</strong> time it<br />
will take to complete the degree.<br />
Minor<br />
A selection <strong>of</strong> papers in a particular subject<br />
area (normally involving approved papers<br />
studied <strong>at</strong> 200- and 300-level). You complete<br />
less papers in this subject when compared<br />
to those who are majoring in it, yet it can be<br />
acknowledged on your academic record in<br />
addition to your major.<br />
Papers<br />
The building blocks <strong>of</strong> your degree are called<br />
papers. A paper is a fixed course <strong>of</strong> work in<br />
certain aspects <strong>of</strong> a subject <strong>at</strong> a particular level.<br />
The first courses you take are called 100-level<br />
papers, for example, BSNS 106. You then move<br />
on to 200-level and 300-level papers. You will<br />
generally study seven or eight papers a year<br />
(three to four papers a semester).<br />
Paper Code<br />
Each <strong>University</strong> paper is identified by its<br />
subject code, a three-digit number and a<br />
subject name. For example, there is a first-level<br />
Tourism paper called TOUR 101 Principles<br />
and <strong>Business</strong> <strong>of</strong> Tourism Management. This<br />
paper is referred to as TOUR 101. Second-level<br />
papers are numbered in the 200s (e.g. TOUR<br />
211, TOUR 212 etc.) and third-level papers in<br />
the 300s.<br />
Points<br />
Each paper is worth a set number <strong>of</strong> points<br />
(or credits), and these contribute to the total<br />
required for a qualific<strong>at</strong>ion. A paper completed<br />
in one semester is usually worth 18 points. You<br />
need a total <strong>of</strong> 360 points to complete a BCom.<br />
If you successfully complete a paper you gain<br />
the full number <strong>of</strong> points associ<strong>at</strong>ed with it. If<br />
you fail to pass it you will not gain any points.<br />
Depending on your degree requirements you<br />
may be required to take the paper again until<br />
you pass it.<br />
Prerequisites and Corequisites<br />
A prerequisite is a paper you must complete<br />
before commencing a particular paper.<br />
Most papers beyond 100-level have<br />
prerequisites. If you have not completed a<br />
prerequisite for a paper, you are not normally<br />
permitted to enrol in th<strong>at</strong> paper. Some papers<br />
have corequisites. If you have not already<br />
passed a corequisite, you must take it <strong>at</strong> the<br />
same time as your other paper.<br />
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