Biomedical Sciences Grad School Glossary: What Does That Even Mean? (Part Two)
Biomedical Sciences Grad School Glossary: What Does That Even Mean? (Part Two)
Think you’ve cracked the grad school code after Part One? Not so fast — there are still plenty of terms, abbreviations and insider phrases you’ll hear on campus (and in e-mails) that can leave you scratching your head. In this second installment, we’re diving deeper into the language of graduate school so you can navigate conversations, meetings and opportunities with confidence.
AHP – Academic Health Plan
A student health insurance plan that provides medical coverage while you’re in school.
All TTUHSC students are required to have health insurance, and AHP is one of the options
available. For more information, check out the health insurance webpage.
DSO – Designated School Official
A staff member authorized to help international students with their visa status, SEVIS records and immigration-related questions. For your DSO’s contact info, visit the International Student Services webpage.
GSBS, SOM, SOP
Abbreviations for TTUHSC’s different schools: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), School of Medicine (SOM), and School of Pharmacy (SOP).
IPE – Interprofessional Education
Opportunities where students from different health professions learn with, from and about each other to improve teamwork and patient care. To learn more about current IPE opportunities, visit the IPE webpage.
Lab Rotations
Short-term experiences in different research labs where students can explore projects, techniques and mentors before choosing a permanent lab for their thesis or dissertation work.
LMS – Learning Management System (D2L/Brightspace)
The online platform where your classes live. At TTUHSC, that’s D2L/Brightspace. It’s where you’ll find course materials, submit assignments, check grades and sometimes take quizzes.
Office of Research and Innovation
The Office of Research and Innovation supports the discovery and advancement of knowledge at the heart of TTUHSC’s mission. Through its divisions, the office provides resources and guidance to investigators, encourages new research initiatives, promotes efforts to prevent disease and improve treatment and helps prepare the next generation of leaders in the health sciences. It also champions the role of research within education and across the university community. Check out the resources available here.
Student Affairs vs. Student Business Services
Student Affairs helps with advising, events, student life and support services. Student Affairs divisions include the Office of the Registrar, Student Disability Services, Student Financial Aid, Student Life, Veteran & Military Services and the Writing Center. Visit their webpage here.
Student Business Services handles billing, tuition payments and financial accounts. Visit the SBS webpage here.
Title IX
A federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, including issues of sexual harassment, misconduct or unequal treatment. TTUHSC has staff who oversee Title IX compliance and provide resources to students. For more information on our Title IX policies, visit this webpage.
Final Thoughts
Grad school comes with its own unique vocabulary, but once you get familiar with the terms, you’ll feel much more confident navigating classes, research and campus life. Keep this glossary handy, and before long, you’ll be using the language like a pro — and maybe even helping the next new student figure it all out.
