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The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
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Glossary

The online version of the IPEDS Glossary provides definitions for almost 500 postsecondary-related terms used in the collection and dissemination of IPEDS data.

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Term Definition Related terms
First-professional degree An award that requires completion of a program that meets all of the following criteria: (1) completion of the academic requirements to begin practice in the profession; (2) at least 2 years of college work prior to entering the program; and (3) a total of at least 6 academic years of college work to complete the degree program, including prior required college work plus the length of the professional program itself. First-professional degrees may be awarded in the following 10 fields:
  • Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)
  • Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)
  • Law (L.L.B., J.D.)
  • Medicine (M.D.)
  • Optometry (O.D.)
  • Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
  • Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
  • Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)
  • Theology (M.Div., M.H.L., B.D., or Ordination)
  • Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
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