What is "prospectus"

Prospectus \Pro*spec"tus\, n. [L., a prospect, sight, view: cf. F. prospectus. See Prospect.] A summary, plan, or scheme of something proposed, affording a prospect of its nature; especially, an exposition of the scheme of an unpublished literary work.

1765, from French prospectus (1723) and directly from Latin prospectus "view" (see prospect (n.)).

n. 1 A document, distributed to prospective members, investors, buyers(,) or participants, which describes an institution (such as a university), a publication(,) or a business and what it has to offer. 2 A document which describes a proposed endeavor (venture, undertaking), such as a literary work (which one proposes to write).

1. n. a formal written offer to sell securities (filed with the SEC) that sets forth a plan for a (proposed) business enterprise; "a prospectus should contain the facts that an investor needs to make an informed decision"

2. a catalog listing the courses offered by a college or university [syn: course catalog, course catalogue]

Prospectus may refer to:

• Prospectus (finance)
• Prospectus (university)
• Prospectus (book)
• Parkland College's newspaper
• Concept note, also called prospectus

A university or school prospectus is a document sent to potential (prospective) students to attract them to apply for admissions. It usually contains information about the institution and the available courses, including advice on how to apply and the benefits of accepting a place. Many universities have an individual prospectus for each course or group of courses that they offer. Most universities have both online and paper versions of their prospectus, and they are divided into an Undergraduate Prospectus and a Postgraduate Prospectus. If asked, an application form can be sent.

The prospectus usually contains information on the individual courses, the staff (professors), notable alumni, the campus, special facilities (like performance halls for music schools or acting stages for drama schools), how to get in contact with the university, and how to get to the university.

Some universities also provide an audio recording of their prospectus being read aloud on CD for the sight-impaired.

A prospectus for entry in a specific year or semester/term (e.g. September 2007) is usually available one to one-and-a-half years beforehand.

Some universities also use the term 'prospectus' to mean the formal meeting for proposing a graduate thesis or dissertation.

Prospectuses are similar to syllabi because they both give a summary to a class, just like a prospectus would.

Although originally a Latin word, in English use, it is pluralized prospectuses. Its Latin plural would be prospectūs.

A prospectus, in finance, is a disclosure document that describes a financial security for potential buyers. It commonly provides investors with material information about mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other investments, such as a description of the company's business, financial statements, biographies of officers and directors, detailed information about their compensation, any litigation that is taking place, a list of material properties and any other material information. In the context of an individual securities offering, such as an initial public offering, a prospectus is distributed by underwriters or brokerages to potential investors.

A book prospectus is a printed description of or advertisement for that book, usually issued before publication in an attempt to generate interest and advance orders. The word derives from Latin, meaning literally something which gives a view or prospect (in this case of a book). Some prospectuses are lavishly-produced, especially for private press books.

Printed advertisements for and catalogues of books were produced in Europe as early as the 1470s, although very few survive and what we recognize today as prospectuses (containing information on the text, physical nature, price and availability of a forthcoming book) did not develop until the seventeenth century, when they were generally issued for books published by subscription. Prospectuses are of great interest to the historian and bibliographer because they often give information about a book, its author, publisher, printer or illustrator which is not available elsewhere.