What is a small format digital SLR camera?

A school I'm interested in requires me to buy a small format digital SLR camera. What are some examples of a small format digital SLR camera? Also, I was looking to buy the Nikon D3200 camera, is this a small format digital SLR camera?

Well I've not heard it put that way but I'd have to assume that, for example, Canon makes some professional cameras that are called "full frame". That means the sensor is the size of a frame of
35mm film.

Consumer level dslr cameras, I'm familiar with Canon, use what's called a crop sensor… That is, it's
smaller than the full frame. I'd ask if that's what they're referring to… Ask about "crop frame" sensor dslr cameras… That could be it.

yes the camera you mention is a crop frame.

Let me parallet Jim's words here.
Most of the major digital camera makers have a full-frame line and a more affordable cropped sensor line.

In Nikon, the DX camera are the cropped sensor DSLR's using a smaller sensor. The excellent D3200 is a DX camera, and I believe should fit your school's requirements.