GENERAL INFORMATION -- Programs

Northern Virginia Community College is a comprehensive institution of higher education, offering programs of instruction generally extending not more than two years beyond the high school level.

College Transfer Education
The College transfer program includes freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences and preprofessional programs meeting standards acceptable for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in four-year colleges and universities. NOVA transfer courses closely parallel courses at four-year institutions. Since requirements vary among four-year schools, if you are planning to transfer, you should check the requirements of the receiving institution before you plan your course of study at NOVA.

For more information on college transfer, refer to "Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing" in the Administrative Information section and to “Transfer Programs Information” in the Instructional Programs section.

Occupational Technical Education
The occupational and technical education programs are designed to meet the increasing demand for technicians, office workers, paraprofessionals, and skilled craftspersons for employment in industry, business, the professions, and government. These programs, which normally require two years or less of education beyond high school, may include preparation for agricultural, business, engineering, health and medical, industrial, service, and other technical and occupational fields. The curricula are planned primarily to meet the needs for workers in the region being served by the College, but the State Board for Community Colleges may designate certain community colleges as centers to serve larger areas of the state in offering expensive and highly specialized occupational and technical education programs.

General Education
The courses in general education encompass the common knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for personal effectiveness, as well as for effectiveness as an employee, a consumer, and a citizen. These include the basic courses required of all students in the occupational and technical education program and in the College transfer program.

Developmental Studies
Developmental courses are offered to prepare students for admission to the College transfer and occupational technical programs. These English and mathematics courses are designed to develop the basic skills and understandings needed for success in other courses and curricula.

English As A Second Language (ESL) Programs
The College has ESL programs designed to prepare students for success in the community and workplace and for enrollment in the College’s credit courses. The ESL programs emphasize development of the writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills necessary for success in college-level courses. The English placement test places students into various levels of proficiency. The credit program is available for students who score at Level II or above on the ACCUPLACER, a test for English proficiency. This program leads directly into academic study. In-state and out-of-state tuition guidelines apply to the credit ESL programs, and financial aid is available for those who qualify. If a student scores below Level II or does not meet the F-1 student visa admission requirements of the College, a fulltime ESL program may be available through Continuing Education. These courses are designed to meet the needs of students at each campus and the community it serves.

Continuing Education
Continuing Education programs are offered to enable you to continue your learning experiences. Continuing Education programs may include credit and non-credit courses offered during the day and evening hours. The College awards Continuing Education Units (CEU) upon completion of most non-credit courses.

Community Education Services
The College provides specialized services to help meet the cultural and educational needs of the citizens of the Northern Virginia area. These services include non-classroom and non-credit cultural events, workshops, meetings, lectures, conferences, seminars, short courses, and special community projects that are designed to provide needed cultural and educational opportunities for the residents of the region. The College works cooperatively with other local and state agencies and with businesses interested in developing such services.

Workforce Development Program
Northern Virginia Community College is a participant in the Virginia Community College System's Workforce Development Services program. The mission of Workforce Development Services is to advance Virginia’s workforce through world-class programs and services that focus on employee and business development and technology deployment. To provide this service, the NOVA Continuing Education and Workforce Development Offices deal directly with employers in designing and offering courses to meet real, current, and projected workforce training needs. These course offerings are made available to business and industry at times and places that meet their needs. For more information, call the director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development on any NOVA campus.

Workforce development instruction is designed to assist Virginia residents in gaining skills necessary for entering employment or to retrain persons displaced from other jobs so that they may obtain gainful employment. These programs are usually of a short-term nature and are tailored to fit the exact needs of a company. Training may take place anywhere in Virginia, as approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.