EXPLANATION

OF DEGREES/COURSES College Transfer Degrees

The college transfer programs include first- and second-year courses in arts and sciences and pre-professional courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities. A number of fouryear degree programs are available on the campus of VHCC through the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) which was established in 1991 to provide expanded educational opportunities for the citizens of the region. For additional information contact the SVHEC at 276-619-4300 or www.swcenter.edu.

Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree programs are designed with two primary goals in mind: (1) to offer the student a widely accepted program of general preparation for upper-division work in his/her chosen professional field, stressing a balance of required courses common to most baccalaureate degree programs; and (2) to offer maximum flexibility so that the student may select specific courses that may be required at the college or university to which transfer is contemplated.

Guaranteed Admissions Agreement

Through system-wide negotiated agreements, students who graduate from Virginia Highlands Community College with an associate’s degree and a minimum grade point average are guaranteed admission to 23 of the Commonwealth’s four-year colleges and universities. For more information, contact Student Services.

Articulation Agreements

VHCC has articulation agreements with a number of colleges and universities. For more information contact Student Services.

Minimum High School Requirements or Equivalents for College Transfer Programs

4 units of English

3 units of college preparatory mathematics

1 unit of laboratory science

1 unit of social studies

College Transfer Programs

Associate of Arts & Sciences (AA&S)

Business Administration

Business Administration - Specialization in Business Information Technology

Education

Education – Specialization in Art

Education - Specialization in Teacher Preparation

Education – Specialization in Theatre Arts

General Studies

Science

Science - Specialization in Engineering

Science - Specialization in Natural Resources

Certificate (C)

Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS)

Career Studies Certificate (CSC)

Applied Music

Pre-Pharmacy Science

Visual Art

Transfer Tool

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has implemented an online tool designed to clearly identify which courses will transfer from Virginia community colleges to fouryear institutions. The SCHEV Transfer Tool is available at http://www.schev.edu

Cooperative Education

Co-op/Internship students are employed part-time at work experience sites in positions related to their future career goals. The typical work week is 10-25 hours, depending upon the number of credits to be earned. It is preferred that students take advantage of the Internship Program (without pay) while working at nonprofit entities. Experiential learning combined with classroom theory enhances the development and professional preparation of the Co-op/Internship student.

Developmental Courses

Developmental courses do not fulfill degree requirements. They are designed to help students overcome academic deficiencies and build the foundation needed to succeed in college-level courses.

The developmental courses at VHCC provide supplementary and compensatory learning experiences that are directly related to curricular or subject areas. These courses assist individuals in developing both basic study skills and subject knowledge necessary to succeed in their college programs.

Increasing numbers of students are continuing, extending, or updating their educational experience in areas of occupationaltechnical skills and in traditional academic areas. With this growth, VHCC assumes the responsibility to support and enhance each student’s opportunity and potential for success through the developmental studies courses and through a continued commitment to serve the educational needs of the service region.

General Education Requirements

The programs in general education at VHCC emphasize broad learning that goes beyond job training and skill development. Each degree and certificate program of the College contains prescribed general education courses, including academic courses in the humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, wellness and communication skills. General education is that portion of the collegiate experience that addresses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values characteristic of educated persons. It is unbounded by disciplines and honors the connections among bodies of knowledge.

Virginia Highlands Community College is committed to offering its students programs that encompass the common knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by each individual to be more effective as a person, a worker, a consumer, and a citizen. Through a combination of general education courses, specialized courses in the major field, and student development courses, graduates are provided with a collegiate experience that supports the development of the following general education goals.

Student Learning Outcomes for Each of the General Education Goal Areas

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has updated its general education requirements. The current outcomes are currently in development by Virginia Highlands Community College. The outcomes will be included in a catalog addendum once they are approved by SCHEV.

VHCC degree graduates will demonstrate competency in the following general education areas:

1. Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement is the ability to contribute to the civic life and well-being of local, national, and global communities as both as social responsibility and a life-long learning process. Degree graduates will demonstrate the knowledge and civic values necessary to become informed and contributing participants in a democratic society.

2. Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking is the ability to use information, ideas and arguments from relevant perspectives to make sense of complex issues and solve problems. Degree graduates will locate, evaluate, interpret, and combine information to reach wellreasoned conclusions or solutions.

3. Professional Readiness

Professional Readiness is the ability to work well with others and display situationally and culturally appropriate demeanor and behavior. Degree graduates will demonstrate skills important for successful transition into the workplace and pursuit of further education.

4. Quantitative Literacy

Quantitative Literacy is the ability to perform accurate calculations, interpret quantitative information, apply and analyze relevant numerical data, and use results to support conclusions. Degree graduates will calculate, interpret, and use numerical and quantitative information in a variety of settings.

5. Scientific Literacy

Scientific Literacy is the ability to apply the scientific method and related concepts and principles to make informed decisions and engage with issues related to the natural, physical, and social world. Degree graduates will recognize and know how to us the scientific method, and to evaluate empirical information.

6. Written Communication

Written Communication is the ability to develop, convey, and exchange ideas in writing, as appropriate to a given context and audience. Degree graduates will express themselves effectively in a variety of written forms.

Minimum Requirements for Associate Degrees in the VCCS

As specified above, degree programs must contain a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education as defined by SACSCOC.

Notes:

(a) Each of the courses in communication must be in written communication.

(b) One course in humanities/fine arts for the Fine Arts major must be a literature course.

(c) Each of the two courses cannot be from the same discipline area (e.g. humanities).

(d) One course in social/behavioral sciences must be a history course and the second required course cannot be history.

(e) A total of 3-6 semester hours is required in either natural sciences and/or mathematics for the AAA and AAS.

(f) Transfer core includes additional general education and/or major courses.

General Education Courses

General Education Courses for Associate of Applied Science Degrees, and Certificates

English Composition

ENG 111-112 College Composition I-II

ENG 115 Technical Writing

Humanities: Study of human culture

ART 101 History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic

ART 102 History of Art: Renaissance to Modern

CST 130 Introduction to Theater

CST 151-152 Film Appreciation I-II

ENG 245 – British Literature

ENG 246 – American Literature

HUM 200 or higher

*MUS 221-222 Music History I-II

*PHI 100 Introduction to Philosophy

PHI 260 Studies in Eastern Thinking

REL 200 Old Testament – Fall Semesters only

REL 210 New Testament – Spring Semesters only

*REL 230 Religions of the World

Foreign Language – any 200level course**

*Indicates course specified for pathways elective options

**100 level foreign language courses may not be used to satisfy the humanities graduation requirement in programs where only one humanities course is required. In programs with two humanities courses, only one 100 level foreign language course may be used to satisfy the humanities graduation requirement.

Mathematics

MTH 111 Basic Technical Mathematics

MTH 132 Business Mathematics

MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning

MTH 155 Statistical Reasoning

MTH 161-162 Precalculus I-II

MTH 245-246 Statistics I-II

MTH 261-262 Applied Calculus I-II

Note: Placement is required for all mathematics courses.

Natural Science

BIO 101-102 Biology I-II

BIO 141-142 Human Anatomy & Physiology I-II

BIO 145 Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Sciences

CHM 111-112 General Chemistry I and II

GOL 105 Physical Geology

GOL 106 Historical Geology

PHY 231-232 General University Physics I-II

PHY 241-242 University Physics I-II

Social Science: Study of relationships within a society

ADJ 100 Survey of Criminal Justice

*ECO 201-202 Principles of Macroeconomics – Principles of Microeconomics

GEO 210 People and the Land: Intro Cultural Geography

GEO 220 World Regional Geography

*HIS 101 or higher (History courses)

PLS 135 or higher (Political Sciences courses)

*PSY 120 or higher (Psychology courses)

*SOC 200 or higher (Sociology courses)

*Indicates course specified for pathways elective options.

Wellness

All PED Activity Courses (Physical Education Courses)

HLT 105 CPR

HLT 106 First Aid and Safety

HLT 110 Personal & Community Health

HLT 230 Nutrition and Human Development

General Education Electives

If a program requires a general education elective a student may choose any three-credit course from one of the above categories or from courses listed below.

ACC 211-212 Principles of Accounting I-II

ADJ 100 Survey of Criminal Justice

BIO 215 Plant Life of Virginia

CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking

ITE 119 Information Literacy

General Education Courses for Associate of Arts & Sciences Degrees

Students are advised to use the Uniform Certificate of General Studies or TransferVA Passport Course Rosters to guide course selections

English Composition

ENG 111-112 College Composition I-II

Art

ART 101 History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic

ART 102 History of Art: Renaissance to Modern

CST 130 Introduction to Theater

CST 151 Film Appreciation I

MUS 121 – Music in Society

MUS 221– History of Western Music Prior to 1750

MUS 222 – History of Western Music 1750 to Present

Humanities

HUM 200 or higher to include HUM 256 – Comparative Mythology

PHI 100 Introduction to Philosophy

REL 200 Old Testament – Fall Semesters only

REL 210 New Testament – Spring Semesters only

REL 230 Religions of the World

Literature

ENG 245 – British Literature

ENG 246 – American Literature

Social and Behavioral Sciences

ADJ 100 - Survey of Criminal Justice

ECO 201 - Principles of Macroeconomics

ECO 202 – Principles of Microeconomics

GEO 210 - People and the Land: Intro Cultural Geography

PLS 135 or higher (Political Sciences courses)

PSY 120 or higher (Psychology courses)1

SOC 200 or higher (Sociology courses)

1Please note: VHCC will continue using PSY 230 with no prerequisites. However, students who intend to transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree/major in psychology are advised that PSY 200 must be taken before PSY 230.