General Studies

Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree

Program Coordinator:             Schery Collins, OTC 1208, Ext. 2413

Length:                                    Four semesters  (two years)

Purpose:  The Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree Program with a major in General Studies is a degree program designed for transfer to four-year colleges for those students whose area of interest is other than those covered by VHCC’s Business Administration, Science, Education, or Liberal Arts curricula.  In general, these students would not be taking a foreign language and would not be planning to major in the fields of education, business, science, medicine, mathematics, agriculture, or computer science.  Some possible goals of a General Studies student might be Communications, Social Work, or Journalism.  General Studies is also appropriate for the undecided transfer student or those in transition between colleges.

Admission Requirements:  In addition to the admission requirements established for the college, entry into the General Studies program requires the satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalent as a minimum:  4 units of English; 2 units of college preparatory mathematics; 1 unit of laboratory science; and 1 unit of social science.  Students are urged to check the mathematics requirements of the four-year college or university to which they plan to transfer to determine the proper mathematics courses to be taken in the community college.  Students who do not meet these requirements may be permitted to correct their deficiencies in the Developmental Program. Those students who meet the specific requirements for this degree program but are deficient in basic skills and understandings in English and/or mathematics will be required to enroll in appropriate developmental courses.

Program Requirements:  Four-year colleges and universities usually require a broad general education during the first two years of their baccalaureate programs.  Therefore, this curriculum offers a distribution of general education courses usually required in the first two years of many baccalaureate programs.  Students are urged to select a four-year college or university early in the planning with their counselor and to prepare their community college program carefully in accord with the requirements for entry into the junior year at the college to which they will transfer.  When admitted into the program the student will, in consultation with the Division Counselor, develop a curriculum based upon the freshman and sophomore year requirements of the transfer institution, which the student has selected.  The student should then consult with the transfer institution to be certain that the planned program will provide the student with the courses the student must have in order to be admitted as a junior upon graduation from VHCC.  The Division Counselor and/or Faculty Advisor will assist the student in selecting courses, which are normally transferable.  Upon satisfactory completion of the four-semester program, the graduate will be awarded the Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree with a major in General Studies.

General Studies

Notes

Students are urged to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the major department in the college or university to which transfer is contemplated; and further, to consult with their counselors or advisors at Virginia Highlands Community College in planning their program and selecting electives.

The above semester-by-semester sequence of courses may be modified when necessary.  Please refer to the Program Choices section  of this catalog for a discussion of factors which affect planning and sequencing programs of study. 

1.     Students may substitute any HLT (Health) course for physical education requirement.  Transfer students should note that four-year institutions may require a PED activity course in the general education core.

2.     Must be chosen from the following laboratory sciences:  BIO 101-102; BIO 141-142; CHM 111-112; GOL 105-106; PHY 121-122; PHY 201-202; PHY 241-242.

3.     Students may choose from a broad spectrum of college transfer courses including, but not limited to:  Literature, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Music, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics.  Students should consult with transfer institutions for acceptability.

4.     Must be chosen from ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252, or the following humanities courses:  ART 201, 202; foreign languages; MUS 121, 122; PHI 101; REL 200, 210, 230; SPD 130, 151, 152.  Transfer students are advised to consider four-year college and university requirements in making their choices.

5.     Recommended social sciences:  ECO 201, 202; GEO 210; PLS 135, 211, 212; PSY 201, 202; SOC 201, 202.

6.     Keyboarding skills highly recommended.