Curriculum Information

General Information Pertaining to Curricular Offerings

This section includes descriptions of all associate degree and certificate curricula offered by Reynolds Community College. Each curriculum description:

• Provides a statement of purpose or intent of the curricular program
• States the occupational or transfer objectives for the program
• Specifies curriculum admission requirements for entry into the program
• States the required courses and minimum number of credit hours for completion
• Provides an outline for sequencing the courses of study 

Each curriculum is structured in accordance with policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges in Virginia. Additionally, the curricula for all associate degree programs meet criteria set forth by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Curricula for which the associate of applied science (AAS) degree and certificate are awarded are structured to ensure that graduates of these programs have a significant general education foundation, in addition to the necessary skill development training. For the AAS degree, general education comprises approximately 25 percent of the total credit hours; for certificate programs (not career studies certificates), this figure is a minimum of 15 percent.

The associate of arts (AA) and associate of science (AS) degree programs are designed for transfer to baccalaureate programs offered at four-year colleges and universities.

To avoid transfer problems, students should carefully select courses to fulfill elective requirements with the assistance of their advisors and upon an investigation of the transfer requirements of the institution to which transfer is considered.

Not all curricula are available on all campuses due to the specialized nature of the human and physical resources required to offer the instructional program. General education courses in the curricula, however, may be taken at any of the three campus locations at which they are offered.

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.

^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. 
^G As specified above, degree programs must contain a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education as defined by SACSCOC.
^H See Policy 5.1.0.0.4.6 for exceptions to the total credits allowed.

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General Education Definition

Associate degree programs provide a coherent, shared experience for students to develop the general education core competencies expected of them as college-educated individuals. General education, as an integrated and cohesive whole, provides the educational foundation necessary to promote intellectual and personal development.

Upon completion of an associate degree, graduates of Virginia’s Community Colleges will demonstrate competency in student learning outcomes (SLOs) determined and assessed by each college in:

• Civic engagement
• Critical thinking
• Professional readiness
• Quantitative literacy
• Scientific literacy
• Written communication

Collectively, these general education core competencies distinguish graduates of Virginia’s Community Colleges as individuals with a breadth of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to pursue further education and their careers, continue to develop as learners, and contribute to the well-being of their communities. The six competencies are defined in policy with aspirational statements of learning goals for graduates. Each community college will determine and assess specific learning outcomes based on the definitions and aspirational statements.

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General Education Goals and Objectives/Outcomes

Reynolds degree graduates will demonstrate competencies in these general education areas:

Civic Engagement
Contribute to the civic life and well-being of local, national, and global communities as both a 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.

Critical Thinking
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 well-reasoned conclusions or solutions.

Professional Readiness
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.

Quantitative Literacy
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.

Scientific Literacy
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 use the scientific method, and to evaluate empirical information.

Written Communication
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.

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Approved Transfer Electives

The Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) are programs in which all courses are transferable and contribute to the satisfaction of lower-division general education requirements at any Virginia public institution of higher education.

• Passport is a component of the UCGS, comprising six course blocks (Blocks 1-6)
• UCGS includes Passport courses plus an additional block (Block 7)

Students are required to complete the appropriate number of courses in each block to satisfy the Passport and/or the UCGS.

Student course selection should be carefully considered since the Passport and UCGS programs are not designed to capture the complexities of individual programs of study at the four-year institutions. Students should be advised to take the Passport and UCGS courses that best suit their intended program of study at the four-year institution. Only courses completed after May 2020 with a grade of C or better apply toward Passport and UCGS completion. 

Approved Transfer Electives offered by Reynolds

Approved Transfer Electives at Reynolds fall into five academic areas:

• Humanities/arts/literature
• Mathematics
• Natural sciences
• Social and behavioral sciences/history
• World languages

Prior to enrolling in these courses, students should consult their program advisor, as well as check the course descriptions to ensure that they meet any pre- or co-requisites. To avoid transfer problems, students should review the pathways or major maps of the four-year university to which they plan to transfer.  

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