Course Numbers
Courses numbered 1-9 are Developmental courses. The credits earned in these courses are not applicable toward associate degree programs. Courses numbered 10-99 are applicable toward certificate programs but are not applicable toward an associate degree. Courses numbered 100-199 are freshman courses which may be applicable toward an associate degree or certificate program. Courses numbered 200-299 are sophomore courses which may be applicable toward an associate degree or certificate program.
Course Credits
The credit for each course must be indicated after the title in the course description. One credit is equivalent to one collegiate semester-hour credit. Each semester hour of credit given for a course is based on the “academic hour,” which is 50 minutes of formalized, structured instructional time in a particular course weekly for fifteen weeks. This is a total of 750 minutes of instruction. In addition to this instructional time, appropriate evaluation will be required. If this evaluation is a final examination, a minimum of 50 minutes of evaluation time shall be scheduled for each course, not to exceed a total of 150 minutes per course. Any exception must have prior approval by the requestor’s Chief Academic Officer or designee. Credits may be assigned to the activities as follows:
- Lecture – One academic hour of lecture (including lecture, seminar, discussion, or other similar activities) per week, generally for 15 weeks, plus the evaluation or examination period, equals one collegiate semester-hour credit.
- Laboratory – Two to five academic hours, depending on the discipline, of laboratory, clinical training, supervised work experience, coordinated internship, or other similar activities per week, generally for 15 weeks, plus the evaluation or examination period, equals one collegiate semester-hour credit.
- Asynchronous Distance Learning Courses – In the case of asynchronous distance learning course offerings or hybrid courses that employ a mix of traditional contact hours and learning activities with students and faculty separated by time and place, colleges must demonstrate through faculty peer review that content and competency coverage and student outcomes are equivalent to those of traditional sections of the same class. In the event the only section of the course being taught in the VCCS is an asynchronous or hybrid course, faculty peer review will be employed to confirm that content and competency coverage and student outcomes are appropriate for the course credits awarded.
- General Usage Courses – Variable academic hours from one to five credits for general usage courses.
- Variable Credits – A college may request that a course vary from the existing credit value, but by no more than one credit. Existing variable credit ranges may not be extended. Credit variability will not be approved for purposes of deleting laboratory hours or of making laboratory hours optional.
Course Hours
The number of lecture hours in class each week (including lecture, seminar, discussion, and other similar activities) and/or the number of laboratory, supervised study, coordinated internship, and other similar activities are indicated for each course in the course description. The numbers of lecture and laboratory hours required each week are called “contact” hours. Distance learning courses must include the same content and deliver the same student outcomes as do the same courses taught in the classroom. Although contact hours for distance learning courses may not refer to seat time, they do still indicate the amount of course time devoted to lecture and laboratory instruction.
Course Prerequisites and Co-requisites
If any prerequisites are required before enrolling in a course, these prerequisites will be identified in the course description. The prerequisites or their equivalent must be completed satisfactorily before enrolling in a course. Courses in special sequences (usually identified by the numerals I-II) require that prior courses or their equivalent be completed before enrolling in the advanced courses in the sequence unless otherwise specified. When co-requisites are required for a course, usually the co-requisite must be taken at the same time. Students who register for a class without meeting prerequisites may be dropped from the class during the first two weeks of classes.
Reading and Writing Level Requisites
Table E: Student English Course Placement
| If a student has… |
The student may enroll in… |
| 6 or more years since high school graduation |
Informed Self-Placement (See Advisor) |
| High School Grade Point Average (HS GPA) for English Placement* |
| Less than 2.0 HS GPA |
EDE 10 |
| 2.0 to 2.99 HS GPA |
EDE 11 + ENG 111
ENG 115 |
| 3.0+ HS GPA |
ENG 111
ENG 115 |
| |
| Course |
Minimum Placement Requirement** |
| EDE 10 |
1.99 or lower HS GPA |
| EDE 11 + ENG 111 |
2.0 to 2.99 HS GPA |
| ENG 111 |
3.0+ HS GPA |
| ENG 115 |
2.0+ HS GPA |
| |
| SAT/ACT/GED Scores for English Placement*** |
| Test |
Student Score |
The student may enroll in… |
SAT-ERW
Evidence Based Reading & Writing |
480 or above |
ENG 111 |
| 400-470 |
ENG 111 + EDE 11 |
ACT
Subject Area Tests:
English & Reading |
18 or above |
ENG 111 |
| 15-17 |
ENG 111 + EDE 11 |
| 14 and below |
EDE 10 |
| GED English |
165 or above |
ENG 111 |
| *High School Grade Point Average (HS GPA) is valid for five (5) years after the date of high school graduation. Students who completed high school six (6) or more years ago will be enrolled based on self-informed placement. |
| **Minimum placement requirements apply to students who completed high school five (5) or less years ago. |
| ***SAT, ACT, and GED scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. |
General Usage Courses
90, 190 & 290 Coordinated Practice (1-5 CR.)
Includes supervised practice in selected health agencies coordinated by the College. Credit/Practice ratio maximum 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
90, 190, & 290 Coordinated Internship (1-5 CR.)
Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial, or service firms coordinated by the College. Credit/Practice ratio maximum 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
95, 195, & 295 Topics in (1-5 CR.)
Provides an opportunity to explore topical areas of interest to or needed by students. May be used also for special honors courses. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
96, 196, & 296 On-Site Training (1-5 CR.)
Specializes in career orientation and training program without pay in selected businesses and industry, supervised and coordinated by the College. Credit/Work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
97, 197 & 297 Cooperative Education (1-5 CR.)
Supervises in on-the-job training for pay in approved business, industrial and service firms coordinated by the College’s cooperative education office. Is applicable to all occupational-technical curricula at the discretion of the College. Credit/Work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
98, 198 & 298 Seminar and Project (1-5 CR.)
Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student’s occupational objective and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
Table M: Student Math Course Placement
| If a student has… |
The student may enroll in… |
| 6+ years since high school graduation |
Informed Self-Placement (See Advisor) |
| High School Grade Point Average (HS GPA) for Math Placement* |
| Less than 2.0 HS GPA |
MDE 10 |
| 2.0-2.99 HS GPA without HS Algebra 2* |
MTH 111
MTH 132
MTH 133
MTH 154 + MDE 54
MTH 155 + MDE 55
MDE 60 |
| 2.0-2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2* |
MTH 111
MTH 132
MTH 133
MTH 154 + MDE 54
MTH 155 + MDE 55
MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
| 3.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2* |
MTH 111
MTH 132
MTH 133
MTH 154
MTH 155
MDE 60 |
| 3.0+ HS GPA with HS Algebra 2* |
MTH 111
MTH 132
MTH 133
MTH 154
MTH 155
MTH 161 |
| 2.7+ HS GPA with a grade of C or better in Math Analysis/Pre-Calculus without trigonometry* |
MTH 261 |
| 2.7+ HS GPA with a grade of B or better in Math Analysis/Pre-Calculus with trigonometry* |
MTH 263 |
| *High school GPA is valid for five (5) years after the date of high school graduation |
|
| |
| Course |
Minimum Placement Requirement** |
| MDE 10 |
1.99 or lower HS GPA |
| MDE 60 |
2.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 111 |
2.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 132 |
2.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 133 |
2.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 + MDE 54 |
2.0 – 2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 |
3.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 155 + MDE 55 |
2.0 – 2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 155 |
3.0+ HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
2.0 – 2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 161 |
3.0+ HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 261 |
2.7+ HS GPA with a grade of C or better in Math Analysis/Pre-Calculus without trigonometry* |
| MTH 263 |
2.7+ HS GPA with a grade of B or better in Math Analysis/Pre-Calculus with trigonometry* |
| **Minimum placement requirements noted above apply to student who completed high school five or less years ago. High school GPA (HSGPA) is valid for five (5) years after the date of high school graduation. Students who completed high school 6 or more years ago may be placed through informed self-placement. |
|