NOVA Catalog Information

1. -NOVA CATALOG
2017-2018

2. -
GETTING STARTED
ASSOCIATE SCIENCE/ARTS VS. APPLIED
SCIENCE/ARTS VS. CERTIFICATE DEGREES
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE/ARTS (B.S./B.A.)
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE/ARTS (A.A.S./A.A.A.)
CAREER STUDIES CERTIFICATE (C.S.C)
CERTIFICATE (C.)
Transferable Degrees
Two Year Curricula (15+ per semester)
Select Transferable Degrees
Preparedness Degree
Two Year Curricula (15+ per semester)
Enhancement of job/life skills
Retraining or investigating new career possibilities

3. -
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
A.A. A.S. A.A.A. A.A.S.
GETTING STARTED
Written and Oral Comm.
Humanities
Foreign Language
Social Sciences
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
SDV Elective
Physical Education Req
9 9 6 6
6 6 3 3
6 - - -
12 9 6 6
6 6 0-3 0-3
8 8 0-3 0-3
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
Electives/Major Area Req 7-16 16-22 41-48 44-48

4. -
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
HUMANITIES
• Select Art (ART)
• Select Music (MUS)
• Philosophy (PHI)
• Humanities (HUM)
• Religion (REL)
• American Sign Language (ASL)
200 or higher level
• Foreign Language (All Courses)
200 or higher level
• Select History Courses (HIS)
SOCIAL SCIENCES
• Economics (ECO)
• Geography (GEO)
• History (HIS)
• Political Science (PLS)
• Select Psychology (PSY)
• Sociology (SOC)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
GETTING STARTED

5. -
CHOOSING A MAJOR
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
SCIENCES
• Biology (BIO)
• Chemistry (CHM)
• Environmental Science (ENV)
• Geology (GOL)
• Physics (PHY)
• Natural Science (NAS) (non science majors only)
• A.S. and A.A. (MTH 151 and above) – can vary according
to major
MATHEMATICS
some 4-year colleges require a two-semester sequence in a
single laboratory science

6. -
CHOOSING A MAJOR
PLACEMENT TESTS
ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST
• One retest is allowed within 12 months of the initial attempt
• Scores expire after 5 years
MATH PLACEMENT TEST
• One retest is allowed within 12 months of the initial attempt
• Scores expire after 5 years
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TEST (ESL)
• Can be retaken in 6 months if one does not test into level 2
or higher
• Can be retaken in year (without previous enrollment)
• Once one enrolls in ESL classes, one cannot retest unless
it has been 1 year since one’s last enrollment

7. -
CHOOSING A MAJOR
PLACEMENT TESTS
DEVELOPMENT COURSES
• Help students prepare for college level English and Math
courses
• Measured in units opposed to credits
• Are not weighted against overall G.P.A.
• Require a grade of satisfactory in order to advance to
the next level of course work
• Not transferable to four year colleges

8. -
GRADING
GETTING STARTED
A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Average
D = Poor
F = Failure
I = Incomplete
P = Pass
R = Re-enroll
S = Satisfactory
U = Unsatisfactory
W = Withdrawal
X = Audit

9. - 4
CALCULATING YOUR G.P.A.
GETTING STARTED
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 points
F = 0 points
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(LOUDOUN)
English 111 3 C
Biology 101 4 B
Psychology 202 3 C
History 101 3 A
SDV 100 1 A
14
Multiply the number of credits for the course by the number
of points received from the grade (e.g., English: 3 X 2 = 6).
40
SEMESTER G.P.A. = 2.85
Divide the total number of points by the total number of credits.
(40/14 = 2.85 G.P.A.)

10. -
COMPUTE THE SEMESTER G.P.A.
GETTING STARTED
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(LOUDOUN)
Accounting 211 3 credits C
Math/MTT 4 5 units B
Sociology 201 3 credits C
Phys Ed 116 1 credits A
SDV 100 1 credits A
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 points
F = 0 points
SEMESTER G.P.A. = ?
G.P.A. = ?

11. -
OVERALL GRADE POINT
AVERAGE
GETTING STARTED
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(LOUDOUN)
Accounting 211 3 credits C
Math/MTT 4 5 units B
Sociology 201 3 credits C
Phys Ed 116 1 credits A
SDV 100 1 credits A
SEMESTER G.P.A. = ?
20/8 = 2.5 G.P.A.
8 total credits 20 total pts

12. -
SEMESTER AVERAGE
HONORS REQUIREMENTS
GETTING STARTED
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS
• Semester G.P.A. is 3.75 or higher
• Completed (9) semester hours in the current semester
(excluding developmental courses)
• Earned a minimum of (20) semester hours of
credit NOVA
DEAN’S LIST
• Semester G.P.A. is 3.50 or higher
• Completed (6) semester hours in the current semester
(excluding developmental courses)
• No grade lower than a C

13. -
ACADEMIC STANDING
GETTING STARTED
ACADEMIC WARNING
• Failing to maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0
ACADEMIC PROBATION
• Failing to maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 1.5
• “Placed on Academic Probation” will appear on your
permanent record
• A student will remain on academic probation until one’s
cumulative G.P.A. comes above 1.75.
• Required to consult a counselor (blocked from registration)
• Restricted from being elected to student organizations

14. -
ACADEMIC STANDING
GETTING STARTED
ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
• Those currently on academic probation that fail to attain
a minimum G.P.A. of 1.50 for the next semester.
• “Placed on Academic Suspension” will appear on one’
permanent record
• Asked to leave NOVA for one semester
ACADEMIC DISMISSAL
• Failing to maintain a 2.00 semester G.P.A. after
reinstatement to the College when on academic suspension
• “Placed on Academic Dismissal” will appear on one’s
permanent record

15. -
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
ASSOCIATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
1. Declare a major
2. Fulfilled coursework and credit hour requirements
3. Recommended for graduation from one’s advisor
4. 25% of credits required in the curriculum taken at NOVA
5. Completed general education requirements
6. Earned a 2.00 (applicable to the curriculum)
7. Applied for graduation online before specified deadline
8. Resolved financial obligation to the College
GETTING STARTED
(A.A.A., A.A.S., A.A., or A.S.)

16. -
GRADUATION HONORS
ELIGIBILITY
GETTING STARTED
Honor
Cumulative Grade
Point Average
3.20 – 3.49
3.50 – 3.79
3.80 – 4.00
Cum Laude (with honor)
Magna Cum Laude
(with high honor)
Summa Cum Laude
(with highest honor)
• Minimum of 30 credit hours in a degree program
• 50% of credits completed at NOVA

17. -f
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
GETTING STARTED
ACTS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
1. Cheating on an examination or quiz (including: giving,
receiving, or soliciting information during an exam or quiz)
2. Buying, selling, stealing, soliciting, or using any
materials unreleased contents of a forthcoming exam
3. Substituting for another person during an exam or
allowing someone to take one’s place
4. Plagiarizing
5. Accepting help or giving help in order to complete an
assignment without prior approval
5. Knowingly furnishing false information to the College