What’s New in this Catalog 2025-2026

All revisions are effective Fall 2025

Please click on the link to view our latest webinars on Academic Affairs.

Transfer VA Curricular Changes  

We kindly remind you to stay up to date with the latest updates regarding the statewide Transfer VA initiative changes to NOVA courses by regularly checking our Academic Affairs blog. Our blog is the best resource to track these curricular changes and the programs they impact. 

New Degrees

Health Sciences: Public Health Major, A.S.  

Social Sciences: History Major, A.S.  

Liberal Arts: Deaf Studies Major, A.A.   - This degree moved from Social Sciences to Liberal Arts

Degrees Switched from Specialization to Major with Minor Revisions and New Program Codes

Liberal Arts: Art History Major, A.A.  

Liberal Arts: Communication Studies Major, A.A.  

Liberal Arts: Deaf Studies Major, A.A.  

Liberal Arts: English Major, A.A.  

Liberal Arts: International Studies Major, A.A.  

Science: Mathematics Major, A.S.  

Social Sciences: Political Science Major, A.S.  

Discontinued Programs

Criminal Justice: Advanced Forensic Investigation, C.S.C. Discontinued Fall 2025  

Criminal Justice: General Forensic Investigation, C.S.C. ​Discontinued Fall 2025  

Criminal Justice: National Security, C.S.C. ​Discontinued Fall 2025  

Social Sciences: Geospatial Specialization, A.S. - Discontinued Effective Fall 2025  

Course Title and Course Description Changes

ART 153 Ceramics - Handbuilding I  

ART 154 Ceramics - Wheel Throwing I  

ART 160 Film Production  

ART 161 Cinematography  

ART 235 Ceramics - Handbuilding II  

ART 236 Ceramics - Wheel Throwing II  

ART 237 Glaze Formulation and Firing  

General Education Elective Changes

ADJ 100  now counts as a Social/Behavioral Science Elective.

Next Discontinued Programs Expiring Summer 2026

Reminder: Students in programs that have been discontinued must graduate within 3 years from the term of discontinuance.

Seven Year Rule for Catalog Years

To fulfill the requirements for graduation, the Catalog used for certifying the student’s completion of their academic program must not be older than seven years from the date of their graduation. Please see below an example for guidance on how to measure when a student catalog year expires.

Catalog Year 2019-2020

Students placed in the following catalog terms in SIS are considered to be placed in the 2019-2020 catalog year: Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020

Last Term to Graduate is Summer 2026

The table below outlines the ‘Seven Year Rule’ for catalog years, indicating the last date by which students must complete their degree requirements based on the academic year they entered.