Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 NOVA Catalog 
    
2019-2020 NOVA Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Course Information


Course Numbers

Courses numbered 1-9 are developmental courses. The credits earned in these courses are not applicable toward a degree or a certificate.

Courses numbered 10-99 are freshman-level courses that may apply to certificate programs. The credits earned in these courses are not applicable toward an associate degree.

Courses numbered 100-299 are applicable toward associate degrees and certificate programs.

Course Credits

The credit for each course is indicated in parentheses after the title in the course description. One credit is equivalent to one collegiate semester-hour credit.

Course Hours

The number of lecture hours in class each week (including lecture, seminar, and discussion hours) and/or the number of laboratory hours in each week (including laboratory, shop, supervised practice, and cooperative work experiences) are indicated for each course in the course description. The number of lecture and laboratory hours in class each week is also called “contact” hours because it is time spent under the direct supervision of a faculty member. In addition to the lecture and laboratory hours in class each week, each student must spend some time on out-of-class assignments under his/her own direction. Usually each credit per course requires an average of three hours of in-class and out-of-class work each week.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Prerequisites required before enrolling in a course are identified in the course description. Courses in sequences (usually identified by the numerals I-II) require that the preceding course in the sequence (or equivalent) be completed before one can enroll in the next course in the sequence. Usually corequisites must be taken at the same time. The prerequisites or their equivalent must be completed satisfactorily before enrolling in a course unless special permission is obtained from the division. NOVA’s Schedule of Classes lists additional information on special enrollment requirements.

Frequency of Offerings

The College is not obligated to offer, nor can it offer, all courses every semester. Courses are usually offered in the semesters indicated in the degree or certificate outline given in the “Programs of Study” chapter of this Catalog. NOVA’s Schedule of Classes lists the courses being offered for the respective semester or session.

General Usage Courses

The following general usage courses apply to multiple curricula and may carry a variety of prefix designations. The descriptions of the courses are identical for each different prefix and are as follows:

90-190-290 (1-5 CR.) Coordinated Internship
Supervised on-the-job training in selected business, industrial, or service firms coordinated by the College. Credit/work ratio maximum 1:5 hrs. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.

93-193-293 (1-5 CR.) Studies In
Experimental courses to test their viability as permanent offerings. Each offering of the course must be approved by the academic dean. An experimental course may be offered twice, after which the course must be approved following VCCS processes for adding new courses to the Master Course File. Credit/work ratio maximum 1:5 hrs. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.

95-195-295 (1-5 CR.) Topics In
Exploration of 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 (1-5 CR.) On-Site Training 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 hrs. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.

97-197-297 (1-5 CR.) Cooperative Education
Supervised on-the-job training for pay in approved business and government organizations. Applicable to all curricula at the discretion of the College. See eligibility requirements under “Cooperative Education,” included with the “Academic Information and Policies” section. Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hrs. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.

98-198-298 (1-5 CR.) Seminar and Project
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.

99-199-299 (1-5 CR.) Supervised Study
Assignment of problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.