VCCS policy 

5.1.0.0.3 Common Curricula A common curriculum is a set of courses leading to a degree or certificate that has been developed by a statewide faculty group. (See Section 5.2 for policy on development of common curricula.) Such curricula may be established for transfer or career-technical programs. If a common curriculum exists, it will be posted to the VCCS intranet maintained by Academic and Workforce Programs Unit, VCCS System Office, and followed by all colleges that offer the program. 

5.2.8 Development of Common Curricula Transfer Programs

 The Common Curricular framework provides faculty in the VCCS with the opportunity to work in partnership with faculty in Virginia’s four-year public institutions to develop curricular content in college transfer education, which includes the associate of arts, associate of science, and the associate of fine arts.  The curriculum is designed to transfer to Virginia four-year institutions that offer the target baccalaureate program. 

 A Common Curriculum Committee shall be established by the VCCS Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Programs or designee when there is interest in developing a common curriculum in a transfer education program.  The membership of the Committee shall include, whenever possible, one full-time faculty member within a given transfer discipline representing each college offering or desiring to offer the curriculum.  The Committee shall confer with four-year discipline faculty on the proposed curriculum to ensure that the curricular content aligns with the first two years of the baccalaureate program.

The plan of study developed by the Common Curriculum Committee shall be implemented by community colleges offering or desiring to offer the program within 18 months. Each college shall follow procedures outlined in Table 5-3 for adoption and implementation of the curriculum. Content created through a Common Curriculum Committee shall be designated as such in college catalogs only when offered as a degree or a major.

Each of the Transfer Virginia common curricula fits as a major or advising pathway under a parent degree. Examples of parent degrees for AA in Liberal Arts, AS in Science, AS in Social Science, and AS in Health Sciences are provided here (click on tabs on spreadsheet to view different AS degrees). Community colleges can adopt these examples or adapt them to their schools' individual needs.

Schools offering an AS in Computer Science, Business Administration, Engineering, Education, and/or Information Technology will use the common curriculum in that discipline.

The AS in General Studies will not have any Transfer Virginia majors under it. Colleges are encouraged to house advising pathways under AS in Science, Social Science, or Health Sciences or AA in Liberal Arts.