VCCS Policies

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. 

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. 

Associate Degree (Transfer)

College transfer programs encompass the first two years of baccalaureate study in the arts, sciences, and preprofessional fields. These programs must meet standards acceptable for transfer and maintain content and quality equivalent to four-year institutions to ensure a smooth transition for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree. View Qualifications of Faculty for Hiring and Credentialing here. 

Applied Associate Degree (Career/Technical Education)

Career and technical education programs prepare students for employment in industry, business, the professions, and government as technicians, semiprofessionals, apprentices, and skilled tradespersons. These programs typically require two years or less of training beyond high school and may include fields such as agriculture, business, health, industrial, and service occupations. Curricula should align with regional workforce needs, though the State Board may designate certain colleges to serve larger areas with specialized programs. View Qualifications of Faculty for Hiring and Credentialing here. 

Four-year institutions have the discretion to determine whether or not to accept and transfer credits from applied associates degrees, as well as establish Guaranteed Admission Agreements and/or Guaranteed Program Admissions Agreements.