Purpose: This curriculum will provide students with the accounting courses needed to meet the requirements of the Virginia Board for Accountancy to sit for the Certified Public Accountancy (C.P.A.) examination. To meet the educational requirements to sit for the Virginia CPA exam, a candidate must obtain from one or more accredited institutions or from the National College the following:

• at least 120 semester hours of education;
• baccalaureate or higher degree; and
• accounting concentration or equivalent*

Requirements include:

• a minimum of 24 semester hours of accounting courses, to include courses in auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation; and
• a minimum of 24 semester hours of business courses. As many as 6 hours of accounting courses (not included in the 24 hours of accounting courses) may be considered for the business course requirement.

*Principles or introductory accounting courses cannot be considered in determining whether a person has obtained the 48 minimum number of semester hours required for an accounting concentration or equivalent.

Purpose: The program is designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge to keep a simple set of accounting books and/or to qualify for entry-level positions in bookkeeping and accounting.

Purpose: This program prepares students to communicate proficiently in American Sign Language, including both expressive and receptive skills. The ASL Career Studies Certificate will improve the students' marketability in a wide range of positions where it is necessary to possess effective communication between hearing and Deaf persons. These fields include careers such as teaching, health and social service occupations, and public safety positions. Many people already holding positions in these areas would enhance their ability to perform their current jobs by expanding the range of people with whom they can communicate. The ASL Career Studies Certificate also fulfils all of the prerequisite requirements for our other programs of study. Many students complete the ASL CSC and then go on to enroll in either the Interpreting A.A.S. or Deaf Studies A.S. curriculum.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for those students who wish to take only those courses that relate directly to the law enforcement field. The occupational objectives are to provide a basic foundation for individuals entering some particular area of the criminal justice field that does not require an A.A.S. or higher degree in criminal justice, or for persons already in the criminal justice field who wish to extend their knowledge/skill, or for those exploring the criminal justice field as a career alternative. Courses taken in the certificate program can be applied to the A.A.S. degree.

Special Curriculum Admission Requirements: Students are advised that many criminal justice and private/government security agencies require excellent moral character and a written record of conduct prior to consideration for employment.

Purpose: This program is designed to prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in criminal justice, criminology, or related fields.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of Cybersecurity (information assurance), for those who are presently in IT or a security field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information security. The curriculum is mapped to the NSA/DHS Knowledge Units necessary for NOVA's designation as a Center of Academic Excellence.

Purpose This curriculum is designed for students seeking licensure in K-12 Special Education Adapted Curriculum or K-12 Special Education General Curriculum. This curriculum prepares students to transfer to any four-year college or university teacher preparation program. Courses in this degree are designed to satisfy some of the endorsement and professional course requirements of a Virginia teaching license. In EDU 200, students will identify the endorsement (content) courses they need to earn a teaching license. Students should meet with a Teacher Education faculty member or Education Field Placement Coordinator and Advising Specialist to select the correct courses for their area of licensure. EDU 200 and EDU 204 both require 20-hour field placements in a K-12 public school. Students will be required to complete a background check before being placed in the schools. Students with criminal records should consult with the Teacher Education Field Placement Coordinator before enrolling in the courses. Students are strongly encouraged to take the VCLA after completing ENG 111, ENG 112, Eng-literature course, and CST 100 or 110.

Purpose: This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in technology companies and related industries that require technicians/technologists trained in engineering technology, mechatronics, automation, electronics and robotics. Coursework will prepare students to earn the BICSI Installer 2 (Fiber Optic) and OSHA 10 industry credentials.

Recommended prerequisites: There are no required prerequisites for this certificate. It is recommended that the student possess a proficiency in high school English, high school algebra and geometry, and possess the ability to utilize hand tools and instrumentation.

Purpose: This program is a flexible associate degree. For students who plan to transfer, the degree can parallel the first two years of a four-year bachelor of science program if they choose courses that match the transfer institution's requirements. For those students who do not plan to transfer, the degree allows them to structure a program to suit their needs using accumulated credits from a variety of formal and experiential sources.

Purpose: The curriculum is designed for persons who seek entry-level employment as clinical data coding specialists in healthcare organizations by providing them with knowledge in anatomy and medical terminology, skill development in ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT coding classification systems, database management, and clinical data abstracting processes, prospective payment systems, and reimbursement strategies. Clinical data coding specialists are in demand across the spectrum of healthcare organizations including hospitals, physician offices, insurance companies, managed care organizations, contracting groups, and accounting firms. Graduates of the certificate program are eligible to take one of two national certifying examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Office setting (CCS-P).

Purpose: This program is designed to prepare the student for full-time employment within the field of landscape design as well as assisting those who are presently working and who wish to further their knowledge and upgrade their skills.

Graduates of this degree are prepared to work in the field of landscape design, in nurseries and garden centers, and as institutional horticultural staff. Students in this degree have the opportunity to gain career-related work experience through a Coordinated Internship, Cooperative Education, or Special Studio Project in the area of design.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for persons who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in information technology.

PurposeThis curriculum is designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university for a BS or B.A. degree in psychology.

Purpose This curriculum is designed for students seeking a solid foundation in the theories, methods, and skills in the complementary fields of public history and historic preservation.

Purpose The curriculum is designed to prepare students to be effective members of the healthcare team in assisting with diagnosis, treatment, management, and preventive care of patients with cardiopulmonary problems. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the entry-level and advanced practitioner examinations leading to certification as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and registration as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Purpose This curriculum is designed to fulfill the Virginia state educational requirements for the certification of substance abuse counselors. To meet substance abuse counselor certification requirements, the applicant is expected to meet specific education requirements including didactic and experiential learning with a supervised internship required.

Individuals seeking skills and knowledge in this career field, but not seeking state certification may also enroll.

Cooperative Education: Students in this curriculum will participate in at least 3 semester hours of Cooperative Education unless they already have equivalent experience.

Purpose Our program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). We award an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and prepare you for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), an entry-level national licensing exam.

Purpose: This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university for a Bachelor of Arts in Art History.

PurposeThis major is designed for students who want to establish a strong foundation in the analytical skills and content related to the study of history, historical methods, and research tools across a variety of subject fields, including U.S., European, World, and Public History. Graduates who complete the major will be prepared for transfer opportunities and careers in fields that require critical thinking and clear written communications, as well as a deeper understanding of the importance of being an active and engaged citizen. When transferring to a four-year college or university, graduates will have the equivalent skills and knowledge of a junior.

Purpose This program is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree. Graduates will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities equivalent to students entering the junior level at four-year colleges and universities.