Program Details
Uniform Certificate of General Studies
CertificateNew River Community College
The Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) is a two-semester college program in which all courses are transferable and satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any Virginia public institution of higher education. The Passport is a component of the UCGS and is, therefore, a subset of courses in the UCGS. The UCGS consists of seven course blocks. To satisfy the UCGS, students are required to complete the appropriate nubmer of courses in each block as described below. Student course selection should be carefully considered since the UCGS program is not designed to capture the complexities of individual programs of study at four-year institutions. Students should be advised to take the UCGS course that best suits their intended program of study at the four-year institution.
Program Overview & Guidance

| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | You are encouraged to continue on to the Associate Degree. The more credits your earn prior to transfer, the better your changes of completing a Bachelor's Degree. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | This guarantee applies to all Virginia students completing course work through a 2-year college, including Dual Enrollment. |
Related Programs & Certifications

Program Credit Requirements

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | In determining transfer credit, course work applicable to the program at NRCC will be accepted if the courses were taken at another college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency. Other course work taken at instutions which are appoved by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia may be considered on an individual basis. At least 25% of the credits for a program must be earned at NRCC. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | https://catalog.nr.edu/content.php?catoid=36&navoid=2647#credit-for-prior-learning |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | New River Community College (NRCC) is a comprehensive community college located in the New River Valley of Virginia which includes Giles, Floyd, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties and the city of Radford. NRCC is part of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), a statewide system of community colleges. At NRCC students can prepare for the future with any of the various occupational programs or college transfer courses. With NRCC's wide selection of courses, you can explore your interests, prepare for a career, or increase your job skills. At the same time, at New River you'll find small classes and instructors who care about their students, along with a variety of services to help students, from counseling to career planning. NRCC faculty members are well known not just for their academic background, but also for their capacity to work closely and effectively with students. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://www.nr.edu/transfer/vccstransferagreements.php |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

This program is a smaller package of courses (16 credits for Passport and 31-32 credits for UCGS) that are considered the foundation for Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and other transferable associate degrees. When completed following specific guidelines, both the Passport and UCGS are transferable to all public 4-year and most private 4-year institutions in Virginia and apply towards lower-level general education requirements. Explore Transfer Guides for guidance on which courses to take toward an associate degree that will seamlessly transfer to various bachelor's degree programs.
Careers Where This Degree Applies

This program's curriculum focuses on broadly-applicable professional skills and knowledge found in a variety of work settings. Explore career options to discover how this program can meet your career goals as you further your education.
Cost To Complete

