Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Uniform Certificate of General Studies

Certificate
Piedmont Virginia Community College

The Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year public college or university in Virginia.  When completed, the UCGS will satisfy lower-division general education requirements at all four-year public colleges and universities in Virginia.  Students should select courses in general education that best align to their major requirements.

Outcomes

To complete a core of general education requirements on the path toward completing a transfer associate degree.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Transfer Degree
Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree The UCGS provides a guarantee that these 30-32 credits will apply to 30-32 credits of general education requirements at most Virginia colleges. See the Resource Center for a list of participating institutions.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

Students must select a course for each block from the official UCGS course list.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Piedmont Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Doing More With Your Degree You are encouraged to continue on to the Associate Degree. The more credits you earn prior to transfer, the better your chances 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
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Credential That Prepares You For This Program
Credential
Passport
Link
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

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.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

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.
Requirements
Required Credits
Uniform Certificate of General Studies
32
Uniform Certificate of General Studies
32
UNIFORM CERTIFICATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
32
UCGS Block I Communication
6
UCGS Block I
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
UCGS Block I
3
Complete courses from the following Course:
AND
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
UCGS Block II Hum/Art/Lit
9
UCGS Block II
3
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block II
3
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block II
3
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block III: Social and Behavioral Science
3
UCGS Block III
3
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block IV Science
8
UCGS Block IV
8
Earn 8 credits: Complete the following
Earn 8 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block V Mathematics
3
UCGS Block V
3
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS Block VI History
6
UCGS Block VI
6
Earn 6 credits: Complete the following
Earn 6 credits: Use the following rules
Complete the following
Use the following rules
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
OR
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Complete courses from the following Course list:
UCGS UNUSED COURSES
0
Residency requirement for the UNIFORM CERTIFICATE of GENERAL STUDIES
0
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Prior completion of any associate degree or higher waives the SDV 100 requirement. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Prior completion of any associate degree or higher waives the SDV 100 requirement. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree.
Credit for Prior Learning https://www.pvcc.edu/credit-prior-learning
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Piedmont Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me?
Transfer Student Catalog Year
First Year Student Catalog Year
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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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
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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
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 32 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Uniform Certificate of General Studies at Piedmont Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 2 semesters or 1 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $169 Per Credit $5,408 $0 $5,408 https://www.pvcc.edu/tuition-fees
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.