Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Uniform Certificate of General Studies

UCGS
Southwest Virginia 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
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Program Web Page
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External Link
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 31 credit Uniform Certificate in General Studies prepares first time job seekers with the basic competencies which can help them be more competitive in the job market and more valuable in the workplace.
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

This certificate prepares students to transfer to a four year college or university in Virginia.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

The Uniform Certificate of General Studies prepares first time job seekers with the basic competencies which can help them be more competitive in the job market and more valuable in the workplace. For those individuals who wish to continue their education, the general education certificate provides foundational courses that allow students to progress toward the associate degree or to transfer to a senior institution.

  • 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 Southwest Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses In addition to the general admissions requirements of the college, entry requires satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalents as a minimum: 4 units of English; 2 units of college preparatory mathematics; 1 unit of laboratory science; and 1 unit of history. Students with deficiencies will require developmental studies.
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights This program allows students to experience college life without the full degree commitment. It expands skills in reading and writing as well as critical thinking. The certificate makes students more valuable employees.
Related Programs & Certifications
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On Completion You Are Ready For
Credential
Associate of Science Degree in General Studies
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
31
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Students are required to select courses from each block as prescribed below. A grade of C or better is required on all coursework for students to earn a UCGS.
UCGS
31
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Students are required to select courses from each block as prescribed below. A grade of C or better is required on all coursework for students to earn a UCGS.
Plan GPA 695
31
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
Residency Requirement 695
31
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 22 credits may be applied to this program.
Block I Written Communication
6
Earn 6 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Block II Arts/Humanities/Literature
6
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Select two courses chosen from different categories
Earn 6 credits by completing courses from the following Category list:
Block III Social/Behavioral Science
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Block IV Natural Science
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Block V Mathematics
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Block VI History
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Block VII Specialized General Education Requirements
6
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Student may complete courses from Blocks I-VI above or any additional course below. Student should align their Block VII course selection with their intended transfer destination's specific general education or programmatic requirements.
Earn 6 credits by completing courses from the following Category list:
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

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School No, some courses are offered via DE
Credit for 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: Southwest 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
Number of Transfer Students
747
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
100%, AV GPA 3.07
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Annual HC 3120, Transfer in per semester 97, Av Class size 12, Limited Foundation Owned Housing
Transfer Student Catalog Year Summer, Fall , Spring is a catalog year
First Year Student Catalog Year Summer, Fall , Spring is a 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 31 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 Southwest 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 $5,239 $0 $5,239 163.40 tuition per credit and 5.75 comprehensive fee per credit
*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.