Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Liberal Arts: International Studies Major, A.A.

Associate of Arts
Northern Virginia Community College

Purpose: This program is designed to prepare students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree in international studies. This specialization will broaden the student's education to include more emphasis on other cultures and countries in recognition of the increasing interdependence of today's world.


Program Overview & Guidance
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Program Web Page
Click here for Details
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Hybrid
Check Course Schedules
Transfer Degree
Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • 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 Northern Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
Liberal Arts: International Studies Major, A.A.
60
Liberal Arts / International Studies
60
648-04 Plan GPA/Cum GPA 2025-26
60
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 45 credits may be applied to this program.
SDV Requirement
1
SDV 100
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
English Requirements
15
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 112
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 200 level Elective
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
English elective options: English elective options: students who are interested in Literature: ENG 225,ENG 230, ENG 236, ENG 237, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 250, ENG 255, ENG 256, ENG 257, ENG 258, ENG 271, ENG 275 and ENG 279. Students who are interested in Creative Writing: select ENG 211. Students who are interested in Writing and Rhetoric: select ENG 210. Students who are interested in Linguistics: select ENG 200 or ASL 220. Check with your advisor and consult the school/program transfer requirements.
ENG 200 level Elective
3
ENG 200 level Literature
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
English literature elective: ENG 225,ENG 230, ENG 236, ENG 237, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 250, ENG 255, ENG 256, ENG 257, ENG 258, ENG 271, ENG 275 and ENG 279.
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Math Requirements
6
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
May substitute any higherlevel mathematics course. See transfer requirements. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 262 and MTH 264
MTH 154 or Higher
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MTH 245 or higher
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CST Requirement
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
CST 100, CST 126, or CST 229  may be substituted.
CST 100
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
HIS Requirement
3
HIS from Social/Behavioral Science
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
HIS elective
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Approved HIS course: HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122, HIS 203, HIS 231, HIS 251 or HIS 254. Transfer to selected universities with a major in Public History and Historic Preservation should take HIS 183 or HIS 187.
World Language Requirements
12
World Language
12
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
101, 102, 201, 202 language level required Languages available: Arabic, Chinese, French, Germany, Japan, Russian, Spanish
Physical or Life Science Elective with Lab Requirements
8
Physical or Life Science Elective with Lab Elective
8
Earn 8 credits by completing courses from the following Category:
Humanities/Fine Arts Requirement
4
Humanities/Fine Arts Electives
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution. This elective is not required if World Languages total more than 15 credits.
Earn 3 credits: Complete the following
Earn 3 credits: Use the following rules
Complete courses from the following Category list:
AND
Complete courses from the following Course:
ECO requirements
6
ECO 201
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ECO 202
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PLS Requirement
3
PLS 241
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Global Understanding Requirement
6
Global Undertanding
6
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Select from ART 103, ART 200, HIS 203 , HIS 231, HIS 241, HIS 251, HIS 254, HIS 256, REL 237, REL 238.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript.
Credit for Prior Learning NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/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: Northern Virginia Community College
College Level Information
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
43891
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
Expand or Shrink Accordion
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Randolph-Macon CollegeEnglish (BA)BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in Creative WritingBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
James Madison UniversityBachelor of Arts, Major in Writing Rhetoric and Technical CommunicationBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
James Madison UniversityBachelor of Science, Major in Writing Rhetoric and Technical CommunicationBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Bridgewater CollegeProfessional Writing Major - BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
Expand or Shrink Accordion
O*Net Code Name Description Parent
27-3041.00EditorsPlan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
25-1123.00English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
27-3043.05Poets, Lyricists and Creative WritersCreate original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
27-3043.00Writers and AuthorsOriginate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
43-9081.00Proofreaders and Copy MarkersRead transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.Office and Administrative Support Occupations
25-1199.00Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherAll postsecondary teachers not listed separately.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
27-3042.00Technical WritersWrite technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
Cost To Complete
Expand or Shrink Accordion

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 60 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 Liberal Arts: International Studies Major, A.A. at Northern Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 4 semesters or 2 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 $219 Per Credit $13,140 $0 $13,140
*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.