Additional Program Information

Code for Academic Awards

AA&S - Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree (transfer)

AAS - Associate of Applied Science
(Preparation for employment and not designed to transfer but some courses/programs may transfer into selected programs at four year colleges and universities.)

Certificate - (30-59 credits)

CSC - Career Studies Certificate (9-29 credits)

Program Descriptions

Program Descriptions (Information Sheets) provide details on each Program of Study offered by the College. As these programs may change in scope or in individual courses offered, students should print and keep the course offerings for the year that they enter the Program of Study. This is to be your individual “program of study” and should be approved by your academic advisor and faculty advisor.

Degree Programs

Certificate Programs

In addition to Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs, MGCC offers Certificate Programs, which provide entry-level job skills based upon local employment needs. The Certificate Programs are also appropriate for employed individuals who wish to upgrade their present job skills or prepare for promotion. The College works with local employers to design programs, which will lead to employment in local businesses and industries.

Many Certificate Programs are related to an Associate of Applied Science Degree Program, while others are self-contained. When the program is part of an Associate of Applied Science Degree Program, credits will be applied toward the degree program requirements.

Program Requirements

Transfer Programs

Associate of Arts and Sciences, Certificate of General Education

Curricula for the Associate of Arts and Sciences (AA&S) and the Certificate in General Education are designed for students who plan to complete a baccalaureate degree program at a four-year college or university. Courses permitting concentration in areas of particular interest are included in each student’s program. The Associate of Arts and Sciences programs each take four semesters or two years of full-time study; the Certificate of General Education takes two semesters or one year of full-time study. Students who complete the Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree are eligible to take advantage of the many Guaranteed Admissions Agreements that the Virginia Community College System has with a wide variety of four-year colleges and universities. Further, students who complete the AA&S Degree could be eligible for a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Transfer Grant, which would substantially reduce their financial burden when they transfer. Without the AA&S Degree, they would not be eligible for this special SCHEV financial assistance program.

In addition to admissions requirements established by the College, satisfactory completion of the following high school units or their equivalent is required: 4 units of English, 3-4 units of college preparatory mathematics, depending on major 1 unit of laboratory science, 1 unit of social science.

Specific course requirements for the Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and the Certificate for General Education are intended to provide a balanced transferable foundation in general education.

For the AA&S degree, approximately one-third of the program consists of elective courses which the student chooses in accordance with the course of study he or she plans to pursue at a four-year school. Students planning to transfer to a particular institution should work with both their MGCC academic advisor and an advisor at the four-year college or university of their choice to assure that all courses taken at MGCC are necessary and transferable to their chosen four-year major. The curricula below meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) General Education Requirements and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) General Education Core Competency

Requirements related to Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural/Social Understanding, Information Literacy, Personal Development, and Quantitative/Scientific Reasoning.

The specific curricula for the two-year AA&S Business Administration, Education, General Studies, and Science programs and the one-year Certificate of General Education program are located on the following pages.

The following pages contain lists of typical Humanities Electives, Social Science Electives, and Math/Natural Sciences Electives from which to choose.

Career Studies Certificates

Career studies certificates are developed in response to adults seeking preparation for employment or advancement in their current field. Most career studies certificates may be earned in a shorter time than it requires to complete other academic awards offered through the college.

Career studies certificates require 9-29 semester credit hours; some relate to certificate or associate degree programs or are self-contained. These programs are designed to provide students with specific skill sets for local employment.

Admission Information: Individuals must follow the admission process to enroll in career studies certificate programs. An academic advisor will review requirements to be certain that any requirements are met so the student will complete the program with success. Individuals may earn more than one option.

Program Requirements: The program requires completion of selected specialized courses. All electives must be approved prior to enrollment. A Career Studies Certificate is awarded upon program completion (overall minimum 2.0 GPA).

Career Studies Certificate Programs for 2021-2022 include the following:

Special Training

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program

Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training is available on the Clifton Forge campus. Instruction includes classroom lecture and behind-the-wheel time. MGCC will work with every individual to determine the amount and type of training that they need to earn the credential(s) they desire. The instructor will advise each student on their level of readiness to take the examinations. Contact Brooke Shehan, FastForward Career Coach, at (540) 863-2848 or bshehan@MGCC.edu to learn more.

Allied Health Sciences

The Workforce Solutions and Community Education division of the College offers a variety of training courses and programs in allied healthcare. Examples of currently offered courses include Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Pharmacy Technician training. Contact Brooke Shehan, FastForward Career Coach, at (540) 863-2848 or bshehan@MGCC.edu to learn more.

Massage Therapy Program

Massage therapy is a rapidly growing aspect of the Healthcare Support industry that employs physical manipulation of muscles and soft tissues of the body for therapeutic effect. Rising demand by healthcare providers is creating many new career opportunities in this high-growth profession. An increasing number of states are adopting licensing requirements and standards for therapists, and the practice of massage is becoming more universally respected and accepted as a way to treat pain and to improve overall wellness. The Massage Therapy program at MGCC prepares students for the national certification examination, the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). After successful passage of this exam, the graduate will be eligible for licensure in Virginia as a Massage Therapist by the Virginia State Board of Health Professions.