The requirements for these awards for completion of curricula are determined by the faculty of the College and are intended to meet the requirements specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, certain specialized accrediting agencies, and the faculty of the College. In some A.A.S. degree programs one or more summer terms may be required.
Most certificates prepare the student for a specific job or aspect of a job.
Some certificates are part of an associate degree program, in which case the credit earned in the certificate may be used toward the degree. The career studies programs are designed for expansion of job and life skills, retraining for career change, and investigating new career possibilities. Credit earned in a career studies certificate curriculum may be used to meet the requirements in other certificates and degrees that require similar courses.