Raritan Valley Community College awards Associate of Arts degrees (A.A.), Associate of Science degrees (A.S.), Associate of Fine Arts degrees (A.F.A.), Associate of Applied Science degrees (A.A.S.), and certificates to students who have completed approved programs.
Satisfaction of associate degree requirements is measured by the sequence of courses taken and the number of credits earned, not by the length of time it takes to complete them. Except in a very few programs with external accreditation or special exemptions, each associate degree program requires 60 credits of coursework. Although associate degree programs are designed to be completed in two years (four consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment), the actual amount of time needed by particular students will vary depending upon the program in which they are enrolled, their ability to maintain a full course load, and their academic preparation. The College does offer courses during summer and winter sessions to help students expedite their progress. Academic preparedness in English and Math is determined according to the College’s placement policies which rely on the results of standardized tests such as PARCC (NJSLA), SAT, ACT, and AP exams, as well as the College’s placement tests. A small number of math-intensive programs (Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics) require students to be Calculus-ready in the first semester, which may extend the time to completion for some students.
Transfer Programs (A.A., A.S., A.F.A.)
In general, transfer programs are designed for students who are planning a career that requires at least four years of college preparation. Upon completion of an associate degree program at RVCC, students are prepared for transfer into the junior year of baccalaureate study at a four-year college.
Career Programs (A.A.S.)
Career programs are designed primarily to prepare students for direct entry into a career field upon completion of their studies. This degree is not intended for transfer, though transfer is possible. The number of credits acceptable for transfer depends on the program taken at the College and the transfer institution.
Certificate Programs
The College offers a number of certificate programs that provide specialized training for occupational preparation. Most certificate offerings can be completed by full-time students in one year.
Dual Majors
Students are permitted to pursue a double major provided that they have met with an academic advisor. The student will receive curriculum information for both programs and will be advised of additional admission requirements.
Online Learning
RVCC offers 150+ online and hybrid courses, including almost 50 general education courses. Online courses feature instruction that requires limited or no physical presence on campus. For example, on campus testing may be required. Hybrid courses, where class time is divided between traditional classroom or lab activities and online instruction, combine the convenience of online courses with the personal attention of classroom interaction. Hybrid courses generally feature 49 percent of instruction offered online, with 51 percent of instruction in a traditional classroom setting. In addition, some traditional classes may require an online component.
RVCC offers the following degree programs which can be completed entirely online:
- A.A., Communication Studies in Liberal Arts
- A.S., Criminal Justice
- A.S., General Business option in Business Administration
- A.S., International Business option in Business Administration
- A.S., Marketing option in Business Administration
- A.S., Supply Chain Management option in Business Administration
- A.A.S. in Accounting
- A.A.S., Health Information Technology
- Certificate in Health Information Technology-Medical Coding
- Certificate in CPA Education Requirement
In addition, the following degree programs offer the opportunity to complete at least 85 percent of the courses online:
- A.A.S. in Accounting Information Systems
- A.S. in Business Administration - General Business Option
- A.S. in Business Administration - International Business Option
- A.S. in Business Administration - Marketing Option
- A.A.S. in Business Management - Financial Services Option
- A.A.S. in Business Management - General Business Option
- A.A.S. in Business Management - International Business Option
- A.S. in Criminal Justice
- A.A. in English
- A.A. in Liberal Arts
- A.A. in Communication Studies
- A.S. in Mathematics
- A.A. in Social Science
Honors
The Honors College
The Honors College is primarily intended for highly qualified high school graduates who are entering college for the first time. Additionally, the Honors College accepts select transfer applicants, including current RVCC students, with a minimum 3.50 grade point average. Honors College graduates will have the opportunity to transfer to highly selective four-year colleges and universities. Honors College graduates will be able to transfer credits earned at RVCC and enter most four-year colleges with junior-year status.
Honors College classes are smaller and are taught by a select group of faculty. Admission is competitive and as such, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. For application materials and procedures, visit the Honors College section of the RVCC website.
Honors Program
The Honors Program offers qualified students the opportunity to take challenging classes that will be documented on their transcripts and will enhance their admission to many four-year colleges.
Students may choose from a variety of Honors opportunities:
- Honors courses: Several Honors courses in different academic disciplines are offered each semester. Honors courses offer sophisticated uses of research, introduce stimulating readings from varied sources, promote diverse approaches to writing, and encourage independent study.
- Honors Options: Some regular courses offer the Honors Option, which includes an Honors-level project within a non-Honors course.
- Honors Achievement Award: This award calls for 15 or more credits of Honors and Honors Option courses.
The Honors Program and its courses are open not only to current RVCC students, but also to recent high school graduates, high school seniors in advanced placement programs, and transfer students from other colleges. The general requirement for Honors courses and Honors Option projects is either a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or the permission of the instructor. Some courses carry additional requirements. See the Honors Course Descriptions in this catalog. For further information about the Honors Program and about the specific courses offered each semester, see the RVCC website.
Cooperative Work Experience
The RVCC Cooperative Education Experience program offers students the opportunity to step into real-life career situations and to test out various career possibilities. Experiences can by paid or non-paid; students also may be able to earn Cooperative Education Experience credit for volunteer experiences. If a student’s major requires a co-op, it is important that they first see their academic department’s Faculty Co-op Coordinator to receive approval to participate and enroll. Students cannot register for a co-op class without pre-approval.
Cooperative Work Experience offers students an on-the-job training program directly related to their academic major and career interests. Its purposes are to help students choose a career, find the right job fit, and achieve success on the job. It provides supervised, off-campus work through which students earn degree credit and, in many situations, a salary. Students are NOT placed in co-ops and cannot register for a co-op online. They must meet with their Faculty Co-op Coordinator in the major and have obtained approval to participate in a co-op. A course syllabus will be provided that outlines the course requirements. The Coordinator of Internships and Cooperative Education will assist students with preparing and securing a co-op. Also, Cooperative Education Experience forms (Permit to Register) must be signed by Alicia Hermo-Weaver, Coordinator of Internships and Cooperative Education, College Center C-116, Alicia.hermo-weaver@raritanval.edu, (908) 526-1200, extension 8213.
Students can earn from 1-3 credits per semester (students earn a letter grade and most co-ops are 3 academic credits):
10 hours per week @ 15 weeks = 150 hours = 1 Credit
15 hours per week @ 15 weeks = 225 hours = 2 Credits
20 hours per week @ 15 weeks = 300 hours = 3 Credits
Internships & Cooperative Education
Raritan Valley Community College offers a comprehensive college-wide internship program. Participants are able to:
- Explore career choices and gain work experience in their current field of interest
- Apply their classroom learning to real work situations and challenges
- Become a more marketable candidate when they enter the workforce on a full-time basis
- Learn networking skills and how to build valuable business contacts
- Develop valuable job search abilities and soft skills in such areas as communication, problem-solving, organizing, prioritizing, and much more
- Have an opportunity to experiment with possible career interests
- Work one-on-one with a Career Professional to receive personalized career preparation and strategies to build professional development and career readiness skills
An internship is considered a highly important criterion when employers seek to hire a new employee. Students are encouraged to begin the internship preparation and search process when they have completed at least 12 - 15 credit hours at RVCC, are in good academic standing, and have a desire to start exploring possible careers of interest. Internships vary from short-term projects designed to meet a company’s needs to positions that last a full semester and beyond. The length of an internship is limited by a company’s needs and budget, as well as a student’s interest and schedule. Prior to beginning an internship or co-op, it is important to meet with the Coordinator of Internships and Cooperative Education to begin the preparation and search process.
Similar to an internship, a Cooperative Education Experience, commonly known as a “co-op,” provides academic credit for a structured job experience which is supervised by a Faculty Co-op Coordinator within the student’s academic department (see Cooperative Education Experience). Students cannot register online; pre-approval is required.
Participating in either an internship or “co-op” will not only help students gain a greater degree of confidence about their choice of major and career, this type of experiential opportunity will also serve to better prepare them when entering a professional work environment.
To make an appointment or for additional information, the Internship Coordinator can be reached by calling (908) 526-1200, extension 8213 or via email at Alicia.hermo-weaver@raritanval.edu.
Service Learning
Service Learning at Raritan Valley Community College provides students with the exciting opportunity of serving in the community and receiving academic credit for their efforts. Students enrolled in courses that offer Service Learning get involved in a community service activity that relates to their coursework. Students reflect on their experience either through journals, essays, reflective papers, group discussion or in-class presentations.
Students receive many benefits from their participation in Service Learning. It enriches academic learning; develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills; improves communication, writing and life skills; enhances career development; contributes to a sense of civic responsibility; and fosters an appreciation of people with diverse backgrounds and life situations.
The Service Learning Program provides established community placements with numerous organizations in Somerset and Hunterdon counties where students can serve. Some of them include K-12 public schools, after-school programs, day care centers, hospitals, adult day care centers, churches, libraries, homeless shelters, animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes, assisted care living facilities, probation and police departments, court houses and youth correctional facilities. Students get involved in various Service Learning activities, such as tutoring, mentoring, recreation, companionship, health education, safety programs, protecting legal rights and business-related projects.
For additional information about the Service Learning Program, contact the Director of Service Learning and Community Outreach, Lori Moog, at (908) 526-1200, extension 8284 or Lori.moog@raritanval.edu.
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