Counseling Services Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to complete a degree / certificate?
- I already know a subject. How do I get credit for it?
- What is the graduation reading test? Why do I have to take it?
- Can I transfer without GE certification?
- Why do I need orientation?
- Who is eligible to attend a community college?
- When do I apply?
- What is a TAG?
- What is a unit?
- What is an Associate's Degree?
- Which is better, an A.A. or A. S. Degree?
- What is the difference between quarters and semesters?
- What is GE?
- What is IGETC?
- What is the difference between UC and CSU?
- Are there clubs on campus?
- I was a Special Education student in high school. Is there anything like this for me at West Valley College?
- I want to take some classes and get a job now. Can I still transfer?
- How long does it take to complete a degree / certificate?
The amount of time it takes to complete an associate degree at WVC varies by individual need. During this time, you are completing general education requirements, major requirements, and any prerequisite courses you might need. Most of our certificate programs (and they do vary widely in the number of units required) typically take two or more semesters to complete.
WVC encourages students to attend both part-time and full-time (12 or more units) as they pursue their personal and academic goals. - I already know a subject. How do I get credit for it?
You can earn credit by examination for knowledge and experience you may have gained during your life. Generally referred to as "challenging a course", a student can arrange to take the final exam in a course, provided the individual department has approved the course as "challengable". You must also meet other minimum requirements as explained in the college catalog under the heading: Credit by Examination. Below is a list of the individual divisions at WVC:- Applied Arts & Science: 741-2013
- Business: 741-2012
- Fine Arts: 741-2014
- Language Arts: 741-2016
- Physical Education: 741-2017
- Science/Math: 741-2018
- Social Science: 741-2019
- Student Services: 741-2009
- What is the graduation reading test? Why do I have to take it?
In order to earn an associate degree from WVC, all students are required to take a reading proficiency test or complete Reading 53 (Speed and Critical Reading) with a grade of C or better. Students are required to complete a college level composition/writing course as well (English 1A). - Can I transfer without GE certification?
Yes. You can transfer without GE certification, but it may not be advisable. Having West Valley certify the completion of your general education requirements means that a State university will not ask you to complete their lower-division general education pattern after you transfer, as you have completed the necessary requirements for the West Valley College General Ed Certification. Please note that there is no partial certification for IGETC. - Why do I need orientation?
Orientation will help you to get the most out of your college experience. You will learn how to establish goals, choose classes to meet your goals, register for classes, and make an educational plan that will guide you through your college career. Learn about the various degrees and career programs West Valley offers, and meet other students in the process. - Who is eligible to attend a community college?
Any person may attend who is a high school graduate, has passed the State Proficiency Test, obtained a G.E.D., or is 18 years of age or older. Students whose legal residence is outside the state of California or who have not resided in the state for one year and one day prior to the first day of the semester may apply for admission as non-resident students and are subject to non-resident fees. High school students may enroll with written permission from the high school principal or counselor. High school students may earn both high school and college credit unless restricted by the high school. International students are also welcome to attend West Valley College. For more information on applying as an international student, please contact the international student advisor at (408) 741-2694. - When do I apply?
Applications are accepted continuously. Once your application is received, it will be processed and you will be sent a registration date. On that date you can register by phone or over the Internet. It is best to apply well before the beginning of the semester, to insure an early registration date and good choice of classes. - What is a TAG? - Transfer Center - Transfer Admission Guarantee Page ›
TAG stands for Transfer Admission Guarantee . A TAG is a "contract of understanding" between a community college and a university guaranteeing that a student will be admitted to the university when the conditions of the contract have been met. In order to initiate a TAG, you must:- See your counselor to determine eligibility.
- See the Transfer Center Advisor in the Transfer Center.
- Make sure official transcripts from any other college you have attended are in your file, before you begin the TAG process.
The contract basically outlines the courses you will be taking prior to transfer and the required GPA. If you meet the conditions of the contract, you will be admitted to the University.
West Valley College has Transfer Admission Agreements with:- University of California
- Davis
- Irvine
- Merced
- Riverside
- San Diego
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Barbara
- California State Universities
- East Bay
- Monterey Bay
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- San Jose
- Private Universities
- Santa Clara University
- Bethany University
- Honors Program – Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) (Honors Program students only)
- UC Los Angeles:
TAP gives priority admission consideration to Honors Program students only for majors in the College of Letters and Sciences.
- What is a unit?
Usually, one unit equals 1 hour of classroom lecture time, lab time is 3:1. So a course valued at 3 units means that you will spend 3 hours per week in the classroom. Additionally one unit equals a specific number of grade points: e.g., 1 unit, with a letter grade of "A", equals 4 grade points. See below for various letter grades and their associated grade point values:
letter grade
for 1 unitgrade point value
for 1 unitA 4.0 B 3.0 C 2.0 D 1.0
Unit and grade points are used to derive Grade Point Average (GPA). - What is an Associate's Degree?
An associate's degree requires 60 completed degree-applicable units. There are two types of Associate's degrees, the Associate of Arts, (A.A.) and the Associate of Science (A.S.). You are able to obtain an Associate's degree at any Community College. Universities and State Universities to do not offer Associate's degrees. To obtain the Associate Degree, a student must complete 60 units of college work. The 60 units must include General Education, Major and Elective courses. - Which is better, an A.A. or A. S. Degree?
One degree is not necessarily better than another. An A.S. Degree may be better if you plan to get a job and you do not plan to go any further in education. An A.A. Degree may be better if you plan to transfer to a 4-year college and you plan to get a 4-year degree. Keep in mind that you can transfer to a 4-year college with an AS or an AA. However, note that you can transfer to a 4-year college with or without an AS or an AA degree. You do not need an AS or an AA to transfer. - What is the difference between quarters and semesters?
A quarter is approximately 12 academic/school weeks. There are 4 quarters in an academic/school year. A semester at West Valley College is 16 academic / school weeks. There are 2 semesters, plus Summer and Winter sessions, in an academic/school year. Within the University of California (UC) system, all campuses are on a quarter system with the exception of UC Berkeley. Within the California State University system, 16 campuses are on a semester system, while 6 campuses are on a quarter system. - What is GE?
General Education (GE) is a broad range of courses required for the Associate Degree and the Bachelor Degree. The courses are listed under general fields of study including Basic Subjects, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, and Social Sciences. English 1A, English 1B, Geology 1A, History 17A, and Political Science 1 are examples of GE courses. For most students, thirty-nine (39) units of GE are needed for CSU and UC transfer and 25 units of GE are needed for the Associate Degree. - What is IGETC?
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses that can be used to fulfill lower division transfer GE requirements for CSU and UC campuses (and some private colleges - see a counselor for more information).
There are five (5) areas that need to be completed:- English Communication
- Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning
- Arts & Humanities
- Social & Behavioral Sciences and
- Physical & Biological Sciences.
The IGETC is often used by students who do not have a major or by students who have not decided to attend a CSU or UC. - What is the difference between UC and CSU?
There are a number of differences between a CSU and a UC. The following shows some of those differences:
Many majors in colleges require higher GPA's.Number of Colleges 10 at UC 23 at CSU Admission GPA 2.4 to 2.8 at UC 2.0 at CSU Junior Transfer 60 units at UC 60 units at CSU Fees & Tuition $6000 at UC (approx) $2550 at CSU (approx) Offering Ph.D. 9 at UC 2 at CSU - Are there clubs on campus?
Yes. All of the clubs at WVC reflect the current interests of our students. Clubs can be formed for example to represent academic interests (Alpha Gamma Sigma, Psi Beta, the Math Club), ethnic identity (Native-American Inter-tribal Council, Vietnamese Student Association, the Persian Club), hobbies or sports (the Ski Club, Chess Club, Cycling Club), or major interests (Interior Design Club, Student Architecture Club, Fashion Design Club). The Inter-Club Council (ICC) is the governing body for all the sanctioned clubs on campus. Each club has an ICC representative, sets its own charter and by-laws, and selects its own faculty advisor. If you can't find a club that meets your interest, start your own! - I was a Special Education student in high school. Is there anything like this for me at West Valley College?
Yes. We have a program called the Learning Efficiency Assistance Program (L.E.A.P.). It is part of the Supportive Education Program (S.E.P.) (serving students with disablities). To determine eligibility, you need to sign up for LS 930A, Assessment for Learning Disabilities. It is a 1/2 unit course that meets for 2 hours for initial testing and then 3 times for testing by arrangement. It would also be good to bring your most recent I.E.P. and test scores with you during your first meeting with the counselor. - I want to take some classes and get a job now. Can I still transfer?
You can always transfer as long as you have completed at least 60 transferable units and have met the requirements for the major and general education for the university of your choice. How long you take to complete these units is up to you. For example, if you are a full-time student and take 15 transferable units each semester and meet the requirements for your major and general education, you could transfer after two years or 4 semesters. If you work part-time, it might take you 3 years. If you are working full-time, it would take you at least 4 years if you took 2 classes per semester plus 1 class in summer school each year.
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• last updated: March 19, 2008 •