College Programs & General Areas of Study
The programs, curricula, and fees as set forth in this catalog are subject to change at any time at the discretion of Volunteer State Community College or the Tennessee Board of Regents. Volunteer State Community College offers a number of general areas of study to meet the needs of its students through flexible course offerings.
Educational programs are designed to meet the needs of students who plan to transfer their work and continue toward a baccalaureate degree, to prepare students who graduate or receive certificates to enter directly into their chosen field of work, or for students to complete non-credit courses for personal improvement, for employment advancement, or for cultural enhancement. All students pursuing a degree must follow a specific course of study as outlined in the program guide. Students who seek to transfer to a senior institution should familiarize themselves with the requirements of that institution and should plan their program accordingly.
Division of Instruction
For administrative purposes, the credit instructional program at Volunteer State Community College is organized into the following six divisions:
Division of Business and Technology
The Business and Technology Division at Volunteer State Community College offers career credit courses leading to industry-recognized certifications, technical certificates, and degrees for entry into the workforce and for transfer to a four-year college or university. These programs utilize State-of-the-art resources and computer/cyber labs to enrich the students’ learning experiences in preparation for careers in business and technology industries.
Division of Health Sciences
The John B. Wallace Health Sciences Division offers degree and certificate programs which are designed to prepare students for a career in specific health care occupations. The programs range from one semester to three academic years (6 to 36 months) in length.
Division of Humanities
The Humanities Division offers programs designed to provide the foundation students need to succeed at four-year colleges or universities. A radio station, newspaper, recording studio, TV studio, and literary journals are available for students to voice their creativity. The division also offers many visual and performing arts programs where students can develop their talents.
Division of Mathematics and Science
The Division of Mathematics and Science offers innovative programs to prepare students for further pursuit of careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and health care related fields. The division also offers degree and certificate programs designed to prepare students for careers in the animal care and environmental technology industries. Division resources include communal learning environments and well-equipped science laboratory facilities. Students may enhance their experience with a variety of service-learning and research-based opportunities.
Division of Nursing
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing prepares students to apply to sit for licensure as a Registered Nurse. The program is taught on the Gallatin and Livingston campuses.
Division of Social Science and Education
The Social Science and Education Division offers degree and certificate programs for both entry into the workforce and for transfer to a four-year college or university. These programs provide students opportunities to learn the innermost concepts of the mind to creations of civilizations, our historical past and its relevance to today, from the workings of government, law, and commerce to education and health.
Other Academic Support
Learning Support
At Volunteer State Community College, Learning Support is designed to serve students who need to improve their reading, writing, and mathematics skills as they enter college-level curriculum. Learning Support classes are individualized, so that there is more contact between student and instructor. In addition, tutoring and advising are provided.
The Learning Commons
The Learning Commons offers free tutoring to Vol State students in many subject areas, particularly in reading, writing, math, and science. The Learning Commons hosts learning support math courses, offers writing assistance, provides academic coaching, and assists with eLearn for online class materials.
Students may come to the Learning Commons at any time during the semester. There is a Learning Commons location on each Vol State campus. More information is available at www.volstate.edu/learningcommons.
The Honors Program
The Honors Program offers high academic achievers opportunities to interact with other students with similar academic standards, small classes to ensure individualized attention, a strong academic program, and an enhanced academic record.
Student new to Volunteer State Community College should have an ACT composite of 26 or higher (applicants with lower ACT scores will be considered on a case-by-case basis). Students already enrolled in the College need a GPA of 3.5 or above and/or a strong recommendation from a faculty member.
Scholarships are available for new and currently enrolled students. The recipient must commit to completing 12 hours of Honors courses over a four-semester period, maintain a 3.0 GPA, complete the Honors leadership course, and attend Honors Program meetings.
Honors courses are listed in the schedule and are designated by an A01 section number. Honors students may receive Honors credit in some non-Honors courses by contract with instructors.
To receive recognition at graduation students must have completed 12 hours of Honors courses, including the Honors leadership course. Those students are presented with a certificate of completion and an Honors medallion.
Community Service Programs
The community service program of the College includes a wide range of activities involving cooperative efforts between College personnel and the community. Included among the activities are campus and cultural events, consulting and advisory services, campus participation in civic organizations and community-based efforts, conferences and institutes, facility utilization, and other specialized services available through individual units of the College. Community service is an integral component of the overall operation of the institution, with all administrative units sharing in the responsibility of service.
Library Services
Thigpen Library supports the academic needs of the College community by providing information resources, research assistance, study spaces, and instructional services. Librarians are available to help with students’ research and information needs and to collaborate with faculty to provide library instruction services.
Each campus has a library, which provides students with a place to study, collaborate and learn. The library’s main location, including its physical collections, is on the Gallatin campus. Items from the library’s physical collections, with approximately 45,000 books and 2,000 DVD’s, can be delivered to other campuses upon request. Thigpen Library in Gallatin features individual and group study spaces to meet diverse study needs and preferences. Other resources, such as computers, printers, and scanners, are available at all campuses. Also available are select technology items like graphing calculators and cameras, and a limited number of textbooks.
Thigpen Library’s website, www.volstate.edu/library, provides contact information, operating hours, and access to services and resources. Online library resources include more than 90 databases containing millions of full text articles, streaming videos, and searchable eBooks. Current students and employees can access these resources 24/7. Librarian-curated research guides help students find the relevant resources for their courses and research topics, including a guide for citing sources. Library assistance is available during operating hours via drop-in, appointment, phone, or email.
Off Campus Sites
Degree-Granting Off-Campus Centers, Cookeville Center, Livingston Center, and Springfield Center
The College offers the opportunity to complete degree programs at its three degree-granting Centers, Cookeville Center, Livingston Center, and Springfield Center. A full range of support services is provided. Students interested in pursuing degrees other than those offered at these three centers may be required to complete some coursework on the main campus or online.
Volunteer State Community College at Livingston, located in Overton County, provides all of the coursework for completion of the Associate of Science (General Studies area of emphasis), the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, Pre-Nursing, and the Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology. The College offers General Education courses and Learning Support courses in reading, writing and mathematics. Classes are offered during the day and evening hours.
Volunteer State Community College at Cookeville, located in Putnam County, provides all of the coursework for completion of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Technical Certificate, Emergency Medical Technician Technical Certificate, Associate of Applied Science in Mechatronics, Associate of Science (University Parallel), Paramedic Technical Certificate, Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Technical Certificate, Associate of Applied Science in Business, and the Associate of Science in Teaching. The College offers General Education courses and Learning Support courses in reading, writing and mathematics. Classes are offered during the day and evening hours.
Volunteer State Community College at Springfield, located in Robertson County, provides all the coursework for completion of the Associate of Science in multiple areas of emphasis, such as: Pre-Nursing, General Studies, Health Sciences, and Business, the Associate of Science in Teaching, and the Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Information Technology (CIT) and Business. The College offers General Education courses and Learning Support courses in reading, writing and mathematics. Classes are offered during the day, evening and online.
The goal of the extended services or outreach program is to provide credit courses at multiple sites, on multiple schedules, and through various delivery systems to enhance access to higher education opportunities throughout the service region.
Volunteer State seeks to provide quality educational experiences to its students at approximately thirty off-campus teaching sites, affording them the opportunity to continue their education during the day and/or evening hours at locations convenient to their home or workplace. The College appreciates the cooperative working arrangements with various local school and civic officials in providing the facilities, assistance, and input into the offerings each term. Courses at off-campus teaching sites are staffed by qualified instructors from the academic divisions of the College and are of equal quality to those taught on the main campus. Students may enroll in one or more courses to earn credit toward a college degree and/or to pursue personal and professional goals.
Off-Campus Teaching Sites
Classes are also offered at other higher education institutions and public facilities through cooperative agreements.
Courses and locations are listed in the Schedule of classes each semester.
Dual Enrollment
Christian Community High School, Sumner County
Gallatin High School, Sumner County
Hendersonville High School, Sumner County
Highland Academy, Sumner County
Merrol Hyde Magnet School, Sumner County
Pope John Paul II High School, Sumner County
Portland Senior High School, Sumner County
Station Camp High School, Sumner County
Westmoreland High School, Sumner County
White House High School, Sumner County
Trousdale County High School, Trousdale County
Barry Tatum Academy, Wilson County
Green Hill High School, Wilson County
Heritage Christian Academy, Wilson County
Lebanon High School, Wilson County
Mount Juliet High School, Wilson County
Watertown High School, Wilson County
Wilson Central High School, Wilson County
Distance Learning
Vol State’s Distance Learning program gives students the flexibility to take classes that fit their schedules and lifestyles. Most of the general education courses and selected area of emphasis requirements may be completed online. Additionally, several programs may be completed online. Visit https://www.volstate.edu/online/programs for a current listing of online programs. All distance courses contain the same outcomes as a corresponding conventional classroom course. Advising, student support, and other forms of student assistance are also available online.
eLearn
eLearn is the name of the Vol State learning management system. This is where Vol State online classes happen. Most hybrid and traditional, on-campus courses also use eLearn. Within eLearn, many instructors will post announcements, course content, assignments, and grades.
Before classes begin, students will want to check out this list of Technical Requirements and Skills needed to use eLearn. You can find many how-to articles and videos on our knowledge base: eLearn for Students. The website to sign-in is https://elearn.volstate.edu. New students are encouraged to participate in an optional workshop to learn to use eLearn before classes begin. Contact Distributed Education department at https://www.volstate.edu/elearnsuccess for more information or to submit an eLearn support ticket.
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