7-Week Classes

Mostly Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) courses in the General Studies Program, although other courses may also be offered as 7-week courses. UCGS courses are transferable and satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any Virginia public institution of higher education.

View the Full-Time General Studies Sample Schedule and the Part-Time General Studies Sample Schedule. 

Full-time students usually take two classes per seven-week session. This equals four classes (12 credits) per semester.

Yes. Some students prefer to take some subjects in a 15-week format while using the 7-week format for other requirements.

You must register for all courses (7-week and 15-week) at the start of the term to receive your full financial aid.

Financial aid is based on total semester credits, regardless of how those credits are distributed across 15-week and 7-week sessions. As long as you register for both sessions at the start of the term, your aid remains the same. 

Piedmont Virginia Community College offers courses in 15-week and 7-week format. The fall and spring semesters include 7-week 1 (7W1) and 7-week 2 (7W2) terms in addition to the 15-week traditional length classes. Summer courses are offered in 7-week, five-week 1, five-week 2, and 10-week course lengths. 

7-week courses cover the same learning outcomes and earn the same number of credits as traditional 15-week courses, just in fewer weeks. You spend the same total hours engaging with instructors and classmates. The shorter term length allows you to focus on fewer classes at once and stay on track toward graduation. 

7-week courses are offered in online and hybrid learning formats. In a hybrid course, students complete a portion of their coursework online via Canvas, including discussion boards, exams, readings, videos, and other activities, while attending regularly scheduled in-person class sessions for interactive and applied learning experiences.  

7-week courses help you keep momentum toward graduation by allowing for continuous enrollment. You should take at least a total of 12 credit hours in the fall and spring, and six credit hours in the summer for full-time enrollment. Even with this schedule, you are only focusing on two, maybe three, courses at a time. Similarly, if you are part-time, you will still be able to maintain momentum toward graduation by taking 7-week courses. 

15-week courses

• 12-18 credit hours per semester (when full time)
• Taking four-five classes at a time
• Coordinating four to five different set of deadlines and assignments
• Communicating with four to five different faculty members at a time

7-week courses

• Six to nine credit hours per term
• Taking two, at most three, classes at a time
• Coordinating two to three different set of deadlines and assignments
• Communicating with two to three different faculty members at a time 

You will need 60 credits to complete the General Studies Program. More information on the program is available online, including sample course schedules for both full-time and part-time students. If you are full time and take two 3-credit courses per 7-week term, you will need to take courses in the summer to complete a degree in two years. Alternatively, you could take one additional course in two of your 7-week terms. Be sure to talk with advising to build the best schedule to meet your needs. 

7-week courses are intentionally designed by the faculty for the shorter term, and although it may seem like there is more work, remember that you are only focusing on two courses at a time as opposed to four or five. We recommend that you start off strong by getting all the required course materials before class starts, logging into Canvas regularly, and attending all in-person class sessions. Stay on top of the assignments and communicate regularly with your instructor. 

Registering for 7-week courses and 15-week courses is the same. You can use SIS or EAB Navigate to register. 

Yes, we offer 7-week courses on a rolling basis so you can pick up the same course in the second term. If you retake a course in the second 7-week period that you took in the first 7-weeks, you will need to contact advising to register. Make sure to contact the Financial Aid Office to ask how adjusting your schedule will impact your aid. 

You will pay for your tuition and fees each semester before the tuition deadlines listed on the PVCC website. 

Typically, refunds will be received within 4 weeks of the last day to drop. This period varies depending on how a student receives their refund - check or direct deposit.  With direct deposit, once the bank receives the funds, there may still be a hold period depending on the bank's policies (this varies by bank). 

You should purchase your books and other required materials for both 7-week terms and the 15-week term at the beginning of the semester. If you are using financial aid to purchase your textbooks, be sure to buy them during the charge period.