Course Description

Assists students to make a successful transition to college. Provides students with the academic tools for success and teaches the skills of self-management and self-responsibility that relate to being a successful student. Helps students learn how to make responsible choices about their academic, personal, and career goals. Provides information about the College and community resources, the College's policies and procedures, and the processes of moving effectively through the educational system. Strongly recommended for beginning students; first-time College students are required to take SDV 100 or another SDV course before enrolling in their 16th semester hour at the college.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to assist first-time students to familiarize themselves with the College and its support services, and to develop skills necessary for success here and in their transitions to learning and work after Northern Virginia Community College

Course Prerequisites/Co-requisites

None

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:

• Articulate three potential careers based on their interests, values, and abilities
• Articulate the step(s) they need to take in order to achieve their career goal(s)
• Select the appropriate curriculum based on their career goal(s)
• Develop an academic plan
• Identify their preferred learning style
• Identify their optimal time, place, and setting for studying and identify three strategies for managing reading
• Identify three to five aspects of critical thinking such as: identifying faulty logic, problem-solving, and asking questions/probing etc.
• Review two to three strategies and tools for managing time and articulate their preferred method
• Articulate the benefits and risks of the three aspects (e.g. credit, savings, and budgeting) of money management
• Articulate three to five ways individuals are diverse and how diversity impacts society
• Identify three to five elements of effective communication (e.g. active listening, verbal and non-verbal messages, etc.)
• Identify three to five techniques/strategies for managing anxiety / stress

• Study skills, habits and attitudes
• Career Exploration
• Career Planning
• Academic Plan
• Learning Styles
• Classroom Skills
• Academic Preparation
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Time Management
• Financial Literacy
• Diversity
• Communication Skills
• Stress Management

• Mental and physical health topics
• Learning styles