Welcome, lifelong learners! Discover something new. Reinvent yourself at NOVA.
- Expand your world while learning a new language
- Make something amazing in our Ceramics Studio
- Paint your life with new colors in our art classes
- Learn to play an instrument
- Tune in to chorus class
NOVA offers a variety of classes in world languages, art, music, theater, and other disciplines that will help you rediscover what you love. We have convenient schedule choices and formats. Some classes meet online and some in person on campus in the classroom or a studio. You can receive college credit and a grade for a class or choose to audit the course, in which case no grade will be assigned.
Some of the Benefits of Lifelong Learning Include
- Social connection and enjoyment
- Practical life skills
- Improved self-esteem
- Cognitive improvement and reduced risk of memory loss
We Offer Three Semesters
- Fall - late August to mid-December
- Spring - late January to early May
- Summer - mid-May to early August
There are multiple sessions of different lengths available so please check the college academic calendar.
What Are Some Courses I Can Take?
Subject |
Courses |
Required Experience |
American Sign Language, Finger Spelling, History of the Deaf Community, Interpreting Foundations |
No experience is necessary. All levels including beginners are welcome. Placement assessment is necessary. |
|
Ceramics Watercolor Painting, Drawing, Art History |
No experience is necessary. All levels including beginners are welcome. |
|
Reading, Writing, Oral Communication, Accent Reduction |
Levels beginner to advanced. Placement assessment is necessary. |
|
Chorus, Class Voice, Ensemble, Violin, Piano, Flute |
No experience is necessary. All levels including beginners are welcome. |
|
Intro to Film, Screenwriting, Acting |
No experience is necessary. All levels including beginners are welcome. |
|
Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish |
Beginning 1 through Intermediate 2 (101, 102, 201, 202). Placement assessment is necessary. |
*Placement assessment is necessary.
How Much Do These College Courses Cost?
- Course tuition is determined by the number of credits for each class and your residency status. Please click here for current rates and verify your eligibility for in-state tuition. Classes vary from 1 credit (Voice/Applied Music) to 4 credits (World Language classes). To learn the cost of the class, multiply the applicable tuition rate by the number of course credits.
- If you are a legal resident of Virginia for one year and age 60 or older, you are encouraged to take advantage of free tuition provided by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974. Click here for more information on the senior tuition waiver.
- Students are responsible for textbooks and other course material purchases.
- Please note that students are responsible for tuition whether they audit the course or take it for credit unless they use the senior tuition waver.
I am interested! How do I get started?
STEP 1: Apply to NOVA
- Complete your free application to NOVA and select the semester you want to start as "admit term".
- Be sure to copy your EMPLID, username and password for future reference.
- What is MyNOVA? MyNOVA is an online education portal through which students register and pay for classes, and gain access to the course materials. You need to set up your access for the first-time use.
- Review these tech tips.
STEP 2: Select Your Class
- Click here to select the semester in which you wish to take classes. Click on [Search for a Class] and under [Search Schedule] select the discipline, to see your options. Select the class schedule and location of your preference. Note the five-digit class number for registration purposes.
- Browse the Catalog.
- Please note that to register in a World Language or ASL class you need to take a placement test.
STEP 3: Register and Pay Your Tuition
If you are planning to use the senior tuition waiver, please complete the Senior Citizen Certification of Eligibility for Free Tuition (form 105-088) and review the tuition assistance guidelines here. This form also allows you to indicate your preference to audit the class.
STEP 4: Get Ready to Attend Class
- Activate your student email.
- Get a parking permit if your class meets on campus Monday-Friday before 4:00 p.m.
- Purchase textbooks and materials as required by the course.
- Log into Canvas to see your class information and faculty announcements.