Courses

Course Numbers

Course numbers are standardized two-, three-, or four-digit numbers. For example, 90, 300, and 1000 are course numbers. Course numbers can tell you important information about the course: 

• Courses numbered 01-49 are noncredit courses in which students pay no enrollment fees and generally receive no college credit. Noncredit courses focus on skill attainment, not grades or units.
• Courses numbered 50-89 are non-transferable credit courses which are basic skills courses, college orientation and guidance courses, discipline-specific preparatory courses, precollegiate CTE courses that are not degree-applicable.
• Courses numbered 90-99 are non-transferable degree-applicable credit courses designated as appropriate for the associate degree.
• Courses numbered 100-299 are transferable degree-applicable credit courses designated as appropriate for the associate degree.
• Courses numbered 300-499 are degree-applicable credit courses designated as appropriate for the baccalaureate degree.
• Courses numbered C1000-C9999 are transferable degree-applicable credit Common Course Numbering courses as designated by the Chancellor’s Office. 

Common Course Numbers

Courses that have a "C" in front of their course number belong to the Common Course Numbering (CCN) system. For example, COMM C1000 is a CCN course, while COMM 126 is not. 

There are six courses that belong to the Common Course Numbering group in 2025-2026. The list below shows how the course is currently identified and what the previous name and number used to be.

Common Course Name & Number                                                    Previous NVC Course Name & Number
ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing                                  ENGL 120 College Composition & Research
ENGL C1001 Critical Thinking and Writing                                        ENGL 125 Advanced Composition & Critical Thinking
COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking                               COMM 122 Public Speaking 
POLS C1000 American Government and Politics                            POLI 120 Introduction to American Government
PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology                                           PSYC 120 General Psychology
STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistics                                                MATH 232 Statistics

Course Information

Prerequisites/Co-requisites

Prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to the student enrolling in the selected course. If a course lists a
co-requisite, students must be enrolled in both the co-requisite course and the selected course during the same semester.

Recommended Preparation

Students are advised, but not required, to complete the recommended course(s) before enrolling in the selected course. Recommendations increase the student’s ability to succeed.

CSU-transferable Courses (CSU)

Courses identified with the CSU code at the end of the description are transferable to campuses of the CSU system. However, they may only be transferable as an elective. Courses number 100-299 are CSU transferable. Students should seek the advice of a counselor for complete information about the transferability of courses toward meeting general education or major requirements. Lists of CSU-transferable courses are available at www.assist.org.

UC-transferable Courses (UC)

NVC offers many courses that are transferable to all UC campuses. A course must be on the Transfer Course Agreement (TCA) at the time it is taken to be transferable to UC. Courses identified with a UC code at the end of the description are transferable. Lists of UC-transferable courses are available at www.assist.org.

Availability of Course Offerings

The courses listed in the catalog may not be offered every term or every year. Students should refer to the current Schedule of Classes online each semester for course offerings.

Credit Courses

Every semester students can choose from hundreds of courses for which they can earn college credit. The class schedule includes general education courses to enrich the student’s educational background; courses used to transfer to four-year institutions; courses which prepare the student for employment in business and industry; and courses in basic skills which strengthen the student’s educational foundation. Most courses are offered on a full-semester basis, but there are also short-term courses beginning throughout the semester. 

Day, Evening and Weekend Classes

Classes are taught in the day and evening in full-term and short-term formats. All evening classes are planned and scheduled through the instructional divisions. Napa Valley College offers a limited number of courses scheduled on the weekend. 

Summer Session

NVC offers day and evening classes during the summer. Students attending summer classes should be prepared for an intensive period of study, with courses offered in 6- and 8-week formats. 

Distance Education: Online and Hybrid Courses

Another facet of the Napa Valley College experience is distance learning or online education. Distance learning students and teachers engage in a cooperative learning experience by accessing a virtual classroom, utilizing a variety of web-based technologies, such as websites, videos, group discussions and projects. Students partake in an interactive style of learning that harnesses the distinctive knowledge and life experiences of each participant. Distance Education classes require the same rigor as their face-to-face equivalent. In addition, they require the student to apply self-discipline to stay on task, and a level of technological knowledge to navigate and utilize a virtual learning environment. Online classes require as much or more work as a traditional face-to-face class. Hybrid classes combine face-to-face instruction with online components. Fully online and hybrid courses are offered each semester and summer terms. Students must have access to a computer and reliable Internet service throughout the term of the course. 

Community Education and Noncredit Classes

The Community Education and Noncredit programs at Napa Valley College are comprised of workshops, fee-based and noncredit courses. Students who are interested in taking noncredit and community education may register online or by phone, e-mail, mail, or walk-in at the Upper Valley Campus in St. Helena. For more information, visit our website or call (707) 967-2900.

Noncredit Program

Napa Valley College offers noncredit classes and programs to provide students with access to a variety of courses at low to no cost to assist them in reaching their personal, academic and professional goals. Noncredit instruction serves as a key contributor to “open access” for students with diverse backgrounds and those seeking ways to improve their earning power, literacy skills and access to higher education.

Community Education

Napa Valley College encourages lifelong learning. Working with local businesses, service organizations, and interested citizens, the Community Education Program offers fee-based community classes designed to serve students whose educational goals do not require college credit.

The flexible nature of Community Education programs allows the college to be responsive to the expressed interests and needs of specific populations or organizations. This includes courses such as one-day workshops and seminars or classes ranging from one day to an entire semester. Classes are offered on a “not for credit” basis and do not normally require lengthy student preparation or regular exams. The classes provided under Community Education are designed to stimulate personal and professional growth, as well as create new interests and provide opportunities for continual learning.