NOVA offers free online summer courses to rising high school seniors

The NOVA Annandale campus: The buildings are closed but learning continues online. [NOVA]

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is offering free summer courses to approximately 70,000 rising high school seniors.

The courses run from June 1 to July 15. High School students can attend up to two courses tuition free and earn college credit – giving them a jump start on higher education.

The NOVA JumpStart online courses include: Cloud Computing: Infrastructure and Services (ITN 257), Quantitative Reasoning (MTH 154), History and Appreciation of Art (ART 101), Introduction to Communication (CST 110), College Composition I (ENG 111), and World Civilization II (HIS 112).

Each course is three credits. Regular tuition at NOVA is $187 per credit.

Those courses have been selected because they not only fulfill the associate degree requirements at NOVA but also transfer to most colleges and universities. The cloud computing course is being offered in partnership with Amazon Web Services and will provide students with their first step onto an in-demand local tech pathway.

Funds for the summer classes come from NOVA’s federal stimulus payment under the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act).

“At a time when many members of our community are struggling with the COVID-19 fallout, NOVA has an obligation to ensure our future workforce is prepared for success,” says NOVA President Anne Kress. “The current downturn in our economy does not solve our region’s critical skills gap in information technology, healthcare, and skilled trades. When our economy bounces back, our students must be ready.”

The deadline to apply for a JumpStart course is May 15. You’ll first have to register for NOVA. A parent or guardian’s permission is needed for anyone under 18. There is more information about registering here. 

Students from any Northern Virginia public school and multiple private high schools with existing dual enrollment agreements with NOVA can apply.