What classes are covered by VA benefits?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) typically stipulates that in order for courses to be covered by VA educational benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill, they must be part of an approved program of study that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Here's a brief summary of their guidance:

Degree Plan: The classes a student takes should generally align with their declared degree plan or program of study.

Applicability: Courses should be applicable to the student's declared program. This includes required courses for the major, general education courses, and possibly certain elective courses, as long as they are necessary to fulfill the degree requirements.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite courses that a student needs to take in order to pursue higher-level courses in their degree plan can typically be covered.

Remedial or Deficiency Courses: If a student needs to take remedial or deficiency courses, these might be covered even if they aren't directly part of the degree plan. This typically applies to courses designed to correct deficiencies in basic math, English, and reading skills.

Repeated Courses: Courses that a student failed or for which the grade didn't meet the minimum requirements for graduation can often be repeated and covered by VA benefits.

Non-Required Courses: Classes that are not required for the degree plan or program typically are not covered by VA benefits.