2023-2024 Course Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Academic preparation for admission to Virginia Tech is best achieved by sustaining an academically rigorous course selection throughout high school. Specifically, it is recommended that a minimum of seven (7) academic units be completed during the last two years of high school with at least three (3) academic units completed each year in the most rigorous academic programs available.
Each application is evaluated holistically to include a student's academic performance combined with personal attributes. Primary criteria used for holistic review include rigor of academic course selection, grades in academic courses, and standardized test (SAT or ACT) performance. For the 2020/2020 cycle, Virginia Tech will be test-optional. Other criteria include, but are not limited to, personal strengths such as overcoming adversity, leadership appointments, and athletic accomplishments. Considerations are also given to applicants who apply as a dependent of alumni of Virginia Tech, special talents, first-generation college attendee, interest in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, legacy, major, ethnicity, residency, disciplinary record, noncognitive factors, and veteran status. Recommendation letters will not be considered for admissions review. For the 2019 fall semester, those offered admission had a middle 50th percentile of GPAs of 3.83-4.26 and a middle 50th percentile of combined SATs (critical reading and math) of 1180-1390. Competitive freshman applicants will have A/B grades in a rigorous curriculum and strong SAT or ACT scores.
Students who intend to compete in intercollegiate athletics are also required to meet all NCAA and ACC requirements for admission.
Prospective music students must schedule an audition with the music department. Applicants who wish to request an audition should contact the department head by January 1 of the senior year in high school.
Prospective students and their families are welcome to visit the campus any time the university is in session. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on many Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Admission information sessions and student-led walking tours are offered regularly; reservations should be made in the ‘Visit Virginia Tech’ section at https://vt.edu/admissions for up-to-date schedule information. Virginia Tech neither requires nor schedules personal interviews for undergraduate admission.
Information on undergraduate admission may be obtained by contacting:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-6267
Fax: 540-231-3242
E-mail: admissions@vt.edu
Web: https://vt.edu/admissions
When applying for admission as a freshman, the applicant must send the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to the deadlines:
An Early Decision Option is available for students with strong qualifications who are committed to attend Virginia Tech. Those interested in Early Decision must choose that option on the application form and submit all required credentials by November 1. All Early Decision applicants are notified of their admission status in mid-December. Early Decision applicants may be offered admission, deferred to the regular applicant pool, or denied admission. Applicants deferred to the regular decision pool will receive unbiased consideration during this admission process. Early Decision is a binding agreement in which applicants agree to apply only to Virginia Tech under an Early Decision option and, if offered admission, submit the matriculation deposit by January 15. This does not mean that Early Decision applicants cannot apply to other institutions as regular-decision applicants, but rather that Virginia Tech is their first choice and, if offered admission under Early Decision, they will withdraw applications to other institutions, and accept the Virginia Tech offer.
An Early Action option is available to applicants starting Fall 2018. This offering is designed for students who seek an early admissions decision that is not binding. The deadline for Early Action application is December 1. Notification of admissions decision for this group is in late February. The applicant will have until the National deadline of May 1 to notify Virginia Tech of their decision to accept or decline their admission offer.
Freshman applicants applying for Regular Decision must submit a completed application by January 15 and will receive a notification of the admission decision in mid-March. If offered admission, the applicant will receive an official offer letter, instructions to apply online for housing, and instructions to download the state-required health history form. Virginia Tech subscribes to the National Candidate's Reply Date of May 1 for freshmen offered admission for the fall semester. Priority will be given to students that apply as an early decision or early action applicant. Regular decisions offers will be based on space availability.
International applicants for undergraduate admission are generally considered out-of-state students for tuition purposes and should apply using the Application for International Admission. International student applicants must complete the following courses: 3 units of math (includes algebra, geometry, and algebra II), 2 units of laboratory science (choose from biology, chemistry, or physics), and additional academic units (foreign language is highly recommended).
International freshman applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. In addition, international students whose native language is not English must document proficiency in the English language by submitting a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. Official copies of all scores must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
The TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who are not native speakers of English, in addition to all foreign students with visas, except those raised or schooled in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Jamaica, or other countries in which English is the language of instruction. A TOEFL score of at least 80 (with no subscore below 20) on the Internet-based test is expected. Students taking the IELTS are expected to obtain a score of at least 6.5 to be considered for admission to Virginia Tech. Achieving these scores is no guarantee of admission. Transfer applicants who have completed two semesters or terms of a non-ESL English composition course with above-average grades at an accredited U.S.-based college or university are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Non-English transcripts and documents must be submitted in their original form, accompanied by a certified English translation. Unofficial documents and documents without accompanying English translations will not be accepted.
All university-level work completed outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional educational credential evaluation service. (A listing of credential evaluators is linked on the online international application.) No financial aid is available for international students at the undergraduate level. All undergraduate international applicants must certify that they have sufficient funds to pay for their education at Virginia Tech prior to being issued an I-20 or IAP-66.
All international students holding F-1 and J-1 visas must purchase health and accident insurance.
The Cranwell International Center provides a full range of services to international students at Virginia Tech. Such services include an orientation program especially designed to meet the needs of new international students, as well as immigration counseling and counseling for personal and financial problems. The center also coordinates a variety of cross-cultural programs designed to facilitate interaction between American and international students.
Virginia Tech makes every effort to provide educational opportunities to individuals who are not seeking a degree from the university, but who wish to continue their education by taking courses at Virginia Tech for college credit or, in some cases, degree credit. Such students include, but are not limited to, students enrolled in other colleges or universities and senior citizens. Non-degree applicants must be in good standing from all previously attended educational institutions with no serious disciplinary infractions. Students will not be competitive for admission if their most recent work is below a 2.0 or their cumulative GPA is below a 2.0.
Students who enroll at Virginia Tech under this program may not be considered candidates for degrees unless they apply formally for regular undergraduate or graduate admission. At that time, minimum requirements must be met and the applicant's academic and disciplinary record at Virginia Tech and all other colleges and universities attended would be reviewed within the context of the current competition for regular admission.
When applying as a non-degree-seeking student, the applicant must send the following materials to the admissions office:
Non-degree seeking students may apply online at https://vt.edu/admissions. The application should be submitted by the published deadline for the term selected (April 15 for Summer Session I, June 1 for Summer Session II, August 1 for Fall). If accepted, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission via e-mail along with other related forms.
Admission is offered on a competitive basis to transfer applicants with the strongest academic records and with completed courses needed in their intended major.
Competitive applicants will achieve mostly Bs or better. In majors where applications exceed available space, the competitive grades will be considerably higher. Architecture and industrial design are not available for transfer applicants. The most important factors considered for admission are: completion or substantial progress toward completing prerequisite courses -- particularly freshman English, math and science appropriate for the intended major; and overall GPA in college course work.
Applicants from accredited colleges and universities, including applicants from Virginia community colleges who have completed two full academic years and have received an associate's degree in the University Parallel College/Transfer Program, must
The applicant's overall grade point average and the quality of the student's former academic program are critical factors in admissions considerations. Most transfer applicants who are offered admission have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Prospective applicants from the Virginia Community College System will find information about guaranteed admissions agreements at https://vt.edu/admissions/transfer/vccs.html.
Transfer applicants must send the following application materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions:
Completed applications are considered and decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. If offered admission, the applicant will receive an official notice of admission and related forms.
Transfer applications for summer/fall admission are due January 15, and will receive notification of the admissions decision by March 5. Students offered admission must respond to the offer by June 1. If space is available, transfer applications for spring admission are due October 1, decisions are mailed by November 15, and responses are due December 15.
Through Advanced Placement examinations administered in May of each year by the College Entrance Examination Board, students receiving required scores may be considered for Advanced Placement credit in certain subjects in which they show proficiency. Final determination of credit will be made after the test results have been evaluated by the university. Students must have scores sent directly to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech (school code 5859) from the College Entrance Examination Board. If scores were not directed to the University Registrar at the time of the examination, contact the College Board at (888) 308-0013.
Credits allowed for advanced placement are shown as transfer hours on Hokie SPA, and may not exceed 38 credit hours. Refer to the Office of the University Registrar's website at https://registrar.vt.edu/Advanced-Standing-Transferable-Credit.html for information and to view the AP Credit Table. Questions about Advanced Placement credit should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at transfercredit@vt.edu.
Conditional Advanced Standing refers to an arrangement that permits a student, based on SAT or ACT scores, to place in a course without completing the prerequisite. This process also awards credit for the prerequisite after successful completion of the course. Virginia Tech offers Conditional Advanced Standing for specific English and Math courses based upon the fulfillment of the corresponding requirements. In order to be eligible for advanced standing a student must present SAT or ACT scores. Placement will display on the demographic information page of Hokie Spa prior to orientation.
Advanced standing without credit will be allowed for satisfactory completion of one to five years of study in a foreign language in a secondary school.
Advanced standing with credit will be awarded for students who qualify and meet the criteria as established by university policy. The criteria for the validating courses is it must be the first attempt and a grade of "C-" or better must be earned at Virginia Tech, or a "C" or better in transfer credit. Credit will be awarded automatically at the completion of each semester.
Students interested in working toward an advanced degree at Virginia Tech should contact the Graduate School for an application (http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu).
Virginia Tech offers the opportunity to outstanding undergraduate students (Seniors/Juniors) nearing the end of their bachelor’s degree program to enroll and receive credit for coursework taken to apply toward a future graduate program. Seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or better may apply to be admitted to the Dual Student Status for their last semester to take graduate-level courses. Juniors with a GPA of 3.3 or better may apply for admission in the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Program to take graduate courses during the senior year. Please check with your department to check for specific admissions requirements. Information about these programs is available on the Graduate School website (http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu)
Undergraduate students wishing to enroll in graduate-level courses may do so. You should review any restrictions listed for the course in the Timetable of classes and speak with the faculty member teaching the course to obtain permission. Please note that enrollment in a graduate-level course will not allow you to receive graduate credit for the course if you become a master’s or doctoral degree-seeking student without first being admitted to either the Dual or Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Program.
Virginia Tech offers two summer sessions of approximately six weeks each. Credit courses on other than the regular time schedule, including intensive courses for teachers, are also offered. The summer sessions program features a comprehensive offering of courses and special programs, including online courses, study abroad programs, and a few undergraduate courses in Northern Virginia.
Enrolled Virginia Tech students, as well as visiting students, are invited to participate in summer sessions. Enrolled students follow the same registration procedure for summer courses as they would for fall and spring. New or visiting students may enroll in summer sessions in either a degree or non-degree status. Such students should visit www.summer.vt.edu for information. Entering freshmen and transfer students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to be cleared for summer entry. Freshman applicants wishing to change term of entry to summer should e-mail appchange@vt.edu. Entering graduate students should contact the Graduate School.
On-campus housing is available in the summer. For more information, contact 540-231-6207 or housing@vt.edu, or go to www.housing.vt.edu.
Summer students have access to most university academic, athletic, and recreational facilities and programs, including the Horticulture Gardens and miles of cycling and walking trails. In addition, the Summer Arts Festival provides free movies, concerts, and exhibits.
Additional information is available at www.summer.vt.edu
Freshman applicants are required to take the SAT or ACT. (Students who opt to take only the ACT also should take the ACT writing test.) The SAT or ACT should be taken by the December test date of the senior year in high school or earlier, as scores are considered in the admissions application process. The tests are given at centers in Virginia, in all other states, and in many foreign countries. Students will self report their test scores in the online application. Once offered admissions and the applicant accepts the offer, an official test score must be sent directly to the admissions office by the testing agency or high school. Virginia Tech's CEEB number for reporting test scores is 5859. The ACT code is 4420.
Students who are homeschooled or graduating from a non-accredited high school are encouraged to also present either two SAT Subject Area test scores in math and a second area of study to be chosen by the applicant OR grades in two community college courses including one math course.
International applicants whose native language is not English, and American applicants who are English-speaking but whose native language is not English also are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment on any of these bases is prohibited by Policy 1025, "Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy."
The university is subject to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistant Act of 1974, the Federal Executive Order 11246, Virginia's State Executive Order Number Two, and all other rules and regulations that are applicable.
Those having questions or concerns about Policy 1025, any of these regulations, or related issues should contact:
Virginia Tech Human Resources
Office for Equity and Access
South Gate Center, Ste. 179 (0319)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-9331
Virginia Tech recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or certificate by awarding credit in accordance with institutional policies. The university encourages completion of the IB diploma. Students must have transcripts sent directly to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech from the IB Board. If scores were not directed to the University Registrar upon completion of the diploma or certificate, refer to the IB website at http://www.ibo.org for information on how to have the results sent.
Score requirements to receive credit may be viewed at https://registrar.vt.edu/Advanced-Standing-Transferable-Credit.html
With the IB Diploma, credit is awarded for Higher Level (HL) courses based on minimum scores shown in the HL Credit Table. Credit for only one Standard Level (SL) course is awarded provided the minimum score shown in the SL Credit Table is earned. A maximum of 38 hours may be awarded.
With the IB Certificate, credit is awarded for Higher Level (HL) courses based on minimum scores shown in the HL Credit Table. No credit is awarded for Standard Level (SL) courses. In addition, no credit is awarded for Theory of Knowledge or Extended Essay. A maximum of 30 hours may be awarded.
Questions about IB credit should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at transfercredit@vt.edu.
New Student Programs creates transitional opportunities to prepare new students for academic and co-curricular experiences at Virginia Tech through cultivating an environment that embraces learning, diversity, inclusion, and welcoming of all new Hokies.
Orientation is the first stepping-stone in the transition to Virginia Tech. During orientation, entering students will have the opportunity to interact with the student orientation team and other new students, learn about campus resources, as well as meet with college or department representatives and register for fall semester courses. Orientation is designed to give incoming Hokies and their guests the information they need to feel confident and comfortable about a collegiate career at Virginia Tech.
First-year students and their parent(s)/families members have the opportunity to attend a two-day orientation session each summer. Transfer students and their parent(s)/family members attend a one-day orientation session in June.
Spring Orientation: Students who will enter Virginia Tech in the spring semester are invited to attend the Spring Orientation program in January before the beginning of spring classes.
Information is available at https://nsp.vt.edu/orientation.html
Welcome Week is a series of events and Hokie traditions designed to welcome all students back to campus. Students will kick off the school year by connecting with campus and the Hokie community through a variety of social, cultural, and educational activities. Events include the Hokie Hi Picnic in Lane Stadium, a movie on the Drillfield, Gobblerfest, and much more. Information is available at https://nsp.vt.edu/welcome.html
New Student Programs | 540-231-3284 | www.nsp.vt.edu | orientation@vt.edu
Virginia Tech requires that entering students have a laptop or tablet computer and strongly recommends the computer meets (or exceeds) the university baseline specifications. Each spring, the university establishes baseline specifications for students entering in the fall of the next academic year. Transfer students are subject to the requirements that were in place for students at the same class level into which they enter. University baseline requirements are listed under the University Studies (undecided) major. If you have declared a major, review the list of specifications for your major. Some majors recommend a different configuration than the minimum outlined by the university. Complete information about the computer requirement can be found online at compreq.vt.edu.
A student must complete a minimum of 18 units before enrolling at Virginia Tech. One unit is equal to one academic year of study in a selected course. Students who will graduate from a program other than an accredited high school program should check the 'What do we need from you" section at https://vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/checklist.html, and contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.
At least 14 of the 18 units must be academic or college preparatory units. Academic or college preparatory units are courses in English, language studies, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and fine arts. They must be distributed as indicated below. Admission to Virginia Tech is competitive, those offered admission have A/B averages.
Of the 18 required units, the following minimums must be met:
By the time they graduate from the university, students must meet a language study requirement. The minimum requirement may be met in middle/high school by completing 2 years of a single foreign or classical language. Some majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the College of Science may require 3 years. The requirement also may be met after admission by earning 6 semester hours of college-level foreign or classical language credit.
Virginia Tech reserves the right to deny admission to students who have been dismissed or suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons or to those convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor impacting the safety of the university community.
Each student entering Virginia Tech must furnish a health history form, completed by a home physician, for the University Student Health Services. The form will be available online to applicants who accept the offer of admission. Failure to meet Health Services standards may result in dismissal from the university. Information is available at http://www.healthcenter.vt.edu.
For new incoming students, official final academic transcripts from all colleges previously attended should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Courses from another institution in which a grade of "C-" or lower was earned, and courses taken on a pass/fail or audit basis, are not acceptable for transfer credit. Only grades of "C" or higher in courses consistent with those offered at Virginia Tech are certified for transfer credit. Grades in transfer courses do not transfer or appear on a student's record at Virginia Tech, and are not included in a student's Virginia Tech GPA computation. Credit will be awarded based on Virginia Tech policies
AP, IB, Cambridge, and CLEP scores should be sent directly to the University Registrar at Virginia Tech from the testing services. Credit will not be awarded from high school transcripts or another institution's transcripts. Refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website at https://registrar.vt.edu/Advanced-Standing-Transferable-Credit.html for contact information for testing services and to view the AP, IB, Cambridge, and CLEP Credit Tables.
No more than 50 percent of the credits required for graduation from Virginia Tech may be transferred from two-year colleges. To receive transfer credit, official academic transcripts from all colleges previously attended should be received in the Office of the University Registrar no later than the end of the first term of the student's first enrollment at Virginia Tech. Class standing will be based upon the number of credits designated as acceptable for meeting graduation requirements. All transfer credits are used in the computation of academic eligibility.
International transfer students are required to submit additional documentation. For a list of required documentation for Admissions see https://vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/checklists.html. The Office of the University Registrar requires documentation in addition to what is needed for Undergraduate Admissions, in order to evaluate. For the required information please see http://www.tranguide.registrar.vt.edu/2017/requirements.html#internationalrequirements.
Admission preference shall be given to transfer students who have completed an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. (Associate in Arts and Sciences) at the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College. While some courses from the Associate of Applied Science degree from a Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College may transfer to Virginia Tech, the Associate of Applied Science degree does not transfer.
Per State Policy on Transfer, students who receive their associate degrees from transfer programs at a Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College, based upon a baccalaureate-oriented sequence of courses appropriate for their major, and are offered admission to Virginia Tech will be granted junior level status upon admission. Additionally, these students will have fulfilled the requirements of the Curriculum for Liberal Education (CLE) or Pathways to General Education, except for departments with specific general education requirements. However, it may take such students longer than two years to complete the baccalaureate degree at Virginia Tech because of major prerequisites and other circumstances or requirements. Transfer students shall have the same opportunities as other students in areas of residence and dining programs, registration, and scholarships and financial aid.
Admission preference shall be given to transfer students who have completed an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. (Associate in Arts and Sciences) at the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College. While some courses from the Associate of Applied Science degree from a Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College may transfer to Virginia Tech, the Associate of Applied Science degree does not transfer. Transfer students shall have the same opportunities as other students in areas of residence and dining programs, registration, and scholarships and financial aid.
Complete Virginia Tech Transfer Guide
Cambridge International exams, commonly known as A levels or AS levels, are administered by the University of Cambridge. Virginia Tech recognizes and awards credit for University of Cambridge International Exams based upon the receipt of an official transcript. Students must request an official transcript directly from Cambridge International Examinations or other designated testing agency (Edexcel, etc.) and have this sent to the Office of the University Registrar. Credit will not be considered based on a high school transcript. Credit can be viewed on Hokie SPA under the grades menu. A maximum of 38 credit hours may be awarded.
Refer to the Office of the University Registrar's website at http://registrar.vt.edu/registration-multi-brief/ap-ib-clep-credit.html for information and to view the Cambridge Credit Table. Questions about Cambridge credit should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at transfercredit@vt.edu.
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