2022-2023 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.
The Honors College seeks to inspire and facilitate an extraordinary undergraduate education for a diverse student body of exceptional motivation. Utilizing a flexible curricular framework with a strategic array of experiences, opportunities, and facilities, the College pioneers progressive, innovative approaches to undergraduate education that can be scaled up across the university.
First-year and transfer applicants indicate their interest in the Honors College on their Coalition application, which prompts further review by the Honors College. Rather than establishing a numerical minimum for GPA and test scores, the Honors College looks holistically at a first-year applicant's overall academic record and experiences. We value quality of engagement (rather than sheer quantity), self-awareness, reflection on involvement, and authenticity.
Transfer students are similarly considered, but they must have a cumulative GPA of 3.60 or better at their previous institution to be eligible for review.
Currently enrolled Virginia Tech students may apply to the Honors College at the end of each fall or spring semester provided they have achieved a 3.60 or better cumulative GPA and have at least four (4) semesters remaining at Virginia Tech before they graduate.
Most Virginia Tech Honors College students work toward an Honors Laureate Diploma. Students have the option to select a focus area for their Honors Laureate diploma as inspired by the Virginia Tech Destination Areas. This is an additional opportunity to individualize and enhance an Honors Laureate Diploma and is not a requirement. These areas focus on particular themes with checksheets established in advance by the Honors College in collaboration with disciplinary departments. Students may select only one focus area. Honors academic requirements are as follows:
Please Note: students who enter the Honors College beginning with the Fall 2021 semester are required to receive approval on their plan to earn an Honors Laureate Diploma as described below. Honors College students as of Spring 2021 and earlier are not expected to meet this new requirement. Provided they maintain a cumulative 3.6 GPA after each semester, plan approval for this more senior cohort is still optional.
Students create a plan to earn the 30-honors-credit Honors Laureate Diploma and are required to have their plan approved by the end of their first two traditional, consecutive semesters in Honors. An optional plan template (The Course of Study Planner) is available through the Honors Credit Tracker in Canvas. Students gain access to the Credit Tracker upon acceptance to the Honors College.
To receive plan approval, students must schedule an appointment with the Honors Peer Advising Center. Peer Advisors review plans, address individual questions and concerns, and provide approval once the advisor and the student are happy with the plan.
Students who do not meet this requirement by the deadline will be removed from the Honors College.
Students are required to achieve a 3.60 or better cumulative GPA after two traditional, consecutive semesters in Honors. A 3.60 or better cumulative GPA from the semester at Virginia Tech immediately previous to entering the Honors College may count toward this requirement.
Students who do not meet this requirement by the deadline will be removed from the Honors College.
Once students meet both the plan approval and GPA requirements, they enter the GPA Flex Period. The GPA Flex Period is a time when the Honors College will no longer monitor GPA until graduation.
Students working toward an Honors Laureate Diploma (HLD) must complete at least thirty (30) Honors credits and earn Honors credit at least once every twelve months. Courses taken for Honors credit must be graded on the A–F scale unless P/F is the only option.
The Honors Laureate Diploma is made up of four Elements:
Elements Two, Three, and Four each have a 6-credit minimum requirement.
Important note: students who entered the Honors College in Spring 2021 or earlier who never receive Honors Laureate Diploma plan approval and, therefore, never enter the GPA Flex Period are required to continue to maintain a 3.60 or better cumulative GPA after every semester until the planner is approved or upon graduation.
To graduate with an Honors Laureate Diploma, students must achieve a 3.3 or better final cumulative GPA and have completed at least 30 Honors credits.
An honors diploma appears on the Virginia Tech diploma as a special designation and is not a separate document. Visit our website at https://honorscollege.vt.edu/Current/laureatediploma.html for more information.
Some prospective first-year students may be invited to interview for the Honors College Calhoun Discovery Program and work toward an Honors Collaborative Innovation Diploma. The Discovery Program combines a structured disciplinary education with an open-ended, collaborative, and transdisciplinary discovery process. The participating academic majors include: Business Information Technology, Business Management, Computational Modeling and Data Analytics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Systems Engineering, Industrial Design, Communication, Environmental Policy & Planning, Smart & Sustainable Cities, Creative Technologies, Graphic Design, and English. Students will collaborate with one another across disciplines, as well as work alongside our faculty, industry, and non-profit partners.
Students who complete the Discovery Program will graduate with a Bachelor's degree in one of the participating departments and an Honors Collaborative Innovation Diploma. All participating degrees incorporate the activities of the Discovery Program into their program of study without any added requirements.
To earn the Honors Collaborative Innovation Diploma, students need to complete 36 credits (18 credits in transdisciplinary studios and 18 credits in modules) throughout their four years in the Calhoun Discovery Program.
Transdisciplinary studios: students engage real-world problems through a collaborative process with the goal of innovating technology for societal impact. Faculty and students from all participating disciplines, as well as experts from our industry and non-profit partners, work together in the studios. Students take one semester-long collaborative studio in their first two years and one studio per semester in the third and fourth years of study.
Modules: over 40 one-credit Honors course modules cover key concepts in the participating disciplines related to collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. Students choose a minimum of 18 modules that best fit their interdisciplinary collaboration interests. All modules employ a flipped classroom format, combining rich faculty-student interactions both in person and online, which facilitates flexible scheduling. All modules count toward Pathways general education requirements. Visit the website for more information: https://honorscollege.vt.edu/cdp.html.
The Honors Peer Advising Center enables honors students to meet individually with trained Honors Peer Advisors to talk through processes and resources to answer Honors-related questions. The Honors Peer Advising Center also offers small-group workshops on topics of broad interest to honors students.
The honors staff also welcomes student appointments and walk-in visits. Each staff member has a distinct specialization with which they can assist students.
Furthermore, advising for major national and international scholarships is available through the Honors College for all Virginia Tech students.
Honors College students have two Honors community options: the Hillcrest Honors living–learning community houses about 100 students in Hillcrest Hall and the Honors Residential Commons houses about 320 students in East Ambler Johnston Hall. Both communities are multigenerational and multidisciplinary, housing first-year students to fifth-year seniors from all seven colleges at Virginia Tech.
Honors students are not required to live in an Honors living–learning program. Many students live off-campus or in other living-learning programs.
Dean: Paul Knox
Associate Dean for Finance and Administration: Lefter Daku
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Paul Heilker2,4,7
Communications Specialist: Michelle Fleury
Technical Director, Calhoun Honors Discovery Program: Neal Henshaw
Program Manager, Calhoun Honors Discovery Program: Michelle Kovac
Director of Professional Development, National and International Scholarships: Christina McIntyre
Program Support Specialist: Mary Helm
Director of Admissions and Scholarships: Russell Shrader
Chief of Staff: Sara Vandyke
Collegiate Assistant Professor: Michael Kretser, Stephanie Lewis, Najla Mouchrek1, Shahabedin Sagheb, and Katie Walkup
Collegiate Assistant Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Anne-Lise Velez
Orientation for Presidential Global Scholars (PGS) participants. Introduction to theories of culture and cross-cultural competence. Survey of Swiss culture, history, and politics. Introduction to PGS faculty and research interests. Development of individual research questions; transdisciplinary research on critical issues in U.S. contexts. Critical travel and safety information.
Introduction to critical practices in undergraduate quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including generating focused research questions, finding scholarly literature, organizing data, conducting ethical research, collaborative research practices, and identifying venues to present research findings.
Reading based sections in which small groups of students practice discussion, debate, and argumentation grounded in a topic or genre of reading of their groups choosing. Honors standing. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.
Discovery, analysis, creation, and evaluation of written, spoken, and visual presentation of ideas in cross-cultural contexts. Special attention to the relationship of rhetoric to effective participation in academic, professional, and public/civic problem-solving. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Application of quantitative/computational thinking in cross-cultural civic/public contexts. Use of quantitative/computational thinking to frame a question and devise a solution related to a civic/public issue. Drawing valid quantitative inferences about civic/public and cross-cultural issues characterized by inherent uncertainty. Evaluating conclusions or decisions about civic/public issues based on quantitative data. Ethical considerations of quantitative/computational thinking in cross-cultural civic/public issues. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Study of a specific branch of the natural sciences, especially as it intersects with public/civic controversies and problem-solving. Cross-cultural perspectives on the nature, purposes, and processes of scientific inquiry and knowledge. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Study and practice in the process, meaning, and value of creative design and the fine and performing arts. Examination of historical context and methods of representation in artifacts and performances. Visual literacy and design thinking as means of exploring, engaging with, and representing cross-cultural experiences and perspectives. Functions of design thinking in everyday life. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Study of the behavior and actions of individuals, groups, and institutions within larger social, economic, political, and geographic contexts, especially in cross-cultural settings. Special attention to social beliefs and actions as they influence public/civic controversies and problem- solving. Examination of the influence of value and beliefs on human behavior and social relationships. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Analysis and interpretation of texts and other artifacts to understand ideas, values, and identities in cross-cultural contexts. Special attention to the functions of narrative and rhetoric in public/civic controversies and problem- solving. Situating local/regional texts and artifacts in global frameworks. Course cannot be repeated for credit.
Intermediate study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including identifying funding opportunities for research, collaborating across disciplines, designing introductory research protocols, managing research projects, and using posters to present research findings.
Foundational study of applications of computational thinking in technology innovation for societal impact. Key components of computing and their interrelation. Uses of computational thinking to frame questions and devise solutions. Implementation of simple computational processes and tools. Construction of computational models to analyze and draw inferences about complex and uncertain phenomena. Evaluation of knowledge based on quantitative data. Impacts of computing and information technology on society. Ethical dimensions of computing for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.
Advanced study of applications of computational thinking in technology innovation for societal impact. Uses of computational thinking to frame questions and devise solutions. Application of computational processes and tools. Application and evaluation of computational models to analyze and draw inferences about dynamic and uncertain phenomena. Impacts of computing and information technology on society. Ethical dimensions of computing for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.
Study of applications of computer and systems engineering in technology innovation for societal impact. Application of computer and systems engineering processes and tools to analyze complex or large-scale phenomena. Application and evaluation of computer and systems engineering approaches to analyze and draw inferences about the feasibility and effectiveness of technological innovations. Impacts of computer and systems engineering on society and the environment. Ethical dimensions of computer and systems engineering for technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.
Threshold concepts in social sciences related to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas about the behavior of individuals, groups, and institutions related to technology innovation within larger social, economic, political, and geographic contexts. Use of key concepts in the social sciences to examine the ethical dimensions of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.
Application of threshold concepts in the fine arts to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas for non-specialists about the formal elements, process, meaning, and value of the fine arts in technology innovation. Use of key concepts in the fine arts to examine the ethical dimensions of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 2 times with different content for a maximum of 3 credits.
Threshold concepts in the humanities related to collaborative, transdisciplinary technology innovation for societal impact. Study of key ideas and values related to technology innovation in various spatial, cultural, and temporal contexts. Use of key concepts in the humanities such as historical/cultural context and the nature of the good to examine the ethics of technological and societal innovation. May be repeated 5 times with different content for a maximum of 6 credits.
Introduction to transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 2855: Collaborative problem-setting. Evaluative criteria for technology innovation: feasibility (can it be made?), viability (is it financially sensible?), desirability (do people want it?), and sustainability (can it work long-term?). Introduction to design thinking. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. 2856: Collaborative problem-solving. Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods. Optimization and integration. Design thinking and component prototyping. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. Design Lab/Studio.
Introduction to transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 2855: Collaborative problem-setting. Evaluative criteria for technology innovation: feasibility (can it be made?), viability (is it financially sensible?), desirability (do people want it?), and sustainability (can it work long-term?). Introduction to design thinking. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. 2856: Collaborative problem-solving. Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods. Optimization and integration. Design thinking and component prototyping. Ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation for societal impact. Design Lab/Studio.
A two-part course. Part one: three hours a week working directly with community partners. Part two: a one-hour class to reflect on the service experience and discuss readings and other course materials that place the experiential learning into a theoretical context. Open to all Honors students. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.
Exploration of transdisciplinary issues and questions. Analysis of complex topics from multiple points of view. Collaborative discussion and critique. Ethical decision-making across disciplines. Application of knowledge and processes from other disciplines. Variable course content. May be repeated one (1) time with different content for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
Advanced study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including transdisciplinary project management, refining research protocols based on feasibility of data collection, maintaining research ethics and integrity, planning for data collection, and planning for dissemination of research findings.
Continuing advanced study of critical practices in quantitative and qualitative research for Honors College students, including working with multiple types of data, collecting, cleaning and managing data, reporting of primary and secondary data, evaluating the work of others, and communicating conclusions to general audiences.
Intermediate study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 3855: Systems thinking and systems definition; identification and analysis of stakeholders; skills discovery and transdisciplinary team building; rapid prototyping. 3856: Collaborative innovation; customer discovery; evidence-based decision-making; iterative design; troubleshooting. Design Lab/Studio.
Intermediate study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 3855: Systems thinking and systems definition; identification and analysis of stakeholders; skills discovery and transdisciplinary team building; rapid prototyping. 3856: Collaborative innovation; customer discovery; evidence-based decision-making; iterative design; troubleshooting. Design Lab/Studio.
Honors Section.
Small, seminar-style course of one or a few students. Students explore a specific topic that is new to them with a faculty member who provides individual attention and is an expert in that established field. Open to all Honors students. Junior Honors standing. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to six credits.
For Honors students facilitating Honors courses that encourage and require student facilitation or mentorship responsibilities. Student Teaching Assistants and their sections are overseen by honors faculty or staff. Student Teaching Assistants meet weekly with a member of the honors staff in a class designed to prepare them for the facilitation experience and to monitor their progress. Open to all Honors students, subject to Program approval. Sophomore Honors standing required. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to eight credits. P/F only.
Discovery and definition of critical, real-world problems. Transdisciplinary collaboration, design thinking, and experimentation. Reflective evaluation of individual and collective problem-solving efforts. Communication of solutions to diverse stakeholders. Variable course content. Repeatable for up to 12 credits.
Transdisciplinary collaboration. Identifying and defining public/civic issues. Framing and strategizing transdisciplinary solutions to public/civic problems. Reflecting on transdisciplinary processes. Identifying and reflecting on issues of ethics and equity in public/civic problem solving. May be repeated one time with different content for a maximum of two credit hours.
Transdisciplinary and trans-sector collaboration in technology innovation. Identifying, defining, and setting problems in technology innovation. Applying evaluative criteria for technology innovation — feasibility, viability, desirability, sustainability. Using design thinking to analyze and reflect on creative processes. Identifying, articulating, and reflecting on the ethical dimensions of collaborative technology innovation. Design Lab/Studio (2H, 2L, 3C)
Advanced study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 4855: Systems building; project leadership and management, including resource allocation and scheduling; team management; value propositions; project pitches. 4856: User experience; user testing; systems assessment, including feasibility, viability, desirability, sustainability, optimization, and integration; systems reflection and documentation. Design Lab/Studio.
Advanced study of transdisciplinary, collaborative design processes to address real-world problems in technology innovation provided by clients from business, government, and nonprofit organizations. 4855: Systems building; project leadership and management, including resource allocation and scheduling; team management; value propositions; project pitches. 4856: User experience; user testing; systems assessment, including feasibility, viability, desirability, sustainability, optimization, and integration; systems reflection and documentation. Design Lab/Studio.
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