This section sets forth policies, procedures, and requirements relating to graduate study at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). It is designed to assist all those involved in graduate education at the university. Interim policy changes will be noted in the minutes of the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies of the University Council. The major responsibility for planning and executing the degree requirements rests with the graduate student. The major professor and the advisery committee help outline the student's course of study and select an appropriate research topic. The Graduate School seeks to foster quality in all phases of graduate education.
It is the student's responsibility to satisfy all course requirements as established by the faculty teaching the courses in which the student is enrolled. It is also the student's responsibility to be aware of all graduate school and program requirements necessary to complete the plan of study. Policy changes that occur between revisions of the catalog can be found in presidential policy memoranda ( http://www.policies.vt.edu/policymemos/).
The university reserves the right to make changes in fees, policies, degree requirements, schedules, or courses offered.
Exceptions to published rules may be requested of the Graduate School. Petitions must be approved by the student's advisery committee and should cite the regulation and justify the exception being requested.
The university publication, University Policies for Student Life, and other information about Virginia Tech are published annually.
All Blacksburg campus students admitted to the university for the first time must complete a physical examination form and return it to Student Health Services.
The university has contracted with an insurance carrier to offer group coverage for all students at Virginia Tech. For details on levels of coverage and specific limitation, please contact the Office of Student Medical Insurance in the Student Services Building, 540/231-6226 or 540/231-6303, or visit www.studentmedical.vt.edu.
Medical insurance is mandatory for all international students with F-1 or J-1 visas at a minimum of $50,000 accident and sickness coverage. Medical insurance is mandatory for all College of Veterinary Medicine students at a minimum of $100,000 accident and sickness coverage. All students in these two areas must show in writing that they have equal or better coverage of the minimum levels from another insurance company, or they must purchase the university-sponsored student plan. Review of insurance policies is done by the Office of Student Medical Insurance.
An overseas emergency evacuation program is available to faculty, staff, students, and their families who may travel overseas either on business or pleasure. MEDEX provides emergency services outside your home country. Included are:
MEDEX is already a part of the Virginia Tech medical insurance offered to full-time students attending the university. For further information on MEDEX services or the student medical insurance program, contact Risk Management by telephone 540/231-7439, fax 540/231-5064, or e-mail to alene@vt.edu
Motor vehicles owned and operated by students who drive them on campus must be registered with the University Parking Services Office when the vehicle is brought on campus. Parking and operating regulations are issued at the time of registration.
Applications and all related materials for admission should reach the Graduate School Office at least eight weeks before the beginning of the semester in which enrollment is requested. For financial assistance information, visit www.finaid.vt.edu. Admission to the Graduate School is contingent upon receipt of a bachelor of science/arts degree from an accredited college or university and the presentation of evidence of potential to pursue graduate work. Applications for admission should be made online at http://grads.vt.edu/.
Applicants for admission should apply online at http://grads.vt.edu/. If this is not possible, a printable application is also available. An official transcript should be sent to both the Virginia Tech Graduate School and to the academic department. Individual departments may require applicants to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). For applicants to the Pamplin College of Business, the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is required. Please request that GRE or GMAT scores, if applicable, be sent to Virginia Tech. The Educational Testing Service Institution Code for Virginia Tech is 005859. All reference letters should be sent directly to the academic department. Please visit academic department websites for other departmental requirements, such as resumes, vitas, portfolios, etc. All credentials submitted in support of an application become the property of the university. The application fee is $45.00 ($25.00 for visiting graduate students) and is non-refundable. Applicants using a paper application must pay the fee with a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank; cash is not acceptable. Checks should be made payable to Virginia Tech Treasurer. Applications will not be processed without the application fee.
International students are subject to the usual departmental review process required of all graduate students. The results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required for international applicants except those who graduate from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction in the following countries/regions: Canada, United Kindom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Virgin Islands, Guam, Jamaica, British West Indies, Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, and Liberia. A TOEFL score of 550 paper/213 computer-based is required for consideration of the application, and some departments require higher TOEFL scores.
Requirements for each degree are different. Prior to applying, verify that you meet all the requirements and have taken all required tests. A list of degrees and their requirements are available for each Virginia Tech campus at this website: http://grads.vt.edu/admissions/applying/
Students are admitted or classified in one of the following categories. Changes from one status to another, for example from provisional to regular, are made when the student meets the qualifications for the change and only upon the request of the graduate program.
Note: International students are not eligible for consideration for admission as provisional students.
Credits earned by students in either the provisional or non-degree status may be used in meeting degree requirements if recommended by the student's advisery committee and department head and approved by the Graduate School. All students in these admission categories should seek faculty counsel before any course work is taken.
Those students enrolled in courses as Commonwealth Campus students who later decide to pursue a graduate degree from Virginia Tech must make formal application for admission to the Graduate School. Students seeking to pursue graduate course work in the Commonwealth Campus program must complete the Application for Graduate Study and submit a transcript (unofficial is sufficient) or a copy of their diploma for the highest degree attained.
A determination of the applicability of any courses and credits earned while enrolled as a student in the Commonwealth Campus program will be made following admission. The acceptability of any courses and credits toward a degree is at the discretion of the department. For additional information and guidelines for this program, please contact the appropriate academic department, the Graduate School, or any Virginia Tech academic center.
For admission purposes, certain non-academic courses are excluded from the GPA calculation.
Teaching and research faculty members of the rank of assistant professor or above shall not become candidates for degree or be awarded degrees at this university. The provost's office may be requested to waive this policy for an individual following successful appeal to the Commission on Faculty Affairs.
Staff and administrative/professional faculty may become candidates for degrees with approval from the academic program, the university employer, and the graduate school. To receive approval, candidates should address conflicts of interest, time, and commitment. Supervisors of these candidates should abstain from chairing and/or serving on the candidates' graduate committees to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
The applicant's prospective department head and/or a departmental graduate committee review all documents. Major factors taken into consideration in this evaluation are scholastic record, professional experience, recommendations, and scores on standardized tests. Individual departments may have additional admission standards beyond those set forth by the Graduate School.
Students in their senior year with a 3.0 or better GPA may enroll in 5000-level courses satisfying undergraduate degree requirements within their department when qualified by the course instructor and the department head. Taking 5000-level courses outside the department requires Graduate School approval. Should the student become a graduate student, these courses may not be used for graduate credits.
Seniors who intend to receive a bachelor's degree, are within one semester of graduation, and have a GPA of 3.0 or better, may take graduate level course work to satisfy an advanced degree program as dual registrants. Such work may be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements only when it is not used for the bachelor's degree and with the consent of the graduate advisery committee.
This status is reserved for qualified students in the bachelor of architecture program who: a) are within 24 semester hours of graduation; b) are proceeding toward one of the two-year master's programs in urban and regional planning or architecture; and c) have at least a 2.75 GPA for the last two years (60 credit hours) of undergraduate studies. Combined students are permitted to take graduate courses. The bachelor of architecture degree is awarded at the end of the first year of graduate studies on acceptance of 24 semester hours of work done instead of the regular fifth year in architecture. A total of 156 semester hours is required for the bachelor of architecture degree.
Academic units may petition the Graduate School to combine existing bachelor's and master's degree programs into new five-year bachelor/master's degree (open) programs. These programs would allow undergraduate students with a 3.2 or better GPA and the completion of 75 hours of study to enroll in the Graduate School before completion of their undergraduate requirements.
Up to 12 hours of graduate course work may be taken before the completion of the bachelor's degree. However, a maximum of six such hours may be used to satisfy both bachelor's and master's degree requirements.
Undergraduate students with a 3.5 or above GPA may apply for admission to the Graduate School upon the completion of 75 hours (see department for specific information and additional requirements) of undergraduate study.
The student submits the Application for Graduate Study to the department. Upon approval of the application, the department head will attach a letter affirming the department's acceptance and recommendation of the student into the graduate program and agreement that the student can complete his or her undergraduate studies upon demonstration of 12 hours of graduate study.
All international students must hold valid non-immigrant status to enroll at Virginia Tech. International students in F-1 and J-1 visa status are required to carry health and accident insurance approved by Virginia Tech. International students who have been admitted and have shown proof of having sufficient funds to cover their educational and living expenses for at least one year are issued visa eligibility documents (I-20 or DS-2019 forms) by the Graduate School. International students currently enrolled for advanced degrees at other American universities are usually expected to complete their degree requirements prior to their admission to Virginia Tech.
Prior to the issuance of certificates of eligibility to apply for the appropriate visa, all international students must submit a financial certification form, which documents that they have sufficient financial resources for their education. In departments where financial assistance is not available, students may be asked to document sufficient funds for the duration of their degree programs.
All incoming international graduate students are required to take the English Placement Test (EPT) during the orientation period prior to the beginning of classes unless they have both a TOEFL score of 620/260 or higher and an Essay Writing score (Test of Written English) of 4.5 or higher. This test assesses students' writing ability in an academic setting. Those who fail the EPT are required to take and satisfactorily complete a semester-long Advanced Academic Writing course during the first semester of their enrollment at Virginia Tech, along with their full load of academic classes (9-18 credit hours). There is an additional instructional fee for this course (fee includes the textbooks), taught by the Virginia Tech Language Institute.
International graduate teaching assistants who are assigned classroom or laboratory teaching duties must pass the SPEAK Test before they can begin their teaching duties. Those who do not pass must take English 0014, Oral Communication for International Teaching Assistants (3 hrs., 1 credit) during the semester prior to beginning their teaching assignment. The SPEAK Test is administered individually during the orientation period. Additionally, all international GTAs must attend the GTA Workshop for all graduate teaching assistants during the week prior to classes.
International students on F-1 or J-1 visas may pursue graduate degrees in Blacksburg or at certain extended-campus locations. They may not, however, be enrolled in the Commonwealth Campus Program because it is a special non-degree admissions category.
International students on F-1 or J-1 status who obtained regular admission into a degree program are eligible for consideration by the appropriate academic departments for assistantships and in-state tuition scholarships. Part-time employment on campus is subject to federal regulations governing employment of student (F-1) and exchange visitor (J-1) visa holders. Please refer to http://grads.vt.edu/igss/general_info/ for further information on other visa statuses that may permit enrollment and/or employment on campus.
After the end of the semester, courses may only be dropped with a recommendation from the adviser, the advisery committee and consent of the graduate dean as appropriate. Appeals should be made through the Graduate Appeals Process.
A student who resigns after the stated deadline without written authorization for resignation-without-penalty by the Graduate School dean will receive automatic "F" grades in all courses in which the student is enrolled. The transcript will carry the notation, "Suspended by committee action for unauthorized resignation," and the hours for which "F" grades were received will be included in the cumulative GPA for both academic eligibility and graduation requirements. In the case of authorized resignations after the deadline, grades will not be assigned, and the Graduate School dean will determine the student's academic status (whether or not he/she is eligible to return) based on the student's previous record.
Unless on an approved leave of absence, graduate students in degree programs must be registered continuously during the academic year and pay the prescribed fees. The number of credit hours taken should reflect the extent of a student's study or research activity.
A student may petition for a leave of absence. A leave will be granted under conditions requiring the suspension of activities associated with the thesis/dissertation or course work. The petition must be submitted two weeks before the beginning of the semester for which the leave is requested. A student seeking a leave of absence should complete the Request for Leave of Absence form that can be obtained from the Graduate School office in Sandy Hall or downloaded from the Graduate School homepage (http://grads.vt.edu) under Current Student information forms. The leave of absence must be approved by the student's adviser and the department head (or designated representative) before submission to the dean of the Graduate School. If the dean of the Graduate School grants the petition, the registration requirement will be relaxed during the period of leave. The academic department or the Graduate School may stipulate conditions for the student's return from the leave of absence. International students should also consult the immigration advisers in the Graduate School before taking a leave of absence.
A change of graduate program requires the approval of the department head of both the old and new programs and the dean of the Graduate School. Students wishing to change programs should work with their current departments to obtain the required approval. Once this approval is obtained, the Graduate School will forward materials to the new department. If for any reason the new department does not recommend admission, the student will be dropped from the rolls of the Graduate School.
Re-enrollment/Readmission: Students sometimes experience situations in which they cannot be continuously enrolled. The readmission form should be used when a student has not been enrolled for more than two semesters, excluding summer. This form should also be used when returning from a leave of absence.
Change of campus: Students wishing to study at a different campus but remain in the same major should submit a change of campus form.
Change of admission status: Students wishing to change admission status while remaining in the same major should submit a change of admission status form. This form can only be used if a student is remaining in the same major, has not missed more than two semesters exluding summer, and only desires an admission status change. Examples: Commonwealth Campus to master's, master's to doctoral in the same major.
Assignment of grades is the responsibility of the instructor. The university has adopted the following grading system:
| Letter Grade | Numerical Value |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
Grades in all courses, including those not counted for graduate credit, are calculated into the GPA. There are, in addition to the above grades: I (incomplete), P (taught on a Pass/Fail basis only), X (continuing courses), and EQ (review or equivalent credit for research credit). NR (no grade) calculates as 0.0 in computing the GPA.
A grade is not given for a thesis, dissertation, or major paper. However, each thesis, dissertation, or major paper is assigned equivalent credit hours assuming satisfactory progress has been made. The NR grade can be given when progress on a thesis or dissertation has not been satisfactory.
An incomplete ("I") may be given when the requirements of a course have not been completed because of illness or extenuating circumstances.
Grades of "I" must be removed before the end of the student's next subsequent semester of enrollment. A grade of "I" for a laboratory course must be removed during the next subsequent semester of enrollment when the course is offered. Grades of "I" may be removed during a period when the student is not enrolled at the university. Incompletes not within the time limits described above will be changed to "F."
Grades of "X" are assigned initially to course work that extends over more than one semester.
A limited pass/fail grading system is available to encourage students to explore courses outside their major. Under the pass/fail grading system, a "P" is granted for earning a "C-" or better in a course. Otherwise, an "F" is given. The "P" or "F" will be recorded on the student's transcript and credit is given if the course is passed. The GPA is unaffected by a "P," but an "F" is included in the calculation of the GPA. The pass/fail letter grade option should be declared at the time of registration and may not be changed after the last day to add classes without the signature of the instructor, student's major adviser, and the dean of the Graduate School.
Graduate students are permitted to take courses on a pass/fail basis, if outside the department, not on their plan of study, and approved by their adviser. Such courses may not be used to satisfy minimum degree requirements. All courses on the plan of study that satisfy degree requirements must be taken on a letter grade (A-F) basis except for those courses offered on a pass/fail basis only. Once credit is received for a course taken on pass/fail, the course may not be repeated under the A-F grading system.
An audit requires approval of the instructor and the student's graduate adviser. Auditing of laboratory work is not permitted. Registration for audit may not be changed to credit, or vice versa, after the last day to add classes without the signature of the instructor, student's major adviser, and the dean of the Graduate School. At the end of the course period, the instructor will determine if an audit is "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" based on participation and other expectations set forth at the beginning of the course period. Audited courses do not count toward full-time enrollment. In order to follow the governance directive that unsatisfactory audits do not apear on transcripts, the Graduate School drops (on request) any NRs awarded. Therefore, the GPA is not affected. Students are assessed the same rate for tuition and fees for audting courses as for courses taken for credit.
All courses on the plan of study must be taken for a letter grade. Students will be required to repeat any such courses in which a grade below "C-" is earned.
Courses originally taken on the P/F option must be repeated on a P/F basis. Courses in which a "P" grade or a grade of "C-" or better is earned may not be repeated.
Students must have a recognized status with the Graduate School and be officially registered to earn graduate credit.
No credit toward graduate degrees may be obtained by correspondence study. Independent study done in absentia must have regular faculty consultation.
Up to 50 percent of the graded credit hours needed to satisfy requirements for a Virginia Tech graduate degree may be transferred in from an accredited institution. All such credits must have earned grades of "B" or better, have been earned while a graduate student was in good standing, and be acceptable for graduate degree credit at the "home" institution. Grades of "S" or "P" are not acceptable. All transfer courses must be acceptable to the student's advisery committee and must have been completed within the time limits prescribed for satisfying degree requirements. Credits are transferred when they are entered on the plan of study and approved by the Graduate School. Transferred courses count only as credit hours and are not included in the calculation of the GPA. Research hours may not be transferred in from another institution for Virginia Tech graduate degree requirements. Official transcripts are required for course work transferred from other universities.
Students may not receive more than one-half of the course credits (excluding 5994 and 7994) required for graduate degrees from courses taught in a period less than an academic semester or summer session. Not more than one accelerated and one regular course may be taken concurrently and not more than one and one-half hours of credit may be earned per week.
All departments are authorized to offer independent study and special study courses to allow students to pursue subject matter study in areas for which there are no approved formal courses. Independent study courses generally involve extensive reading and tutorial sessions with the faculty supervisor and also may involve written papers. The subject of Independent Study usually is a continuation in greater depth of a topic covered in a regular course, allowing students to study topics of particular individual interest.
Special study courses are designed for a group of students, rather than for a single individual. This type of course may be used to study a timely topic; one in which there is current, but not lasting, interest. It also may be used as an experimental course before incorporating it into the regular curriculum.
Independent study courses are not to be used for additional research of the type covered under 5994 (Research and Thesis) or 7994 (Research and Dissertation). If the intended independent study relates closely to a student's research problem, it is more appropriate to register for 5994 or 7994 credits than for 5974.
The use of independent study courses (hours of 4974, 5974 and 6974 combined) and special study courses (hours of 4984, 5984 and 6984 combined) on plans of study for advanced degrees is subject to the following limits:
The designations used for independent study courses are as follows:
4974: Independent Study at the Undergraduate Level.
May not be used for graduate credit.
5974: Independent Study at the Graduate Level.
Requires a syllabus, a title, justification, and the method of evaluation. Independent study courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements and they should meet on a regular basis. Independent study courses are offered on a pass/fail basis only. The department head and college must approve syllabi for 5974 courses. The course syllabi should contain a distinct title, not simply "Independent Study."
The designations used for special study courses are as follows:
4984: Special Study at the Undergraduate Level.
Requires a syllabus and method of evaluation. Credits for 4984 courses approved for graduate credit may be used in meeting degree requirements.
5984: Special Study at the Graduate Level.
Requires a syllabus and method of evaluation. Credits may be used in meeting degree requirements. They are not to be offered on a recurring basis but they may be courses that are being tested before being proposed as regular courses.
Syllabi for 4984 and 5984 courses should be submitted to the Graduate School office at least 10 days before the end of the semester preceding the semester the course is to be offered. All 4984 and 5984 syllabi must be approved by the department head and the college before being submitted to the Graduate School. The course syllabi should contain a distinctive title, not simply "Special Study."
Assistantships may be offered to graduate students admitted on a "regular" or "provisional" (GPA of 2.75-2.99) basis. To continue to be eligible, a student must be enrolled full-time (12-18 hours), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and make satisfactory progress toward attainment of an advanced degree. Exact stipends depend on the work required of the student, the department, and the academic level of the student. Each department funds students according to a step system.
Graduate teaching assistants are not permitted to accept fees for tutoring students enrolled in any section of a course they are currently teaching. They are permitted to tutor for payment otherwise under university consulting policies and employment regulations.
Certificates can be awarded to individuals who do not desire to work toward a degree. Certificate candidates must be formally accepted before taking courses. Upon successful completion of certificate requirements, academic programs will complete a certificate completion verification form. This form should be signed and submitted before the end of the semester in which the certificate will be awarded. Students working toward a graduate certificate should submit an application for certificate conferral by the published deadlines for the term in which the certificate will be awarded. This ensures that the certificate will be ordered and that the student's name will appear in the commencement bulletin.
Students must obtain a 3.00 GPA, both overall and for courses on the plan of study. All courses on the approved plan, including prerequisites and supporting courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Students holding a graduate assistantship must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA on all work attempted to continue to be eligible for financial assistance. The academic department or the Graduate School may allow students one semester to remedy grade deficiencies.
A student whose cummulative GPA falls below a "B" (3.00) average will be placed on probation by the Graduate School.
Enrollment for one semester of probation is normally permitted to remedy an unsatisfactory GPA. If, in the judgment of the faculty and the dean of the Graduate School, the student is does not make satisfactory progress, permission to continue in the graduate program will be denied, and the student will be dismissed from the university.
If a student fails to make satisfactory progress toward the degree, permission may be denied to continue the program. This decision may be reached by the advisery committee, a committee in the department, or the department head, and recommended to the Graduate School. Unsatisfactory progress on the thesis or dissertation may result in NG (no grade) on 5994 or 7994.
The Graduate School recognizes that many students depend on part-time employment (including assistantships). University policy prescribes the following upper limits on graduate academic loads for employed students. Students on full assistantship are assumed to be 50 percent employed.
Maximum Student Credit Load |
||
| Percent Employed | Academic Semester | Each Summer Term |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 6 | 3 |
| 75 | 9 | 3 |
| 50 or less | 12-18 | 6-9* |
* Maximum 12 hours of course work in both summer terms (maximum of 9 hours in any one term).
Fellowship and scholarship recipients are required to take no less than 12 credit hours each semester in which they are receiving a stipend. These hours must represent work toward satisfying minimum degree requirements. Audited courses do not qualify in satisfying this minimum.
Full-time enrollment for graduate students consists of a minimum of 9 hours and a maximum of 18 hours per semester during the academic year. However, graduate assistants (GAs, GTAs, and GRAs) and fellowship and scholarship recipients may not enroll for fewer than 12 hours per semester. These hours must represent work toward satisfying minimum degree requirements. Audited courses do not qualify in satisfying this minimum. Graduate assistants are not required to enroll during summer sessions.
Full-time salaried employees, meeting admission requirements and with the approval of their department, may have waived or reimbursed twelve (12) credit hours per academic year (Fall through Summer II), not to exceed six (6) hours in a Fall, Spring, Summer I, or Summer II term. Part-time salaried employees are also eligible for tuition waiver. The maximum of twelve (12) hours will include tuition waiver, tuition reimbursement, or a combination of both. For more information, please refer to the Personnel Services website: http://www.ps.vt.edu.
For graduate students, the university degree requirements are those identified in the graduate catalog effective for the academic year in which the students were admitted. The departmental requirements are those effective at the time of filing the Plan of Study. If the requirements change during the time the graduate student is enrolled, the graduate student can choose, but is not required, to abide by the "new" requirements. For graduate students on leave status for more than one year, requirements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Virginia Tech allows for both thesis and non-thesis master's degrees. For each degree type, the student's plan of study must meet the requirements shown below. These are minimum requirements that individual departments or advisery committees may exceed. Students are encouraged to consult individual departments for particular requirements. A course required for an undergraduate degree in a given area may not be used toward a graduate degree in the same area. Any courses listed on the plan become a part of the requirements for the degree, must be completed with a grade of "C" or better, and count toward the minimum GPA of 3.0 for fulfilling degree requirements.
| Requirements for Master's Degree | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Total Graduate Credits | Minimum Graded Graduate Credits | Minimum Research Hours | |
| Thesis | 30 | 201 (12 credits of 5000-level or higher) | 6 |
| Non-Thesis | 30 | 242 (15 credits of 5000-level or higher) | |
1 A maximum of 12 credits in 4000-level courses (approved for graduate credit) and 6 credits total in 5974, 5984, and 6984 courses.
2 A maximum of 9 credits in 4000-level courses (approved for graduate credit) and 9 credits total in 5974, 5984, and 6984 courses.
The requirements for a second master's degree are the same as for the first master's degree: an additional 30-54 hours, depending upon the degree sought. A student working on a second master's degree may transfer up to 50 percent of appropriate courses (see the section entitled 'Transfer Credit').
The Center for Public Administration and Policy CAGS program affords the student the opportunity to develop an advanced level of post-master's specialization in a public policy field (e.g., energy, human resources, or environmental policies) or a public management field (e.g., finance or personnel). This program recognizes the successful completion of 60 hours of doctoral level work, including the Preliminary Examination. Students with master's degrees who can profit from doctoral course work but do not need or wish to write the dissertation are invited to apply. For more information, please see: www.cpap.vt.edu.
Students applying for the CAGS must initiate a clearance form through their course adviser and send it to the Graduate School. Also, an "Application for Degree" must be submitted to the Graduate School.
The Education Specialist Degree is a planned 30-credit (minimum) post-master's program. In this program, candidates are expected to attain a broad and systematic understanding of professional education, a definitive knowledge of a particular field of specialization, and the ability to integrate and apply theoretical concepts of education in an actual educational context. This program is designed for the accomplished, experienced practitioner with special professional aspirations. It is not designed for those who wish to pursue a research emphasis as a prelude to doctoral study.
The Ed.S. degree may be pursued in the following areas: Administration and Supervision of Special Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies-Educational Leadership (K-12) and Higher Education and Student Affairs and Career and Technical Education.
Credits: Each doctoral student must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate study and a dissertation. The plan of study must meet the following requirements. These are minimum requirements and individual plans may be exceeded as required by a department or an individual's advisery committee. Courses numbered lower than 4000, or 4000-level courses other than those permitted by footnote 4 below, should be listed on the plan as supporting courses. A course required for an undergraduate degree in a given area may not be used toward a graduate degree in the same area, except through an approved departmental exception. Any courses listed on the plan become a part of the requirements for the degree, must be completed with a grade of C- or better, and count toward the minimum GPA of 3.0 for fulfilling degree requirements.
Doctoral Degree Requirements |
||
|---|---|---|
| Semester Credit Hours1 | ||
| Research and Dissertation (5994 and 7994) | 30 | - |
| Courses numbered 5000 or higher2 | 271 | - |
| 4000-level courses3 | 0 | - |
| Seminars (subject matter unstructured)4 | 0 | 4 |
| Courses numbered 4984, 5974, and 59845 | - | 18 |
1 Departments may petition the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies for permission to reduce the minimum number of graded course credits required for a specific degree program. The petition must provide clear justification and rationale for the requested reduction in requirements.
2 Courses numbered 5000 or above may not be taken on a pass/fail basis except when offered P/F only.
3 A maximum of 6 credit hours may be in 4000-level courses that are not approved for graduate credit provided that the courses are outside the student's major field and are of a level warranting graduate credit for the area in which the student is receiving the degree or if judged to be appropriate by the student's advisery committee, e.g., where significant differences in areas of concentration or departmental undergraduate requirements exist in other colleges or universities or in fields where students are likely to change majors at the time of admission to graduate school. The advisery committee must explain why the departmental exception applies to each student. Any number of 4000-level courses approved for graduate credit may be counted toward the 90 hour total, provided that all other requirements are met.
4 Seminars may be taken on a pass/fail basis, and may be used toward meeting the minimum requirements in courses numbered 5000 or higher.
5 Courses numbered 5974, 5984, and 6984 may be used in meeting minimum requirements in courses numbered 5000 or higher. Special study courses subsequently approved as regular courses do not count toward the maximum permitted special study credit hours, except through an approved departmental exception.
Where major and minor fields are not specified, the advisery committee will develop a plan of study to meet the student's needs.
At least 24 graduate-level credit hours, including no less than 15 hours of course work (not research 7994), must be completed while in residence at the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. Students may receive residence credits during the summer sessions, but not during any academic year semester(s) in which they are enrolled for fewer than 6 credits or if they are employed more than one-half time (that is, a maximum obligation external to their academic program of 20 hours a week). The Graduate School may grant policy exceptions to individual degree programs and students.
The Graduate School may permit individual degree programs to allow their students to satisfy the residency requirement at non-Blacksburg locations. Requests for such alternative location residency must be made in writing to the graduate dean (by letter for existing programs or as part of the program proposal for new programs). Such requests must provide a discussion of how the particular program at the alternate location will achieve the residency purposes. Where the proposed alternate residency location is a commercial entity or government laboratory, the request must include an agreement between the university and the commercial entity or government laboratory. Such agreement will specifically define the research environment that will be maintained to meet the residency requirement. The Graduate School will report annually to the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies on the success level of the alternative residency. The Graduate School retains the right to withdraw the permission for such alternate forms of residency, if deemed necessary.
The Graduate School may grant exceptions to the 20-hour external work limitation to individual students enrolled in programs with alternative location residency. Requests for changing the 20-hour work schedule must include an agreement between the university, the student's employer, and the student. The requests should define the research environment that must be maintained at the alternative location for the duration of the Ph.D. student's residency. An endorsement letter from the student's academic adviser must accompany the request.
Residency for the Ed.D. involves full-time study during two consecutive semesters (including summers, which must be of an extended nature. This also applies to the Ph.D. in educational research and evaluation.) The dissertation for the Ed.D. typically demonstrates the candidate's ability to investigate phenomena in educational institutions or service agencies to increase practitioners' understanding of practical problems and issues. The Ed.D. student and the advisery committee develop and submit a plan of study that is designed to build on the unique strengths and interests of the individual. A total of 90 graduate credits is required for the degree.
Residency for the Ph.D. involves two consecutive regular semesters (exclusive of summers) of full-time enrollment to permit a close association between the candidate and the adviser/advisery committee. The dissertation for the Ph.D. demonstrates the candidate's ability to conceptualize, conduct, describe, and defend an original investigation that makes a significant contribution to the professional literature. A total of 96 graduate credits (90 for the Ph.D. in EdRE) is required for the degree.
The basic goals for doctoral students include the ability to understand and critically evaluate the literature of their field, to understand the issues and problems at the frontiers of knowledge in their field, and to cultivate and exercise their ability to make original contributions to knowledge in their field. These goals are not exclusive to particular career paths, but are fundamental to the level of achievement and mature scholarship that the doctorate certifies. Specific purposes of residency are based on recent recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine (Reshaping Graduate Education, National Academy Press, 1995) and the residency requirement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (the accrediting agency for Virginia Tech):
The traditional residency requirement addresses these objectives by bringing the student into the rich academic environment of the multidimensional university campus. The purpose of the 20-hour external work limitation in particular is to ensure that the student's involvement with the campus' culture of study and discourse is substantial. The level of fluency and accomplishment at the frontiers of one's discipline that the doctorate represents cannot be achieved if students are never involved with more than 50 percent of their effort and intellectual energy.
A student seeking a second doctoral degree, regardless of whether the first was earned at this university, must earn a minimum of 48 additional semester credit hours and must satisfy additional residence requirements specified for the doctoral degree.
All graduate students must submit an approved plan of study. The plan of study must meet the minimum requirements for the designated degree, and must be approved by the student's adviser or advisery committee, the department head, and the Graduate School. All courses on the plan of study, including supporting courses, will be taken on a letter grade ("A"-"F") basis except for those courses approved to be graded on a pass-fail basis only (no audit courses).
The plan of study should be submitted to the student's department to be entered and sent electronically to the Graduate School for approval, according to the following schedule.
Master's: Before completing 15 credit hours in the master's program (before 30 credit hours for the master's of architecture or master's of urban and regional planning).
Ph.D.: Before completing 15 credit hours in the Ph.D. program.
Ed.D.: No later than 30 days following the successful completion of the required qualifying examination.
A plan of study change form (available online at http://grads.vt.edu/forms/) is necessary whenever the student wishes to alter the plan of study. The plan of study change must be approved by the student's department head, advisery committee, and the Graduate School. Once a course on the plan of study is taken for a grade, it must remain on the plan of study.
A master's degree candidate is allowed to change from the thesis to the non-thesis option (or vice versa) once. Such action requires written approval of the department head and the major professor.
Courses numbered lower than 4000, or 4000-level courses not approved for graduate credit, should be listed on the plan of study as supporting courses. Prerequisites should be taken as supporting courses. All courses listed on the plan of study are requirements for the degree. Such courses must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better and count toward the minimum GPA of 3.0.
A course required for an undergraduate degree in a given area may not normally be credited toward a graduate degree in the same area. Exceptions to this regulation are granted to specific departments by action of the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies. In those cases, up to 3 semester hours of 4000-level courses not specifically approved for graduate credit may be included as part of a master's degree plan and 6 as part of a doctoral degree plan of study. Departmental exceptions are granted in fields where significant differences in areas of concentration or undergraduate requirements exist in other colleges or universities or in fields where students are likely to change majors at the time of admission to Graduate School. The advisery committee must explain why the departmental exception applies to each student.
Master's students must have an advisery committee of at least three faculty members. Doctoral candidates must have an advisery committee of at least four faculty members.
This advisery committee approves the plan of study, provides advice, and periodically assesses progress and accomplishments. All committee members are appointed by the Graduate School on recommendation of the department head. It is appropriate but not required that the committee includes at least one faculty member from outside the student's major department. Committee chairs must be full-time faculty or research professors affiliated with an academic program. The student should refer to the departmental policies and procedures document for specific guidelines.
Faculty are not permitted to serve as major adviser or committee member for individuals with whom they have a personal or professional conflict of interest (e.g., spouse, son, daughter, business associate, etc.).
Changes in a student's committee will be granted only on approval of all committee members, new and old, and recommended by the department head/chair. In the case that one or more members does not approve the change in the membership of the advisery committee, an appeal may be made by either the student or a faculty member to a department graduate committee. The graduate committee will make a recommendation for action to the department head and the dean of the Graduate School.
Non-faculty personnel may be recommended for inclusion on a graduate student advisery and/or examining committee, but not for committee chairs. Such personnel should meet the standards of academic training and research experience expected of faculty members serving on such committees. Approval of the inclusion of such personnel is requested by the student's major professor to the dean of the Graduate School and particular advantages of such a nomination should be cited. Non-faculty personnel shall make up no more than one-third of the total committee membership, may share thesis/dissertation supervision responsibilities, and enjoy voting rights and privileges. Non-faculty committee members will be listed by their professional titles and affiliations. Graduate students may not serve on an advisery and/or examining committee.
Theses and dissertations are submitted electronically (ETD). For instructions, see http://etd.vt.edu/ and Appendix I of this catalog. For departments where the non-thesis option is available, a master's degree candidate is allowed to change from the thesis to the non-thesis option (or vice versa) once. Such action requires written approval of the department head and the major professor. A dissertation is required of all doctorate candidates.
Two or more students may work on the same total problem; however, each student must prepare an independent thesis or dissertation.
A thesis/dissertation must be evaluated by all members of a student's advisery committee. Committee members signify approval or disapproval by signing the thesis or dissertation (ETD) approval form in ink. If a committee member does not approve the thesis/dissertation, upon the faculty member's request, non-approval will be designated on the ETD. A successful candidate is allowed, at most, one negative vote.
The final version of electronic thesis or dissertation (ETD) must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than two weeks after the successful completion of the final examination. If this deadline cannot be met, the adviser must send a request for extension (e-mail is preferred) to the dean of the Graduate School. Late submission of an ETD (other than with an approved extension) will require the student to be enrolled.
The Graduate School does not require students to register their copyright. For those doctoral students that elect to register their copyright, there is an arrangement with University Microfilms (UMI). The form and guidelines for payment for this optional service are included in the booklet that is provided by UMI in the student's defense packet. If a master's student wishes to register the copyright, they must apply directly through the Library of Congress Copyright Registration Office. More information concerning the requirements and cost of copyright registration can be found at http://www.copyright.gov/register/.
A University Intellectual Property Policy was adopted in 1986 by the university's board of visitors. The policy applies to copyrightable material, patentable inventions, and other creations conceived by any faculty member, staff member, or student employee when substantial university resources, such as money or equipment, are used in connection with the conception and/or development of the creation. All such creations are the property of the university and subject to any applicable agreements with funding agencies.
If a student employee has conceived a creation that may belong to the university pursuant to the Intellectual Property Policy, it is his or her responsibility to report promptly the creation to the university. All creations must be reported to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. Creations must be reported before publication of the item, or before publication of information relative thereto or before disclosure to an outside firm or agency. Under the existing policy, net income to the university in the form of royalties (etc.) from the creation may be shared equally with the creator(s).
Copies of the Intellectual Property Policy and assistance in reporting creations may be obtained from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.
All dissertations must be submitted to University Microfilms (UMI). UMI publishes the abstract in Dissertation Abstracts, microfilms and archives the dissertation and makes the dissertation available to users as a paper or electronic copy. Students may limit the distribution of their dissertation by UMI. A form is included in the student's defense packet to notify UMI about the student's restriction on distribution. The UMI processing fee is included in the archiving fee that is paid to the Graduate School.
All examinations are open to the faculty and faculty members are encouraged to attend and participate in such meetings. The student must be registered during the semester in which the required examination is taken. If a thesis, dissertation, or major paper is not required, a student may be enrolled in another institution for the final semester provided any courses that are to be transferred appear on the plan of study. Official transcripts for such work must be received by the Graduate School and transfer credit may not exceed the established minimum.
If registration is for GRAD 6864: Master's Defense or GRAD 7864: Doctoral Defense, the minimum registration is for 1 hour and the defense must occur within the first 20 class days of the term. If not, minimum registration for 3 hours is required.
Students should submit a Defending Student Status (DSS) form to the Graduate School two weeks before their defense, and if DSS is approved the Graduate School will register the student. Students should not enroll themselves in defending student status.
Students enrolled as defending students will be classified as less than half-time for certification purposes. This status may not meet the minimum requirement for most student loan deferments. Students may wish to take into consideration their student loans when applying for defending student status. International students should consult the Graduate School concerning the visa implications of this status. Students on defending student status are not eligible to hold assistantships or fellowships.
Examinations are usually administered during regular academic semesters or sessions, i.e., between the first day of classes for a given semester or session and ending with the last official day for examinations.
Examinations required by the Graduate School (Preliminary and Final), are scheduled through the Graduate School office. Requests to schedule the examination should be received at least two weeks before the date requested. Examination cards should be obtained from the Graduate School on the day of the examination. The card should be returned to the Graduate School office as soon as possible after the examination. Requests to schedule final examinations should include the time, date, building, room number, title of dissertation, and the names of the recommended examining committee.
To pass any of the required examinations, a candidate is allowed at most one negative vote. If a student fails an examination, one full semester (a minimum of 15 weeks) must elapse before the second examination is scheduled. Not more than two opportunities to pass any one examination are allowed. Students failing any of the mandatory examinations two times will be dropped from the university.
An oral and/or written final examination is required of all master's programs (see departmental policy for specific format). Please review the preceding sections on Registration, Scheduling of Examinations, and Completion of Examinations for appropriate information. Normally, the advisery committee will carry out the examination, and can be supplemented by additional members as appropriate. For some non-thesis master's programs, final exams are not structured as above. For more information about such programs consult the departmental policies and procedures document.
Certain departments require doctoral candidates to take a qualifying examination, usually given at the end of the first year of graduate study. The results are typically used to evaluate subject mastery, to determine deficiencies, and to determine whether the student should continue. The results of qualifying examinations are made part of the student's departmental record. Qualifying exams need not be scheduled through the Graduate School.
The preliminary examination is a requirement for all doctoral students. This examination must be taken at least nine months before the final examination. At least 24 hours of course work and/or research must remain to be taken, including work for which the student is currently enrolled. The examination is administered by the student's advisery committee with at least four members present in accordance with departmental and Graduate School policies, and may be oral, written, or both. The timing of the preliminary exam is within the purview of the advisery committee. An expected date (semester/year) for completing the preliminary examination must be submitted with the Plan of Study for approval by the Graduate School. The actual date of the preliminary examination may be changed in the same manner as that prescribed for changes in the Plan of Study.
Please review the preceding sections on Registration, Scheduling of Examinations, and Completion of Examinations for appropriate information. Individual departments may choose to administer the preliminary examination as a departmental examination. In this case the examination is typically administered by a committee, with all members certifying the results. The results are to be reported to the Graduate School within two weeks after administration of the examination.
All doctoral candidates must take a final written and/or oral examination, which is typically a defense of dissertation. This examination must be scheduled no earlier than nine months after successful completion of the preliminary examination. Please review the preceding sections on Registration, Scheduling of Examinations, and Completion of Examinations for appropriate information. This examination may be administered by the advisery committee (at least four members must be present) or a committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. To be eligible for graduation at the end of the semester, all final examinations must be completed and dissertations approved by the Graduate School at least 10 business days before the university commencement exercises.
Academic work, including transfer credit, must meet the time limits specified below. Course work may be revalidated by written and/or oral examination upon petition to and approval by the dean of the Graduate School.
Requests for revalidation of out-of-date courses must be submitted by the adviser and include signatures of all members of the student's advisery committee. Course work that does not lie within the expertise of the committee members should be revalidated by a specialist in the area(s) involved. Revalidations are required in the following cases:
Students anticipating graduation must file an Application for Degree to have their names appear in the Commencement Bulletin and to obtain a diploma. The fee for the Application for Degree is $25. The Application for Degree should be submitted electronically through Hokie SPA in accordance with the following schedule:
| Completing Degree Requirements in: | Apply on or before: |
|---|---|
| June | June 1 |
| August | August 1 |
| December | October 1 |
| May | March 1 |
All applicants for degrees/certificates must submit an Application for Degree/Certificate Conferral no later than dates specified in table above.
Infomation on master's and doctorate regalia is available from the University Bookstore, clothing and gifts department, 800/392-2756 or 540/231-5991, extension 147.
Certain requirements and procedures relating to scheduling final examinations, payment of archiving/microfilming fees, and the submission of final copy of thesis or dissertation are presented below.
The procedures for a candidate for the master's or doctorate degree, or certificate include:
A student must be registered (as defending student or for a minimum of 3 credit hours for a semester or summer session) during the semester of the final examination (students on assistantships and fellowships must be registered for the minimum credits specified in "Credit Hour Loads"). Final examinations are usually scheduled within periods beginning with the first day of classes for a given semester or session and ending with the last official day of examinations. Examinations are not usually administered between semesters or sessions.
At least two weeks prior to the date of the final examination, "The Request to Admit Candidate to Final Examination" from the major adviser (with a copy to the department head) must be submitted to the Graduate School recommending the time, date, room number, building, title of thesis or dissertation, and names of the committee members.
The examination packet containing the examination card, allowing the student admission to the examination, should be obtained from the Graduate School on the day before or the day of the examination and should be returned to the Graduate School as soon as possible after the examination.
An archiving fee is required by all students submitting an Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD). The fee of $20.00 for master's students and $75.00 for doctoral students must be paid at the time of ETD submission.
Master's students who have completed, and those nearing completion, can participate in commencement. Summer graduates may attend either fall or spring commencement but must confirm through Hokie Spa.
Doctoral candidates must have completed all requirements for graduation by published deadlines to participate in the doctoral hooding ceremony.
In addition to the traditional twice-a-year commencement, two additional "degree-conferring dates" have been established each year. These dates appear on the diploma for qualified graduates. These additional degree-conferring dates fall on the last day of final examinations of first summer term and second summer term. For a full list of degree-conferring dates, see our dates & deadlines Web page: http://grads.vt.edu/academics/dates_deadlines/commencement_deadlines.html. No commencement ceremonies are conducted during the summer. Students who complete degree requirements at these times may attend the next commencement; students must submit an AFD for the term they will complete, and confirm commencement attendance via Hokie Spa. All degrees conferred between commencements are listed in the next commencement program. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates by first class mail.
Virginia Tech -- Graduate Catalog, 2005-2006
Last update: October 2005