Catalog of undergraduate studies 2019-2020 (2023)

Grades, Points, and Credit Hours

AP, IB, Ispit Cambridge

Virginia Tech awards AP, IB, and Cambridge exam equivalencies after faculty review content and approve Virginia Tech accordingly. Per state policy, Virginia Tech accepts loans fromadvanced position,International Baccalaureate,and the Cambridge exam, based on an annual assessment of the faculty and university programme.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a national program that offers students credit based on a computer-based exam. This provides students with the opportunity to be recognized for their achievements in specific college courses. Students should request official CLEP test results directly from the college board at:www.collegeboard.com. Virginia Tech's CLEP school code is 5859. CLEP credit, once awarded, can be viewed in Hokie SPA under the grading menu. A maximum of 12 credit hours may be awarded.

Consult the website of the Rectorate of the University athttps://registrar.vt.edu/Advanced-Standing-Transferable-Credit.htmlfor information and to view the CLEP points table. Questions regarding CLEP credits should be directed to the University Secretary at ultransfercredit@vt.edu.

credit by exam

Credits may be awarded based on a special exam that can demonstrate knowledge of the subject in lieu of a formal coursework. Taking the exam is not available to a student who has previously been tested or enrolled in a course or who has previously attempted to pass a course based on an exam. Only currently enrolled undergraduate students are eligible for special exams. If credit is awarded on the basis of an exam, the offering department has full responsibility for determining the type of exam to be administered and what constitutes a passing score. A maximum of 12 hours can be granted. It is necessary to obtain the approval of the head of the department conducting the course.

Exam results cannot be used to meet residency requirements for the degree. No grades or quality points will be awarded. Pass/Fail grading is based on pass/fail only.

The cost of the exam is $10.00 per credit hour. Fees may change at the beginning of the academic year.

Taking ROTC courses

In some majors, not all ROTC courses can be used toward a bachelor's degree. Students should refer to the approved Master's Checklist for details on which courses will count toward their degree.

credit hour system

Virginia Tech uses the credit hour as a unit of credit in the semester calendar system. Course descriptions within teaching departments (in chapters for different faculties) show the number of points earned per semester.

On the Dean's List

Undergraduate students attempting to accumulate at least 12 credit hours with all credits graded in the AF option and who achieve a 3.4 GPA in the spring or fall semester will be placed on the Dean's List for that semester. The Dean's List has not been prepared for the summer sessions. Notices or certificates of enrollment on the Dean's List for each semester are issued to the student by the Academic Dean.

Exams and make-up exams

The final exam enables the student to demonstrate his knowledge of the course, and the professor the possibility of evaluating the student's performance and the nature and quality of the course. Final exams are held at the end of each semester according to the schedule determined by the university. The professor who teaches the classes cannot change the date and time of the final exam without the consent of the dean of the higher education institution. Students can ask the dean of their university for permission to postpone their final exam if they have conflicting exams or if they have three final exams within 24 hours. Otherwise, the dean gives permission to change the date of the final exam only in very exceptional situations. Students who are unable to take the exam due to illness or circumstances beyond their control may postpone the exam. Deferred final exams must only be approved by the Dean of Students or Schiffert Health Center.

The student has the right to inspect the graded exams. Failure to take the exam results in an exam score of zero, weighted in accordance with the relevant rules on scoring criteria. The teacher administers and grades the tests.

Retake of a final exam is only possible for applicants at the same time as the final exam.

After the end of the semester, a make-up exam in a subject in which a grade of C- or lower was earned is permitted if the student enrolled in that subject in the last semester of the senior year and successfully passed the exam: the exam in the subject qualifies the student for a graduate thesis. The student is required to submit a reaccreditation application to the dean and pass the exam as soon as possible after the first exam.

The condition for taking the remedial exam is the consent of the professor, director and dean of the faculty. When determining the justification for the student's request, the results in classes and the success of completed tasks are taken into account. The University Secretary ensures compliance with the requirements of this policy.

Valuation appeal procedure

In accordance with university policy, the assignment of a grade is the exclusive prerogative of the professor. The teacher is obliged to determine the evaluation criteria in the study plan that is issued at the beginning of the semester. All grades must be based on established grading criteria and not on behavior or personal opinions unrelated to academic standards. A student may not work extra to increase her grade. If a student feels that a grade was calculated incorrectly or given in a biased or capricious manner, she should discuss it with the teacher. If the problem cannot be resolved by talking between the teacher and the student, the student should contact the head of the department/department/principal. In unusual circumstances, when resolution is not reached at the faculty/department level, the student may appeal to the dean of the faculty of the course in question, who will attempt to resolve the matter by whatever mechanism seems most appropriate for that institution and case. . The student is required to file an appeal on the grade as soon as possible and no later than the end of the next enrollment period after the grade has been issued.

grades and points

A student's scientific achievements in a particular subject are assessed as follows:

Evaluation (mid-semester)

Semester grades are issued to freshmen and transfer students whose first enrollment date is the fall semester. Beginning in the fall of 1996, students whose first semester of enrollment is in the summer will also receive a midterm report for the fall semester. "Pass" is graded for work with a grade of C or higher, and "Fail" for work with a grade of C- or below. The midterm assessment is not part of the student's ongoing academic performance and is only intended to be an early indicator of student progress.

Graduation requirements (number of hours passed or completed)

The number of "total credits" shown on the score report is not necessarily the same as the total number of hours (often called credit hours) required to complete the degree (not all credit hours count toward the requirements). graduation). Students are responsible for verifying the hours required to complete by reviewing the grade analysis (DARS) with their advisor.

Below are some examples of common situations that result in "credit" hours that must be deducted to determine the total number of credits needed to meet degree requirements:

• Transfer and/or Advanced Placement credits which are then multiplied by courses at Virginia Tech.
• Credit earned at Virginia Tech that is doubled by repeating courses or taking courses is awarded double credit.
• Transfer allowable credits from a two-year college that exceed one-half of the total hours required for the curriculum.
• Credit forPhysical education service activity.courses (currently listed in the HNFE) that exceed a total of two, the maximum allowed for a bachelor's degree.
• Military Science credits that exceed the total set by the university for the student's study plan.
• Pass/fail credits in excess of 12 credit hours are accepted, excluding pass/fail only courses.
• Credit for non-degree courses (for example, UNIV 1004 College Success Strategies).

Outdated Transcripts

Students previously enrolled at Virginia Tech who did not graduate may wish to return to graduate school with an expanded knowledge that was not reflected in their previous enrollments. In the event that a student returns to the university after an absence of at least five years, she may request in writing an evaluation of scientific achievements by the competent dean. Such transcripts will be graded in the same manner as those of transfer students; Credits will only be accepted for those subjects that are relevant to the degree. Grades in these eligible courses will not be included in the student's GPA, but all courses will remain part of the student's permanent record. Permanent records will be published with the corresponding comment on the revaluation of obsolete records.

Pass/Fail System Qualification

A limited Pass/Fail (P/F) grading system is available to encourage students to enrich their academic programs and explore more challenging subjects outside of their majors, without the pressures and demands of the usual grading system. The P/F grading option is available to all students who have completed at least 30 credit hours at Virginia Tech and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. These restrictions do not apply to courses offered only P/F.No required course or course used in Pathways General Education may be taken on a "P/F" basis (unless offered on a "P/F" basis only).

Under the pass/fail system, students may take twelve (12) credit hours in their degree program on a pass/fail basis, excluding pass/fail-only courses. Students enrolled in certain five-year programs (Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism) may take twelve (12) credit hours or ten percent of the total number of hours required for the degree, whichever is greater. Pass/fail only courses do not count toward the total twelve hours allowed under the pass/fail system. Additional programs of study may not be used to increase the number of credits a student may use toward any degree. No more than two subjects can be taken in a P/F semester, excluding physical education subjects and compulsory subjects that are offered only on a P/F basis.

In the P/F grading system, a "P" is awarded for a grade of "D" or better in the course; otherwise, "F" is specified. "D-" is a failing grade in the P/F option. The letter "P" or "F" is written on the student's transcript and points are awarded if the course is passed. If the course is failed, an 'F' grade is considered equivalent to an 'F' grade earned on the 'AF' grading system and is included in the GPA calculation. After passing a subject on the P/F system, the subject cannot be repeated on the "A-F" grading system.

Any course taken under the P/F option must be marked as such on the course application.A student may change grading options to P/F until the date of withdrawal and A-F until the date of withdrawal without penalty.

repetition rules

As of fall 2016, students can attend the course only three times. "Probationary" is when a student is enrolled in a course on the last day to add a course each semester. Courses marked as repeatable (within the allowable limit) are excluded from this policy (eg, independent study, internship, etc.).

All course repetitions must be made in agreement with the student's academic supervisor. Any student who enrolls on the fourth attempt will be removed from the course. If extenuating circumstances make it impossible for the student to successfully complete the course on the third attempt, the student may file an appeal (request) to repeat the course. You can obtain more information about the appeal procedure in the office of the academic dean.

Repeating a course multiple times may affect financial aid and eligibility for some programs. Students receiving financial aid should contact the college's scholarship and financial aid office to determine financial aid implications for repeating a course. Veterans, athletes, and international students may have additional rules regarding repeating a course. For additional information, contact the appropriate department.

science Week

The study week refers to the last three calendar days of classes in each semester. All written assignments, with the exceptions noted below, must be assigned in order to be graded and turned in during regular semester classes. There are no one-hour exams or other important written assignments or tests during the study week. The exceptions for undergraduate studies are:

• The deadlines for the presentation of partial works and project reports can be set by the teacher of their choice, the student not being responsible for their topic in the final exam.
• Of the laboratory classes or other courses that do not require approval in the exam period, the exam can be taken in the last regular laboratory or didactic course, if the leader and/or professor so requires.
• Final exams are held regularly with the special permission of the dean of the respective faculty.

Graduate studies also have specific exceptions that may differ from those for undergraduate studies. Details about postgraduate studies.

credit transfer

Students registered in good standing (academic and behavioral) at Virginia Tech must obtain prior approval from the Office of the Academic Dean to transfer credits to Virginia Tech. Initial consent from the academic dean does not guarantee transfer of the course if the student has dual approval in the approved course. Students should verify their degree requirements by reviewing their degree audits in HokieSpa to ensure credits will be applied to their degrees. Students who have been suspended or legally suspended by the University may not transfer credits to enrollment periods that coincide with the period of suspension.

The following rules govern the transfer of points at the college level. Some Virginia Tech universities have additional rules and procedures for transfer of credits. Students should check with the appropriate university's academic dean's office to discuss loan transfer plans and obtain information on the university's specific transfer policies and procedures.

• Transfer courses must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university.
• Courses must be college level, not just courses leading to a vocational program.
• Only courses with a grade of 'C' or better will be transferred. Note: "C-" gives preferenceNOto use.
• there will be creditsNOtransfer for students classified as not aspiring to degrees.
• Course equivalencies will be determined by the University Registrar's Office in cooperation with Virginia Tech faculty.
• transfer of credit hours; the steps do not move.
• No more than 50% of the VT bachelor's degree requirement may be transferred from any university, including the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
• Of the last 45 semester hours prior to graduation, a maximum of 18 semester hours may be transfer hours.
• Many colleges and universities will require a letter of good standing from Virginia Tech before enrolling a student from another college who wishes to return credits. Virginia Tech students may request this letter of good standing by completing the "Certificate Request" form at the University Registrar's Office.
• Upon completion of courses and posted grades, students should request that an official transcript be sent directly to the Virginia Tech Office of the College Registrar as soon as possible, but no later than two semesters after completion of work. .

Rules of category "W".

The policy is designed to assist undergraduate students who are enrolled in undergraduate courses for which they are not prepared or those who are initially enrolled in a course to which they later transfer. This policy allows currently enrolled students to designate a "CW" grading option for a course. Courses with this option are not graded, but remain on the Transcript with a "W" grade. Up to three (3) courses (regardless of credit) may be dropped outside of the normal six-week break period during undergraduate study at Virginia Tech, subject to the following:

• Students must formally request that the W grade option be applied to the course before the last day of class of each semester. The due date appears on the academic calendar, rather than on the hourly calendar.
• Courses with a new "W" grade will appear on the transcript with a "W" grade and will continue to count toward hours recorded for financial aid and tuition evaluation purposes, but will not count toward GPA hours or no GPA calculation. "W" indicates that this rule is running and does not reflect the reason for its use. The reasons for use are decided by the student.
• As a result of this policy, there are no refunds for tuition and fees. However, use of this degree choice policy may affect strong academic policy requirements for continued receipt of federal financial aid. Students are asked to consult with a financial aid advisor.
• A student's decision to invoke this rule is final and irrevocable.
• Use of the W class option may not be used to reduce or avoid any sanctions that would otherwise be applied to students under the College Honors System. Previously processed W grade options will be reversed if the course is penalized as part of the Honor System.
• Students may request a change to grade option W for any course, regardless of the grade earned in that course up to the time the withdrawal request is submitted. However, if there is a suspension of enrollment while this policy is in effect, the student must act to remove the suspension within five (5) business days of submitting the application or the application will be cancelled. Students are required to resolve enrollment-related issues at the competent university department.
• Students who are already enrolled at the time this policy goes into effect and who used the pre-existing freshman rule will not be eligible for this policy.

To take advantage of this opportunity, interested students should contact their academic advisor to obtain a course withdrawal form and submit it to the designated faculty representative and academic dean for approval.