Our graduate programs, and the degrees each offers, are listed alphabetically below. We also list our non-degree granting interdisciplinary graduate education programs. All graduate students also must completethe graduate school's scholarly ethics and integrity requirement and the inclusion and diversity requirement.
Economics (ECON)
The Department of Economics at Virginia Tech focuses on teaching, research and outreach in regard to economic issues at the state, national and international levels.
Home College: College of Science
Degree: Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Niloy Bose (nbose@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Will Bebout Jr. (wibebout@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Education, Career and Technical Education (EDCT)
The Career and Technical Education program is among the top programs in the United States.
The program is designed to prepare individuals for careers in career and technical education and to enhance the professional development of current career and technical educators.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degrees: MSED, Ed.S.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director: Natalie Ferand (nferand@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Lori Sharp (llsharp@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Education, Counselor Education (EDCO)
The Virginia Tech Counselor Education Program prepares professional counselors, counselor educators, and leaders in the counseling field with a professional identity that incorporates the intentional use of strength-based approaches, reflective practice, innovative and evidence-based strategies, and ongoing research to support and enhance our schools and communities.
Home college: College of Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degrees: MAED, EDS, EDD, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg, Roanoke
Graduate Program Director:Matt Fullen (mfullen@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Kathy Tickle (ktickle@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Education, Curriculum and Instruction (EDCI)
The Curriculum and Instruction graduate degrees are offered by 14 programs included in two departmental units in the School of Education. See below for links to the different programs.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degrees: MAED, Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg, Online
Graduate Program Director:Nancy Bradley (nbradley@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Lori Sharp (llsharp@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Program webpages:
Career and Technical Education (Ed.D., Ph.D.)
Educational Psychology(M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ph.D.)
Elementary Education(M.A.Ed.,Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.)
English Education(M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.)
Foundations of Education(Ph.D.)
History and Social Science Education(M.A.Ed., Ph.D.)
Instructional Design and Technology(M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ph.D.)
Integrative STEM Education(Ph.D., Ed.D., M.A.)
Mathematics Education(M.A.Ed., Ed.S.,Ph.D.)
Music Education(M.A.Ed., Ed.D.)
Reading Specialist/ Literacy(M.A.Ed., Ed.S.)
Science Education(M.A.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.)
Education, Education Leadership and Policy Studies (EDLPS)
This is a graduate program developed by Virginia Tech to prepare educational administrators for leadership roles in school systems and related agencies.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degrees: MAED, Ed.S., Ph.D., Ed.D.
Location: Blacksburg; Hampton Roads; Greater Washington, D.C. metro area; Richmond; Roanoke; Southwest Virginia; Virtual
Graduate Program Directors:Jodie Brinkmann (sammy@vt.edu) for Master's/Ed.S; Charles Lowery (loweryc@vt.edu) for Ed.D/Ph.D.
Graduate Program Coordinator:Kathy Tickle (ktickle@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Education, Education Research, Evaluation (EDRE)
The Educational Research and Evaluation program offers doctoral preparation in the areas of measurement, program evaluation, qualitative research methods, and statistics as they are applied in educational and other behavioral sciences.
Graduates of the program are prepared for academic positions as research methodologists, corporate positions in research and testing agencies, or government positions as researchers, evaluators, or administrators of research programs in education or other areas of the behavioral sciences.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degree: Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:David Kniola (dkniola@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Kathy Tickle@vt.edu
Graduate Catalog page
This program is not accepting new students for the 2024-25 academic year.
Education, Higher Education (EDHE)
The Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate degree programs focus on preparing leaders for postsecondary education who use and produce high-impact research as part of their practice and who are committed to service in both professional and personal contexts
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
School: School of Education
Degrees: MAED, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Directors:Chase Catalano (ccatalano@vt.edu), Ph.D. program in Higher Education; Sharrika Adams (davissd@vt.edu),MAEd. program in Higher Education and Student Affairs
Graduate Program Coordinator: Kathy Tickle (ktickle@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Electrical Engineering (EE)
From pervasive computing to smart power systems, Virginia Tech Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) faculty and students delve into all major areas of electrical and computer engineering. As one of the country's larger ECE departments, we offer strong education and research opportunities in diverse areas, including computers, control systems, communications, electronics, electromagnetics, and power.
Home college: College of Engineering
Degrees: MS/ME, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg, Hampton Roads, Greater Washington, D.C. metro area, Richmond, Roanoke, Southwest Virginia, and online
Graduate Program Director:Paul Plassmann (plassmann@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinators:Laura Villada Esquivel (vlaura@vt.edu); Celina Gallegos (celinag1@vt.edu); Kathleen Enos (kenos@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Engineering Education (ENGE)
We are one of the first departments in the country to offer graduate programs in Engineering Education. Our graduate program incorporates theory with real life application so our students are prepared to be teachers and scholars in the evolving field of Engineering Education.
Graduates of the program will be able to conduct and direct research in engineering education; develop, review, and critique effective research designs; effectively teach engineering subjects; design and assess engineering courses; and address critical issues facing engineering education.
Home college: College of Engineering
Degree: Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director: Walter Lee (walterl@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Mara Knott (knott@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Engineering Mechanics (ESM)
The Engineering Mechanics (EM) program provides a strong foundation and sturdy framework for the discovery, development, transfer, and implementation of new knowledge in the areas of mechanics of materials and material systems, fluid mechanics, dynamics and vibration, biomechanics, and computational and experimental methods.
Home college: College of Engineering
Degrees: MS/ME, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director: Mark Stremler, (stremler@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Renee Cloyd (rcloyd@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
English (ENGL)
The MA program is focused upon the theoretical and practical aspects of evaluating texts and analyzing language in all its aspects. Special attention is paid to the critique and production of digital discourse.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Degrees: MA
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Directors:Katharine Cleland (kcleland@vt.edu), Graduate Studies and MA program; Kelly Pender (pender@vt.edu), Ph.D. program in Writing and Rhetoric; Matthew Vollmer (vollmer@vt.edu), MFA Program
Graduate Program Coordinator:Marie Trimmer (mtrimmer@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Entomology (ENT)
The Department of Entomology provides professional expertise concerning arthropods to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
The department has three major focus areas: Biomedical Research, with emphasis on insect genomics and urban/public health, including mosquito biology and vector control as they affect urban and public health, and human and animal disease; Natural/Agro Ecosystems Research, with emphasis on IPM/Biological Control of pest problems, and environmental monitoring and protection; and Urban Entomology and Pesticide Safety Education.
Home college: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Degrees: MSLFS, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Scott Salom (salom@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Kathy Shelor (kshelor@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Environmental Design and Planning (EDP)
The Environmental Design and Planning program prepares students with the professional and academic skills to address the challenges of creating and maintaining tomorrow's built environment. The degree offers the opportunity for advanced study and research in specialized areas relating to building design, construction, operations, and end-of-life-cycle, providing the basis to contribute to the construction field from positions in either industry or academia.
Home college: College of Engineering
School: Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Degree: Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Tanyel Bulbul (tanyel@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Brandy Barrow (bbratton@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Environmental Engineering (CEEN)
The Environmental Engineering program goals are to educate and prepare engineers for careers in the various fields of environmental engineering design, water supply management, site remediation, environmental modeling, pollution control engineering, water resources engineering, and public health protection.
Home college: College of Engineering
Degree: MS
Location: Blacksburg, Greater Washington, D.C. metro area
Graduate Program Director:William Knocke (knocke@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Sarah Martin (shmartin@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESEN)
The Environmental Science and Engineering program is designed to prepare students with a science background to work with engineers in various fields, including water supply, wastewater management, public health, watershed management, stream protection, groundwater remediation, and air resource management
Home college: College of Engineering
Degree: MS
Location: Blacksburg, Greater Washington, D.C. metro area
Graduate Program Director:William Knocke (knocke@vt.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator:Sarah Martin (shmartin@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences (FIW)
The Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation offers one of the leading programs of its type. The comprehensive curriculum covers fisheries and wildlife biology and ecology, habitat analysis, and human dimensions of natural resource science and management.
Home college: College of Natural Resources and Environment
Degrees: MS, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Marcella Kelly (Makelly2@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Jennifer Phillips (jewolfor@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Food Science and Technology (FST)
Food science and technology is a fusion of chemistry, microbiology and engineering. Our researchers explore innovation in the areas of creating new, healthful food products, and ensuring a safe and tasty food supply.
Specific research emphases include: improving food nutrition, quality and flavor, developing novel functional food ingredients and products for promoting human health, packaging design and use of advanced technologies to identify and control food-borne disease causing organisms.
Individual graduate programs are customized with the advisor to emphasize food safety/microbiology, biochemistry, food chemistry, or packaging.
Home college: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Degrees: MS, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Joe Eifert (jeifert@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Donna Eastwood (ddolgos@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Foreign Languages, Cultures, and Literatures (FLCL)
This program is designed to meet the needs of students seeking academic and other professional careers in contexts that require intercultural competency as well as a specialized knowledge of Spanish and/or French.
Home college: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Degree: MA
Location: Blacksburg, online
Graduate Program Director: Jessica Folkart (jfolkart@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator:Adrianne Carter (ajc07n@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Program pages:
Forest Products (Sustainable Biomaterials) (SBIO)
We provide educational and research opportunities in the areas of sustainable biomaterials, spanning the range from nanotechnology and the basic science of wood and other renewable materials, through processing, manufacturing, marketing, management, and competitiveness aspects of the various biomaterials industries.
Some of our research is done in concert with our faculty-directed research centers and is supported by these Centers and their external cooperators.
General areas of degree specialization within our graduate program include: Forest Products Marketing, Non-Timber Forest Products, Packaging Science, Pallet and Container Design, Wood Engineering, Wood Performance in Structures, Composites, Adhesion, Wood Formation, Cell Wall Architecture, Bio-Materials, Lumber Drying and Processing, Lean Manufacturing, Wood Industry Management, Packaging for Modern Supply Chains, Packaging and Unit Load Design
Home college: College of Natural Resources and Environment
Degrees: MS/MF, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director:Audrey Zink-Sharp (agzink@vt.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator: Trish Colley (colleyp@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Forestry (FOR)
The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation is one of the leading programs in natural resource management in the United States. Our teaching and research focus on the latest applications to uncover the science needed to manage forests and other natural resources. Our programs are diverse and approach critical natural resource issues from many disciplinary perspectives.
Home college: Natural Resources and Environment
Degrees: MF/MS, Ph.D.
Location: Blacksburg
Graduate Program Director: Brian Strahm (bstrahm@vt.edu)
Graduate Program Coordinator: Stacey Kuhar (skuhar@vt.edu)
Graduate Catalog page
Accelerated Master's Degree Programs
Several degree-granting programs offer approved accelerated master's degree programs are for Virginia Tech undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies at Virginia Tech. Visit the Accelerated Master's Degree Programs page to learn more.
Non-degree granting interdisciplinary graduate education research programs (IGEPS)
The following interdisciplinary programs promote and sustain interdisciplinary graduate education and research across programs and colleges. More than 300 graduate students participate in the programs annually. To learn more, visit the Interdisciplinary Graduate Education programs webpages.
