Undergraduate Education Office
The How-to Guide
The information below provides instructions and tips related to many topics you have questions about and are expected to know at the conclusion of the first year. Please review the information and reach out to the advising office at ansci@vt.edu if you have any questions.
- Courses will be transferred as equivalent Virginia Tech courses as determined by the appropriate Virginia Tech department. If there is no equivalent Virginia Tech course, transfer credit may be awarded as a Free Elective (e.g. VT 1XXX).
- Courses in which a grade of a C or higher is earned are considered for transfer (Pass/Fail courses will not transfer). Only the credits will transfer, grades do not.
- Courses taken as Credit-by-Exam or as Advanced Standing at another institution do not transfer.
- Home study or correspondence courses do not transfer.
- A course passed at Virginia Tech takes priority over an equivalent transfer course, regardless of when the transfer course is taken or the grade earned. Courses that duplicate previously studied material will not transfer.
- Students may transfer up to one-half of the credits required for their degree program from any combination of 2-year schools.
- There is no limit to the number of credits transferred from a 4-year school, however a minimum of one-fourth of the credit for the respective degree must be earned at Virginia Tech.
- Of the last 45 semester hours before graduation, a maximum of 18 semester hours may be transfer hours.
- Courses taken elsewhere during periods of academic suspension will not transfer to Virginia Tech.
Specific transfer questions should be directed to the SAS Transfer Specialist:
Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from a Virginia Community College should follow the below steps.
Step 1: Review the VCCS Guide to determine course equivalents
Step 2: Use the VCCS Course Search to see which VCCS sites teach the course equivalents
Step 3: Sign-up and complete the course(s) -- a grade of a "C" or better is required in any course to receive transfer credit
Step 4: Once you have a final grade in the course, have the Registrar at the community college send your official transcript to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech. Official transcripts can be sent electronically through Parchment or to the following address:
Office of the University Registrar
Student Services Building, Suite 250, Virginia Tech
800 Washington St, S.W.
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0134
Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from a non-Virginia Community College within the United States should follow the below steps.
Step 1: Review the Transfer Equivalency Database (TED) to determine if the course has been previously evaluated and accepted for equivalency
Courses may or may not be in the TED. If you don't find an equivalent in the TED, proceed with Step 2, as we need to request an equivalency evaluation. If you find an equivalent in the TED, proceed with Step 3.
Step 2: Request pre-approval for your intended transfer course(s)
To ensure the course you intend to take will transfer to VT as you need it to, you will complete the Authorization of Transfer Credit form. Fill out the top portion of this form, including the table. You will submit it to the SAS TinyURL to obtain an advisor’s signature. We will then send the request to the appropriate department for approval. If approved, this provides you with confirmation on how the course will transfer to Virginia Tech, proceed to Step 3. If not approved, you will need to search for a different institution offering your desired course.
Step 3: Sign-up and complete the course(s) -- a grade of a "C" or better is required in any course to receive transfer credit.
If your Authorization to Transfer Credit is approved, you can proceed with signing-up for the courses at the transfer institution.
Step 4: Once you have a final grade in the course, have the Registrar at the transferring institution send your official transcript to the Office of the University Registrar at Virginia Tech. Official transcripts can be sent electronically through Parchment or to the following address:
Office of the University Registrar
Student Services Building, Suite 250, Virginia Tech
800 Washington St, S.W.
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0134
Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from an institution outside of the United States (US) should complete the Authorization to Take Courses Abroad. (Example below. Use previous link to open PDF.)
As a SAS student, you are required to meet with your advisor during course request each semester. You are also encouraged to meet with your advisor anytime you have academic concerns and need career advice.
HokieGPS is a tool that allows you to plan your entire college education before it even begins and accommodate changes as they become necessary. It can help you to identify flexibility in your schedule, so that you can "create room" for double majors, minors, research, co-ops, education abroad, co-curricular activities, and more.
This advising tool is a great way to plan ahead for the next semester, next year, or next four years. The software provides an option for students to choose how they will fulfill their General Education courses and even plan ahead for courses towards their major. Academic advisors can double check a student's work and this is a great collaborative tool for advising sessions. To create and read your HokieGPS, find the instructions on this website.
https://www.cals.vt.edu/content/dam/cals_vt_edu/academic-programs/Student-Forms-2019/Authorization-to-take-courses-abroad_05_2018.pdf
Once you have completed 78 credits, you are eligible to apply for Graduation Analysis. It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for all APSC curriculum students to complete Graduation Analysis.
After the Graduation Analysis form has been completed, one of the Advisors in the Undergraduate Education & Advising Office will contact you to schedule your Graduation Analysis meeting. If you have any questions regarding this process, please email ansci@vt.edu.
You should Apply for your Degree BEFORE your graduation analysis meeting. (See below.)
Applying for your degree tells the Registrar when you intend to graduate, and begins the process of auditing your transcript to make sure you are meeting graduation requirements.
Students should apply for their degree by the start of the first semester of their Junior year.
A dual degree means that a student completes an additional 30 credits over the minimum required for the first degree. The student will receive a separate diploma for each degree. A double major means that a student has completed the requirements for two degrees, but did not complete an additional 30 credits. The student will receive a diploma for the primary major and a certificate for the second major.
The difference between a dropped (web drop) and course withdrawal (W grade policy) is: A web dropped course is removed from your schedule and does not stay on your official transcript. There is no limit to the number of drops during your academic career at VT. You must web drop a course by the deadline specified on the Add/Drop Calendar. If dropping a course will reduce your credits below full time (12 credits), you should meet with your academic advisor, financial aid, and housing.
When you use the W Grade Policy/withdraw from a course, it remains on your transcript with a grade of “W.” You are only allowed to use a W grade for three (3) courses during your academic career at VT. You should discuss the implications of either dropping a class or using a W grade with your academic advisor. If you are receiving financial aid/scholarships, you should also discuss the implications with the financial aid office.
Students cannot drop the last of their hours in a given term via Hokie Spa. To withdraw/resign from your classes, please follow the Student Withdrawal/Resignation process.
Students with 3 or more final exams scheduled within 24 hours or exams with conflicting times may fill out a Request to Change Final Examination Time form on the CALS Student Forms website.