Virginia Tech is home of the Commonwealth’s leading College of Engineering, known in Virginia and throughout the nation for the excellence of its programs in engineering education, research and public service. It is the state’s largest engineering college, and eighth largest nationally for undergraduate degrees awarded.

In U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2007 survey, the Virginia Tech College of Engineering’s undergraduate program achieved a ranking of 17th among undergraduate engineering schools that offer Ph.D.s and 9th among those at public universities. Eight of the college’s undergraduate programs were rated among the top 25 in the nation by engineering school deans. The National Science Foundation lists the college as 13th in total research expenditures.

The College of Engineering is known for its “Hands On, Minds On” leadership in transforming engineering education. A most recent example occurred in fall of 2006 when it took the bold step of requiring Tablet PCs for its entering freshmen. The national engineering magazine, Prism, described this initiative as having the “potential to redefine the way engineering is taught.” (Dec. 2006 issue)

High School Preparation & Admission to the College

A challenging college preparatory curriculum is your foundation for success in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. Specifically, you must present a minimum of 18 units. Four units of English is the standard requirement. The university requires three units of math (including algebra I, algebra II, and geometry), but engineering students must have a fourth unit beyond these three. Two units of social science are required. The university requires two years of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, or physics), but engineering students must have at least three years, including physics and chemistry.

Other ways to prepare for engineering studies include taking engineering foundations, computer programming, and advanced placement courses, and participating in math and science clubs and fairs.

In addition to your transcript, SAT or ACT (plus writing) scores are required of freshman applicants.

Curriculum & Opportunities

First-year students are admitted into general engineering, where they complete introductory coursework and learn the basics of design, teamwork, and technical communications.

All entering students are required to have a tablet PC. The curriculum emphasizes the use of computers in the analysis and solution of problems. Detailed specifications on the type of computer required differ from the rest of the university, and are announced in late spring. For more information, visit the Engineering Computer Requirement website.

Each engineering degree requires a senior capstone design experience to allow students to draw on their creativity, imagination, and motivation, as well as their undergraduate education. Qualified students may complete a combined B.S./M.S. degree in five years.

College of Engineering students participate in a variety of activities, including projects and competitions on local, regional, and national levels. Members of student organizations coordinate events which include speakers, conferences, a college-wide open house, and an annual engineering exposition. Virginia Tech College of Engineering students are leaders in many organizations and athletic teams both on- and off-campus.

All undergraduate degree programs in the College of Engineering, except construction engineering and management, are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission or the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; phone: 410/347-7700. The construction engineering and management program will be initiated in Fall 2007 and will graduate its first class in Spring 2009. It will seek accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET immediately thereafter.

Faculty & Facilities

Virginia Tech is one of a handful of schools offering a formal freshman engineering program, taught by full-time faculty members whose primary responsibility is to teach and advise entering freshmen. By providing a solid foundation, this first-year program helps freshmen choose and succeed in a College of Engineering degree program.

Undergraduate students in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech have two facilities of their own for hands-on work. In the Frith Freshman Engineering Design Lab, students participate in a variety of practical experiences involving reverse engineering, measurements, and activities ranging from robotics to fuel cells. In the Joseph F. Ware, Jr. Advanced Engineering Laboratory, undergraduates from all College of Engineering departments design and construct their own projects, including the human-powered submarine, hybrid-electric and fuel-cell-powered vehicles, Formula SAE race cars, radio-controlled airplanes, and Baja SAE all-terrain vehicles.

The computer requirement for Virginia Tech College of Engineering freshmen has been changed from a laptop to a convertible tablet PC to reflect the increased technology needs of students. Tablet PCs enable students to take their computers everywhere.

Freshman Curriculum

All freshmen are admitted into the general engineering program in the Department of Engineering Education, allowing them to get acquainted with the different degree programs before making final decisions about a major. After the first semester of the freshman year, students who qualify for the Dean’s List (3.40 GPA or higher) have the option of applying to the department of their choice. All other students who successfully complete their general engineering requirements may apply to the department of their choice at the end of the spring semester of freshman year. If you have questions about the freshman general engineering program, please contact the Department of Engineering Education (540/231-6555).