Graduate Program



Founded in 1872, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University—popularly known as Virginia Tech—has become one of the nation’s premiere graduate/research institutions. Blacksburg is situated on a 2,000 acre plateau amongst the very beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, about a 20 minute drive from the New River and the Appalachian Trail. The campus—among the most beautiful in the U.S.— is home to eight colleges, the Edward Via Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and about 200 different academic departments. The Technology Education Program is housed in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education. There are approximately 7,000 graduate students enrolled at Virginia Tech, as well as about 20,000 undergraduate students.

The Technology Education program began offering graduate degrees in 1972, and has long enjoyed an exemplary reputation for excellence. The only study of Technology Education doctoral programs (Utah State University, 1991) ranked Virginia Tech’s doctoral program #1 in the U.S. The Technology Education graduate program has continuously built upon that reputation of excellence, and today has a larger graduate program than ever, with a significantly more robust set of graduate course offerings than was the case in decades past. This is because the program faculty now focuses all of their efforts on graduate education, a change that has greatly benefited graduate students.

In 2005, the Technology Education Graduate Program began to offer new “Integrative STEM Education” degree and certificate options alongside their Technology Education Graduate Program. Like the Integrative STEM Education Graduate Program, the Technology Education Graduate Program prepares a new generation of leaders and scholars with a focus on innovative and integrative teaching, research, scholarship, and leadership practices.

Technology Education Degree Options
Master’s Degree (Non-Licensure Option)
The Master’s degree (non-licensure option) is designed for Technology Education teachers, supervisors, and others seeking to expand their knowledge of the field and academic credentials. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Regular admission status in the master’s degree program requires 3.0 GPA in the final 60 hours of undergraduate study. Other master’s degree admission options are described in the Graduate Catalog. The master’s degree program requires completion of 30 semester-hours of graduate course work.
Download MAEd Degree Summary

Master’s Degree (Licensure Option)
Graduates of Engineering, Architecture, Design, Industrial Technology, and Physics programs may work toward a Technology Education teaching license through a customized Plan of Study. The master’s degree program requires completion of 30 semester-hours of graduate course work.
Download MAEd+Licensure Degree Summary

Education Specialist (EdS) Degree
The EdS degree is designed primarily for secondary education practitioners. It requires 60 semester-hours (30 of which must be earned post master’s degree; 21 of which must be course work from Virginia Tech after acceptance into the EdS program).
Download EdS Degree Summary

Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree
The EdD degree is designed primarily for those planning to become post-secondary Technology Education teacher educators. It requires 90 semester-hours (including the master’s degree), 12 of which must be research and evaluation course work and 24 of which must be doctoral dissertation semester-hours, earned en route to completing the doctoral dissertation requirement. In addition, the EdD program requires a residency that may be met in two consecutive full-time (12 credits) academic year semesters, one academic year semester preceded or followed by full-time (12 credits) summer enrollment, or two consecutive summers of full-time (12 credits) enrollment.
Download EdD Degree Summary

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree
The PhD degree is designed for those who plan to conduct research as a primary career goal. It requires 96 semester hours (including the master’s degree), 15 of which must be research and evaluation course work and 30 of which must be doctoral dissertation semester-hours, earned en route to completing the doctoral dissertation requirement. In addition, the PhD program requires a residency of least two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester or in a single summer). This requirement may be satisfied by full-time enrollment during consecutive fall and spring semesters, spring and fall semesters, spring semester and summer sessions, or summer
sessions and fall semester.
Download PhD Degree Summary
Applications and Admissions Information
Graduate applications are submitted electronically from http://www.grads.vt.edu/admissions/applying/

In addition to the online application, those applying to the EdS, EdD, and PhD programs must submit a current résumé, three letters of reference, and two writing samples (e.g., graduate papers, published article, etc.). The EdD and PhD programs also require GRE or MAT scores.
For more information
Mark Sanders, Graduate Program Coordinator / Program Leader
Technology Education Program / Integrative STEM Education
300 War Memorial Hall
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0313
(540) 231-8173, (540) 231-9075 (fax)
http://TechEd.vt.edu/
Top