Forms + Resources

Major/Minor Checksheets

These major and minor checksheets are a semester-by-semester outline of your degree program.

GPA Calculator

GPA stands for Grade Point Average and is a means of measuring academic performance. You can use the Grade Point Average Calculator on HokieSpa to determine what GPA you need to receive in order to maintain a certain overall GPA. You can also use the GPA calculation formula to do “What if” calculations. The calculator is an option in HokieSpa on the Grades Menu under “Grades and Transcript.”

Hokie GPS: Graduation Plan for Success

The Hokie GPS is a comprehensive way for you to plan your time at Virginia Tech. While planning your courses is a central piece of this process, it is also crucial to begin thinking about your long-term goals, extra- and co-curricular activities, and other aspects of your college career. The Hokie GPS will help accomplish all of this!

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center located at 110 Femoyer Hall offers a wide variety of workshops and programs to help students achieve and maintain academic success throughout their educational career. They offer individual and group tutoring, study skills development programs, and a college success strategies course, among many other opportunities. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about their services, please visit the Student Success Center website.

Cook Counseling Center

The main office for Cook Counseling is located in McComas Hall, Room 240. This office is committed to offering counseling services to Virginia Tech students no matter what is troubling them. Services include individual counseling, group counseling, couples therapy, career counseling, and more. Their website includes contact information for emergency situations. For more information, visit the Cook Counseling Center website.

Schiffert Health Center

Schiffert Health Center, located in McComas Hall, assists students with a variety of medical health concerns. For more information about their services, please visit the Schiffert Health Center website.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Services for Students with Disabilities exists to assist students with disabilities and problem-solve personal and environmental issues that may interfere with full access to academics and/or hinder academic performance. For more information, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.

Academic Support

The Student Success Center
The Student Success Center seeks to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness necessary to achieve success in college and in life. They offer a number of programs and services for currently-enrolled undergraduate students. These include but are not limited to: tutoring, academic coaching, workshops on topics related to academic skills and behaviors, and college success strategies courses.

CommLab
The CommLab provides Virginia Tech students and faculty members with access to constructive feedback and practical resources for improving oral presentations. CommLab clients will gain valuable presentation-related insight and develop the necessary toolsets to become successful speakers. Visit the CommLab website for more information.

Math Emporium
The Math Emporium is a learning center for the study of mathematics.

Writing Center
The Virginia Tech Writing Center is a free service for all Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff at all levels and is located in the Newman Library’s second floor Learning Commons, just past the elevators. The Center’s staff work with writing and reading assignments from any course in the University and can help you with writing projects not linked to classes. For more information, visit the Writing Center website.

Tutoring at The Student Success Center
The Student Success Center Tutoring Program offers individual and small group tutoring for select 1000 and 2000 level courses. This service is free to all full-time undergraduate students at Virginia Tech during the regular academic year, August through May, when classes are in session.

Student Engagement and Campus Life

There are many opportunities to become engaged in student life, to make new friends on campus, or to further develop your own interests by organizing a student group. For more information on student organizations, visit the Division of Student Affairs’ page on student organizations.

For International Students: Cranwell International Center

Cranwell International Center is committed to the university’s globalization initiatives and serves as the primary support service for the international community. Cranwell promotes intercultural exchange, fosters a welcoming environment, and enhances the experience of all university and community participants. Cranwell supports the university’s focus on teaching and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and engagement through a commitment to quality programming, strong advocacy, collaboration, a dedicated facility, and valuable services.

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Visit the Office of Univeristy Scholarship and Financial Aid for helpful information on the financial aid process and scholarship programs.

Planning for Graduate School?

The Career Services office can help!

The university has many important policies that are critical to your safety and success. The Hokie Handbook summarizes University Policies for Student Life and the Student Code of Conduct. The Graduate Catalog sets forth the policies, procedures and requirements relating to graduate study at Virginia Tech. The University Registrar publishes an annual Undergraduate Catalog to set forth the policies, procedures, and requirements relating to undergraduate study at Virginia Tech.

While you should be aware of all of these policies and the code of conduct, there are a couple policies related to academics that you should pay particular attention to so that you avoid academic trouble:

Academic Eligibility

The minimum standard for good standing is a cumulative GPA of 2.00. Academic Probation is imposed when the cumulative is less than 2.00; probation is lifted when the cumulative GPA is at least 2.00. Academic performance is reviewed at the end of each regular semester (Fall/Spring). Students receiving first suspension may not enroll for the academic (Fall/Spring) term. Students receiving second suspension may not enroll for two academic (Fall/Spring) terms. Students receiving a third suspension are permanently dismissed and may not re-enroll at Virginia Tech. Special Note: Students on suspension may not receive transfer credit for work completed during the period of suspension.

For more information, please consult the undergraduate catalog.

A first generation college student is defined as a student whose parents or legal guardian have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college/university by the time the first generation student has started their own post-secondary education. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college or university.

This is a major accomplishment for which you and your family should be very proud! All of your dedication and hard work in high school has paid off. You will encounter unique experiences as you begin your exciting journey here at Virginia Tech, but always remember that you are never, ever alone.

The faculty, staff, and your peers in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design are here to support you. We are so glad you are here and we want you to find happiness and a sense of belonging here. We understand the challenges that rigorous college-level academics present, and we are here to help you overcome those challenges. Plan to meet with your academic advisor often…at least once per semester. Our advisors are trained professionals who are committed to assisting you with degree program planning all throughout your Hokie years. Make it a priority to meet with your advisor regularly! You will be so glad you did.

Find out more

We recognize that you have a strong interest in your student’s educational experiences in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech and because you are your student’s greatest supporter, we know that families play a very important role in a college student’s success. Together we recognize that students must make many adjustments to their daily routine as they transition from high school to college. This may very well be the first time they are assuming full responsibility for their day-to-day actions. Not only are young college students developing an adult identity, they must also take on the responsibility of making their own decisions. Your student will be meeting new people every day, may be living in a brand new place, and definitely will be taking on academics far more challenging than what they experienced in high school. Our students must step out of their comfort zone and adjust their routines and habits in order to accommodate daily life on the Virginia Tech campus. Your understanding, encouragement, and support are key to making this transition as smooth as possible for your student.

Helpful Suggestions for Parents & Families

Consider these suggestions as you and your student adjust to college life:

• Communicate with your student.
• Encourage your student to visit their advisor regularly, at least once per semester.
• Encourage your student to take responsibility for academic and other decisions.
• Support their accountability.
• Encourage your student to discuss any confusing policies or procedures with their advisor.
• Consult the university calendar before planning family activities. Pay particular attention to the final examination schedule. Access Dates & Deadlines published by the University Registrar.
• Encourage your student to visit instructors during their office hours.
• Encourage your student to utilize the campus resources. These are services covered by your tuition and fees.
• Download and save the Undergraduate Catalog so you can easily reference academic policies and procedures.
• Visit the College’s website regularly to keep current with events and news.

During your student’s time at Virginia Tech, he or she will be learning new things about the world and about themselves. Let them know you are interested in their decisions and that you care about what they are doing. Reassure them and encourage their success. Assure them that they have the intelligence, character, and strength to succeed and, more importantly, that everything worthwhile takes time.

Tips for Parents/Family Members of First-Generation Students

• Learn more about Virginia Tech and keep current with campus happenings at www.vt.edu.
• Follow news from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design through our website and social media outlets.
• Know what campus resources and services are available to your student. Remember that parent/family support is key to the academic success of college students!
• Remind your student to write down contact information, the date, and comments when they speak with campus personnel in order to streamline follow-up communications.
• Consider that your student may not have the same amount of time to devote to family responsibilities as they did before starting college.
• Remember that pursuing higher education does not mean that students will lose the family values that they were raised with.
• Take time to learn about college processes and resources in order to better understand what your student is experiencing.
• College is a major transition for both students and their families. Be sure to allow ample time and extra patience as you all settle into this brand new experience together.

What do first generation college students want their parents to know?

Mainly, that college can be a stressful time. It is a very exciting time but it is without question a completely new environment in which to adapt. Students are making decisions about their academic plans. They are learning new subject matter and gaining deeper knowledge of subjects previously studied. They are balancing their time to accommodate attending class, studying, research, completing assignments, learning about the campus and its resources, and meeting lots of faculty, staff, and other students. They are developing a social life with people they’ve never met before. These activities are challenging for even the most disciplined individual! Please know that they are doing their very best to work through the new challenges and opportunities that are being presented to them every single day. Our first generation students want you to understand all that they are experiencing and, more than anything, that they want your support and encouragement. Knowing you believe in them will contribute exponentially to their college success and happiness.

We refer to currently enrolled Virginia Tech undergraduate students wishing to change their major and transfer into architecture, industrial design, interior design or landscape architecture as “internal transfers.”

Virginia Tech has digitized the primary change of major process and identified three common time periods per year for students to request a major change online through HokieSpa. The college you seek to join will determine if you will be accepted and you will be notified by email of a decision.

RESTRICTED AAD MAJORS
The following AAD majors are restricted, meaning there are criteria and deadlines you must meet in order to be considered:

• Architecture
• Creative Technologies
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Industrial Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Music
• Studio Art

NON-RESTRICTED AAD MAJORS
The following majors are not restricted, meaning you must meet with the department’s Academic Advisor and await the department’s decision on your request.

• Art History
• Cinema
• Theatre

SECONDARY MAJORS, MINORS, CONCENTRATIONS
Requests for adding a secondary major, minor or concentration will remain as a year-round process.  Requests are submitted virtually through the college's change of secondary major form.

First, talk to your advisor to see if what you are planning can be used for credit toward your degree. You can also check with the registrar’s website for additional information.